How to remelt hot glue... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Arcamax123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 04:55:21 am
content: I need to make a box/pan of some kind that I can heat (idk how). Purpose is to remelt left over glue to make into glue molds....Should be low to medium temp heat...

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 07:02:58 am
content: To understand a little, can you set your country flag. I guess a poor country. I do not think anyone is doing this. But I suggest (but I do not know the melting temp of the glue) a double boiler. If 100C is too low, maybe a double boiler filled with sand. Something to keep direct high temp flames away from the glue. There are some smart people here, so we will see.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 07:08:09 am
content: That's a fairly useless idea as you wont be able to extrude it in round stick form easily or control the dimensions well enough for it to fit back though the glue gun. Also hotglue tends to degrade if held at temperature for too long.If you do need some means of melting hot-glue in bulk, consider a non-stick electric frying pan, if you can find one with a thermostat that goes low enough, and a stainless clad type K thermocouple (+ display) for monitoring the temperature.

author: Arcamax123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 07:28:31 am
content: Quote from: Ian.M on June 21, 2016, 07:08:09 amYeah I know it is dumb but I like to make things out of glue... ex- animals, dinosaurs, mystical creatures etc... and I have shavings and pellets of glue from it.

author: Arcamax123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 07:31:57 am
content: In a way it is supposed to be a "diy style" "nordson" glue pod. Ok well how about just a diy nordson glue pod... minus the glue nozzle part lol

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:01:10 am
content: Quote from: Ian.M on June 21, 2016, 07:08:09 amI second this and go slow so as not to boil the glue. A hot plate may also work and these can be cheap to buy. What are you going to use as a mold release?

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:03:22 am
content: You'd need an all metal icing syringe or a caulking gun compatible metal cartridge with some sort of heating element (e.g. 120 deg C heat tape) wound round it + exterior lagging and a high temperature PTFE or silicone plunger seal. Fill with glue chips. Heat nozzle up to working temperature and hold till the glue's all melted. Pull a vacuum on the nozzle to de-gas until glue starts to come out bubble-free. Invert and gun it where you want it.DANGER: You *MUST* wear good PPE. Bulk hotglue can cause serious burns.

author: Arcamax123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:10:58 am
content: No no ill just scrap the mold idea... but just a diy melter for pellets for intenseI'll just let it cool awhile before grabing it out and shaping it in my hands

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:21:45 am
content: Quote from: Arcamax123 on June 21, 2016, 08:10:58 amOh lord

author: Arcamax123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:24:46 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on June 21, 2016, 08:21:45 amRotflmao... I've done it at work before lol

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:33:14 am
content: You are crazy! If hotglue is soft enough to shape, its too hot to touch with your bare skin. I wouldn't mess with it in bulk without leather gloves on, and I'd be using silicone rubber cake decorating tools to shape it.If you want something safe to hand mold, either use Polymorph plastic pellets which can be melted in hot water at a relatively safe 60 deg C or use Sugru or Milliput epoxy putty.Alternatively, treat yourself to a 3Doodler hand held 3D printing pen!

author: Arcamax123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:40:11 am
content: Quote from: Ian.M on June 21, 2016, 08:33:14 amNoooooooooooo lol seriously though this Is a low melt adhesive I'm working with

author: DmitryL
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:51:58 am
content: Quote from: Arcamax123 on June 21, 2016, 07:28:31 amI think you can buy "polymorph" plastic or something similar. In a normal form it is quite hard white pellets. When you heat it up to ~80 degrees C, it becomes transparent and very soft, so, you can mould it to any shape with your fingers. Then when you cool it down, it becomes hard again.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 10:08:02 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on June 21, 2016, 07:02:58 amMost or all the hot glue I have here melts fairly well in boiling water so I'd suggest a Bain-Marie style double boiler, an insulated flask with a water boiler in it and a smaller beaker to fit inside.Does Hot melt liquify in a microwave I wonder?

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 10:11:04 am
content: Quote from: DmitryL on June 21, 2016, 08:51:58 amPolycaprolactone plastic is horribly expensive in Polymorph quantities but if you happen to work in a factory that makes the stuff... (staring at a warehouse filed with 500KG bags)There are different grades though, some higher melting point than others and I don't think it ever gets 'liquid' enough at comfiortable temperatures to pour.It's easier to use a two part resin that's designed for pouring into moulds, possibly even epoxy.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 08:32:30 pm
content: My guess is the OP has a source of "left over" hot glue and he is just wanting to make something with it. If this is the case, other glues or plastics is not going to help him.My favorite method so far is use an electric hot plate or pan and heat up sand. On top of this sand use a container that holds the glue. The sand is to regulate and hold the heat.If the OP comes up with something, I hope the OP will post some pictures of it.

author: Arcamax123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 09:03:33 pm
content: Quote from: ez24 on June 21, 2016, 08:32:30 pmYessssssss finally lolI think ill try something like you suggest... try to diy myself one though... thank youIf anyone had anymore ideas feel free to post.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2016, 09:23:02 pm
content: Uh.. I would just put it in a muffin pan and wave a heat gun over it.

author: Arcamax123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2016, 10:43:58 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on June 22, 2016, 09:23:02 pmYeah but then your sitting all the time waiting for it to heat up then cool down so that you can touch it

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2016, 11:06:20 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on June 22, 2016, 09:23:02 pmHow about a pan in the oven?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2016, 11:49:06 pm
content: Does it need to be hot glue? Would something like this do the job instead:https://sugru.com/about

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2016, 01:00:42 am
content: How about a classic?https://www.amazon.com/DAS-Hardening-Modeling-Pound-387500/dp/B001GAP4YACheap, too.