Popular Mechanics - USA (2019-05)

@PopularMechanics _ May 2019 59

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You can use hot glue for repairs or crafts, or

even something like a piece of trim, when

you don’t have room to use a clamp.

/ BY ROY BERENDSOHN /

A / Arrow GT300

WEIGHT: 1 lb

LENGTH: 11 inches

WATTS: 300

LIKES: All that wattage

translates into serious glue-

melting power. You can gob it

on or apply a thin line. The gun

accomplishes this control with

a small machine screw that

limits the travel of the trigger.

It was the only gun in the test

with a lighted on/off switch.

DISLIKES: None.

$50

B / DeWalt DWHTGR50

WEIGHT: 0.8 lb

LENGTH: 73⁄4 inches

WATTS: 70

LIKES: A little gem of a gun.

It’s light, handles easily, and

heats rapidly, and its trigger

control is superb, allowing

you to leave narrow, perfectly

shaped beads.

DISLIKES: There is no indicator

light to tell you that it’s on—

or to confirm that you remem-

bered to turn it off.

$20

Glue

Guns

A B

C

↓TOOL TEST

THINGS YOU

SHOULD NOT

INSTALL WITH

A GLUE GUN

shingles

brake pads

hairpieces

C / Stanley GR100

WEIGHT: 0.8 lb

LENGTH: 81⁄4 inches

WATTS: 80

LIKES: An easy-handling gun

that comes with three variet-

ies of glue sticks and three

different nozzles. It spreads a

consistent bead and it’s easy

to set on its stand.

DISLIKES: After only one

on/off session, we noticed

significant wear on the wide

nozzle’s threads and O-ring.

$26

WHAT WE PUT

THEM THROUGH

Over eight hours we

glued wood to wood

and metal to wood, then

practiced our glue pen-

manship to see how easy

each gun was to steer.