The Ultimate 3M Hot Melt Glue Gun Guide

3M Glue guns are among the most popular hot melt dispensing tools on the market today. Offering a wide variety of guns with different stick sizes, outputs and dispensing temperatures, it can be a little confusing to decide which 3M gun is going to fit your specific application best.

This 3M glue gun guide will help shed some light on the capabilities of each of the 3M hot melt glue guns. You can always contact one of our adhesive specialists for additional questions about your application.

3M Polygun AE and AE LT Overview

The Scotch-Weld AE II is the perfect gun for light industrial work and is definitely a step above the average craft grade glue gun. This gun is the only one in the 3M glue gun family that uses a very standard glue stick size, 1/2" X 12", allowing you to use competitors' glue sticks in this gun.

The Scotch Weld AE II comes in both standard and low temp versions but cannot be changed. The standard temp is better for every day jobs where the low temp version, the AE II LT, will work better with sensitive substrates like foam or fabric. You can tell the difference between standard and low temp guns by the color, orange being standard temp and blue representing the lower temp LT version.

Be sure to use low temperature hot melt with the LT version and standard temperature hot melt with the standard AE II gun.

3M Polygun AE Specifications

Works With: Standard 1/2" glue sticks, make sure you buy the correct temperature for your glue gun.
Weighs 20 oz.
2 lb/hr*
Temperature: 265°F
Power: 100W
6 Month Warranty
AE II UPC# 051115-25567
AE II LT UPC# - UPC# 021200-96594

Note: 3M has since discontinued these two adhesive applicators. For a replacement that is compatible with their quadrack glue sticks, our expert recommend the Infinity Bond Ranger PRO Adjustable Temp Hot Melt Glue Gun or Infinity Bond Scout HT High Temp Hot Melt Glue Gun.

3M Polygun LT Overview

The 3M Polygun LT is a step up from the AE II glue gun and has caused a little confusion for customers in the past due to it's unusal stick size.

This low temp gun uses the 3M TC LT glue sticks, which are 5/8" X 2" and meant for low temperature dispensing. The most popular glue stick for this gun is the 3M 3798LM Gummy Glue.

One feature that we aren't totally thrilled about its the fact that sticks are fed through by manually pushing the stick through the gun with your thumb. It isn't difficult but we still prefer a trigger system.

3M Polygun LT Specifications

Works With: 3M low melt (LT) size 'TC' glue sticks (5/8" x 2")
Weighs 10 oz.
2.6 lb/hr*
Temperature: 265°F
Power: 150W
12 Month Warranty
Polygun LT UPC# 021200-82245

Note: 3M has since discontinued the 3M Polygun LT. For a replacement that is compatible with their quadrack glue sticks, our expert recommend the Infinity Bond Brute Hot Melt Glue Gun.

3M Polygun TC Overview

The 3M Polygun TC works in the same way as the above Polygun LT except it uses standard temperature glue sticks. The Polygun TC uses 5/8" X 2" TC glue sticks and can be upgraded with a Quadrack Converter allowing it to use the longer 5/8" X 8" Q sticks.

3M Polygun TC Specifications

Polygun TC uses 3M size 'TC' glue sticks (5/8" x 2") in standard temp.
Weighs 10 oz.
2.6 lb/hr*
Temperature: 400°F
Power: 150W
12 Month Warranty
Polygun TC UPC# 021200-82244

Note: 3M has since discontinued the 3M Polygun TC hot melt applicator. For a replacement that is compatible with their quadrack glue sticks, our expert recommend the Infinity Bond Brute Hot Melt Glue Gun.

3M Polygun LT with Quadrack Overview

The next step up from the Polygun LT is the Polygun LT with Quadrack. What's so great about it? The Polygun LT with Quadrack has a plam trigger and takes 3M Q size sticks that are 5/8" x 8". The palm trigger makes dispensing easier and lessens worker fatigue. The longer stick size increase efficiency as you don't have to add a glue stick as often.

Remember, the Polygun LT w/Quadrack is meant for Low Temp (LT) glue sticks in the Q size.

3M Polygun LT w/Quadrack Specifications

Works With: 3M low melt size 'Q' glue sticks (5/8"x8")
3.5 lb/hr*
Temperature: 265°F
12 Month Warranty
Polygun LT w/Quadrack UPC# UPC# 021200-89447

Note: 3M has since discontinued the 3M Polygun LT w/Quadrack. For a replacement that is compatible with their quadrack glue sticks, our expert recommend the Infinity Bond Brute Hot Melt Glue Gun.

3M Polygun TC with Quadrack Overview

The Polygun TC with Quadrack is one of the most popular glue guns we sell from the 3M line. Customers love the palm trigger and the 3M quality that comes with it. This glue gun holds up exteremly well in industrial enviroments. It uses 3M's glue stick size 'Q', which is 5/8" x 8" with ridges down the sides.

3M Polygun TC with Quadrack Specifications

Works With: 3M size 'Q' glue sticks (5/8"x8")
Be sure to use Standard Temp glue sticks (also called high temp)
3.5 lb/hr*
Temperature: 400°F
12 Month Warranty
Polygun TC w/Quadrack UPC# 021200-89445

Note: 3M has since discontinued the 3M Polygun TC w/Quadrack. For a replacement that is compatible with their quadrack glue sticks, our expert recommend the Infinity Bond Brute Hot Melt Glue Gun.

3M Polygun EC Overview

Now we're getting into the 3M work horse glue guns. The Polygun EC uses the 3M Q hot melt sticks (5/8" X 8") and is a higher volume unit than the Polygun TC & LT with quadrack, even though they use the same size glue stick.

The Polygun EC can dispense up to 5.5 lbs of hot melt per hour and is better for more industrial, high volume applications. The 3M Polygun EC temperature can be changed with temperature modules allowing it to work with both standard and low temp glue sticks.

3M Polygun EC Specifications

Works With: 3M size 'Q' low melt and standard temperature (5/8" x 8")
Weighs 24 oz.
5.5 lb/hr*
Temperature: 260°F-400°F Controlled by temperature modules
Power: 350W
12 Month Warranty
UPC# 021200-89519

Note: 3M has since discontinued the 3M Polygun EC hot melt applicator. For a replacement that is compatible with their quadrack glue sticks, our expert recommend the Infinity Bond Brute Hot Melt Glue Gun.

3M Polygun PG II and PG II LT Overview

The 3M Polygun PG II is the only pneumatic stick glue gun from 3M. It uses PG (1" X 3") glue sticks and offers exceptional output and durability. The Polygun II comes in both standard temperature and low temp (LT) and cannot be changed.

This high volume, pneumatic glue gun is ultra durable and can be mounted for a semi-automated system using a cartridge system to feed glue sticks.

The low temp gun should only be used with 3M glue sticks that end in LM, meaning low melt.