Every general contractor’s tool kit includes a hammer, saw, drill, tape measure, pliers and screwdriver. Another versatile tool to have around at all times: an industrial glue gun. Hot melt glue provides fast-setting bonds to hold the material in place prior to additional fasteners such as staples, nails, glue, caulks, mastics and grouts. Hot melt glue bonds to a wide variety of surfaces commonly seen on a construction site.
Here are several examples:
- Carpeting installation: Setting tack strips and carpet back bonding
- Wood flooring: Substrate and engineered hardwood floating floor installation, as well as a solid hardwood floor tacking
- Prefab wall assembly
- Baseboard installation
- Interior staircase and handrail assembly
- Setting upper crown moldings prior to nailing
- Kitchen cabinet applications such as tacking and setting upper cabinets prior to securing with fasteners
- General cabinet construction and assembly
- Hardware placement on cabinetry, window frames, etc.
- Setting level markers prior to leveling uneven floors with quick float
- Mirror frame (wood) construction for bathrooms: Use a wood-type hot melt glue stick for bonding 45-degree corners and attaching backer board
- Glass shelving installation
- Drawer bottom bonding
- Vanity-back assembly
- Ceramic tile installation where a thin setting is not required
- Tacking hardy backer board prior to fastening to the subfloor and/or wood framing
- Copper plumbing installation. Hot melt works extremely well as an anti-knocking barrier when running a pipe through framing studs
- Fabric and furniture repair
- Knot-filling and general wood repair
- Miscellaneous repair work such as filling gaps in air vent ducting and filling window frame gaps
A great tool for these jobs is the Champ™ Stick 400 glue gun. Ready to operate in 10 minutes, it produces a smooth flow of adhesive with minimal trigger pressure and has a high-tech nozzle that prevents “stringing” and dripping. The Champ™ Stick is an industrial gun designed for heavy-duty use and can withstand the scrapes and drops that always occur on the job site.
Safety
On the construction site, safety is always a primary concern for general contractors. Hot melt glues are, of course, hot — so operators should take care when applying glue to any surface. We always recommend wearing safety glasses, protective gloves and protective clothing when working with hot melts — and the gun must have a ground connection.
Hot melt glue guns require minimal training and experience to use as a pro. Our detailed Champ™ Stick manual provides all the necessary information for safety, operation, and maintenance.