2019 test7 productsAdhesives, Glue & Tape
Which Hot Glue Sticks Brand Wins?
We compared 7 hot glue sticks options head to head. Stanley came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Budget pick
Surebonder
Price shown in test: 5 cents per inch
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Shear Strength | Wood Tensile Strength | Pvc Tensile Strength | Overall Average Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Stanley Dual Melt | 1,503 lb, close second to Surebonder | second place, no specific lb figure given | over 400 lb, dominated the smooth PVC surface test with about twice the tensile strength of the second place finisher | 1.66, best all around hot glue stick, first or second place in every category |
| 2Folote | around 1,350 lb, grouped with Arrow | 800 lb, clear winner of the wood tensile strength test and the strongest single result of the video | rounded out third, fourth or fifth place, exact placement among that group not specified | between 3 and 4, described as a very good product |
| 3Surebonder Clear5 cents per inch | 1,523 lb, best result of all brands tested | over 350 lb, a respectable result grouped with Gorilla and Arrow | rounded out third, fourth or fifth place, exact placement among that group not specified | between 3 and 4, described as a very good product |
| 4Arrow all purpose multi temp | around 1,350 lb, grouped with Folote | over 350 lb, a respectable result grouped with Gorilla and Surebonder | 168 lb, distant second place behind Stanley | between 3 and 4, described as a very good product |
| 5Gorilla | not tested | over 350 lb, a respectable result grouped with Arrow and Surebonder | rounded out third, fourth or fifth place, exact placement among that group not specified | not tested |
| 6AdTech pro strength | described as doing a terrific job bonding to the board, strong enough to rip the side of the wood board off during testing, no specific lb figure given | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 7Elmer's | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
How it was tested
- shear strength test bonding two by four boards together in a T joint
- tensile strength test on split and reglued one by two wood boards
- tensile strength test on smooth half inch threaded PVC end caps
“Stanley finished in second place twice and in first place once with an overall average finish of 1.66 and seems to be the best all around hot glue stick”