Lynette Smith Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I started my first dollhouse nearly 30 years ago, with a glue gun. The house was the Harrison and the gun had no trigger! I had to push the stick in with my finger until my finger got quite hot! Awhile later we got a trigger glue gun. Only one piece ever fell off - the chimney (which I moved and had to tabs to help hold it in place) Maybe I use more glue. I don't know. Excess glue is easily removed with an exacto knife and a candle! Am I the only one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corwin Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Well the quality has gone down considerably in the past twenty or so years. The glue now dosen't heat up enough thus making the glue brittle and the house unstable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynette Smith Posted September 17, 2008 Author Share Posted September 17, 2008 Most glue I have is probably over 10 years old. Could it be that newer guns don't get as hot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esther Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 It doesn't get thin enough before it starts to cool. That makes it hard for me to use it, plus I find that I go through a lot more gluesticks than I do tacky glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynette Smith Posted September 17, 2008 Author Share Posted September 17, 2008 I work in bursts. Get it real hot, put in the piece, then clean up the excess while waiting for another burst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakyshaky Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 I know that in FLorida it gets so hot here in the summer it softens the glue ( even with the ac on) and things start to fall apart. I do like it for some things , but living in FL I can't really use it for houses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 I think you realize the problem and it's not hostility against hot glue, it's just a total waste of time to build with something that's liikely to deteriorate within a few years. I really, really like hot glue for rehab houses; any house that was originally built with hot glue is SO easy to take apart and reassemble properly with wood glue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
More Minis Dollhouses Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 I dont like hot glue for asthetic and practical reasons. I dont like the way it dries thick between pieces. I find that wood or tacky glue allows the pieces to dry very flush together, which helps keep the houses finished look. I hate those globs and then trying to remove them is a pain. Wood or tacky glue gives me time to position the parts correctly before drying, as well so thats the practical part. I hate the way I have to rush when using hot glue. As far as how good it is, thats debatable. I also have used hot glue in my first houses and they stood the test of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynette Smith Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share Posted September 18, 2008 I have to agree about the thick layer. I use wood glue when it is feasible. I just have so much trouble getting the pieces to stay in place while drying. I've tried clamps and building sturdy supporst with large heavy books. I read about quick grab and thought it was my solution only to discover it went out of business! How do you use wood glue without pulling your hair out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alamom Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 I use tacky glue and lots of masking tape to hold while drying. :angry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 I use Titebond or probond wood glue and masking tape. I also use quick grip glue which dries fast and clear and you can paint over it. I do use hot glue on wood shingle & siding and have not had one customer complain about it yet. The wood strips for the siding and the shingles is so thin that it sticks really well. I do not use it to build the house though. it does not come out as neat as it needs to be and as everyone mentioned here, it does not adhere well. I use it for other projects though all of the time. Not my houses though :angry: unless it is for a temporary hold until the wood glue dries. If I do it that way, I use only a drop of hot glue in the spots to hold it together while it dries (Like in areas that the masking tape won't keep that wood firm & flush till the glue dries . There are some who have used hot glue and they have NEVER had a problem with it. I know one lady who has had a a Harrison for 15 years and she assembles it using hot glue and it is still together and looking great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corwin Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 For clamps painters masking tape is the only way to my opinion. Oh and cans of beans for weights. :angry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 In addition to the wood glue I use masking tape and heavy duty staples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfieldzoo Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Hot glue many years ago is not the same as what it is today. The glues now are low temp due to so many people getting burned and suing. I only use wood glue. Like Tracy, I will use a dab of hot glue in a place where I can peel it off later to hold something that can't be taped or if I am in a hurry and can't wait for the glue to dry. But you do what works best for you. Just because some people here have built more houses than most real contractors, doesn't mean that your way won't work for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggiemae Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Newer hot glue guns are not as hot, the glue has a lower melting point for safety. Most of them time I stick with wood glue and finishing nails or staples. Personally I hate burning my fingers! I do keep one handy for assembling large pieces and use a dab now and then to hold something together until the wood glue dries but thats about it. My dislike of hot glue most likely comes from trying to fix orphaned houses badly built with hot glue. Maybe these houses would not have come out much better if the same person had built them with wood glue. Even so, I suspect that the houses going together faster without drying time keeps some builders from thinking about the quality of their construction. Wait time while glue or paint is drying is when I get some of my finest sanding done. But I have connected hot glue with poorly preped and badly built houses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynette Smith Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share Posted September 18, 2008 I've been moving toward a combination on some of the newer installed pieces. Someday I'd like to take a cabinetry class to see how fine work should be done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justmesue Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 I still buy "quick grip" from dejouxminiatures.(my altime favorite stuff) Did you say they went out business? I've also used Omni stick, it's about the same, just smells bad, and a tube of stuff called Household Goop, with similarly fast results. I purchased slow setting glue sticks for the cabin shingles at the Toronto dollshop, and it worked well on them. I can peel off almost any glue gun glue, it doesn't work good for me. For building I use No More Nails, by Lepage. It glues, dries fast, and is sandable and paintable and fills cracks too. This is great glue. If you will be staining however, it's white, so a no go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbyhouse Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 If one can manage not to burn one's fingers, or anything else, hot glue does have its uses. There are two types of hot glue, low temp (cloudy) and high temp (clear). High temp gives you a bit more time to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninky Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Suzanne does it stay white or does it dry clear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovecats Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Use titebond II wood glue and masking tape. the glue grabs quick, dries quick. the masking tape makes a good clamp to hold things together when it dries. you have a good strong bond with the titebond II. i buy it at lowes, it's cheaper...about 2.30 a bottle if i remember correctly. I have never like working with a glue gun for any project and i always get glue on my fingers and get burned. I just personally hate working with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovecats Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Use titebond II wood glue and masking tape. the glue grabs quick, dries quick. the masking tape makes a good clamp to hold things together when it dries. you have a good strong bond with the titebond II. i buy it at lowes, it's cheaper...about 2.30 a bottle if i remember correctly. I have never like working with a glue gun for any project and i always get glue on my fingers and get burned. I just personally hate working with it. Quick grab is no longer being made. you can get quick GRIP now and it works as well. cheapest source is walmart. used to be 2 dollars a tube, they've now raised their prices to 3.33 or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Thanks Marg, That is what I meant to type :angry: I use Quick Grip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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