Heat gun glue for arrows?

[David Petersen]

#6259

I just ordered a batch of odds and ends from Kustom King and forgot the most needed item: hot melt glue. I’m sure not going to order just a couple of sticks of glue when the postage is so high. But I do have a glue gun and several of the tubular, whitish sticks of hot-melt glue for it. Has anyone every used it to attach heads to wood shafts? I’m sure it would work as glue, but wonder if it is blended to handle the shock of impact, and cold weather, as the archery glue is. Anyhow have a clue? Thanks, Dummy Dave

[James Harvey]

#49399

My experience is limited to the last month or two where I’ve been making/repairing my own wood arrows and the cheap glue gun with super cheap glue sticks made in china (out of boiled down panda skins?) is all I’ve used. I had a couple of heads let go when pulling them out of my target, but I just used a little more glue and haven’t had any failures since (hundreds of shots). The weather has been very mild here though, so don’t know how cold or heat will effect it.

Jim

PS

Let me know how the bearpaw taper tool goes with your sitka spruce.

[David Petersen]

#49463

Thanks, Jim. That’s a promising start. The taper tool arrived (with the order where I forgot the glue) and I’ll let you know … if I hadn’t shot the latest broken wood arrow into space recently I could experiment on that. Maybe my dogs will find it somewhere up the mountain, as has happened before.

[Stormrider51]

#49530

I’ve used it with good results. I swabbed the inside of the point and the tip of the shaft with alcohol first. I do that anyway regardless of glue type. I apply the glue to the tip of the arrow with the gun then heat the point over a candle before twisting it down into position. The hot metal melts the glue a second time. Use pliers to hold the tip while heating and applying. They can get amazingly hot in just a few seconds. I’d rather not explain how I learned this lesson in physics.

John

[Greg Ragan]

#50000

Yup this is what I use also. I just picked up the yellowish colored mini sticks and they seem to be a little harder, but unless you are hunting extreme heat the white ones should work well.

[Ralph]

#50045

Don’t suppose those heavy arrows of Dave’s will have a re-heat problem from re-entry do we? 😆

Let us know what you think about those hot gun glue sticks David. I’ve heard pros and cons but never anything definitive. I’ve never tried it.

I myself, after gluing who knows how many thousands of tips on arrows, managed to let a drop of the hot stuff land on my thumb the other day. Gets hot really quick and sticks to a thumb just as quickly. Ouch! You’d think I’d know better but the wisdom of an ancient one and the practical application by the same wizened:?:? one gets distorted at times. 😆

[David Petersen]

#50046

Thanks, guys, I’ll give it a try. And welcome aboard, John.

[Goraidh]

#50511

I use the same for gluing in inserts. Holds very well. Good luck, Dave.

[Etter1]

#51524

I use it for my inserts in carbons with excellent results.

[William Warren]

#53772

I used it once with not such good results to install some zwickeys on wood shafts. I used the clear type and it seemed too pliable to me. However I used it straight from the gun and did not heat the broadhead which may make difference. I started using a pitch blend like Ferrel-tite that is used in rod building and I like it the best.

[Spirittrakker]

#53887

I’ve been using it for about a year with no issues. There are some steps I take to make sure they stay together.

I clean the inside of my broadheads, or field points with alcohol.

Then make sure the gun has heated the glue thoroughly.

Once I’m sure it’s good and hot, I apply the glue, hold it so it sets like I want it.

Then take my heat gun to it and reheat glue, broadhead, or field point, and even a little on the shaft.

This seems to bond everything together very well. I do the same for my nocks, but with much less heat to prevent scorching the plastic nock.

[mikelee]

#54030

On the topic of glue. what are most of you using at the other end for glueing on your plastic nocks .Will Duco cement work ?

[James Harvey]

#54045

I use a drop of Arrowmate for my knocks. I’ve not had one pop off, but it’s weak enough I can pull the nock off with a pair of pliers without damaging the shaft.

[David Petersen]

#54522

Mike, I’ve used Duco for years. It always works for nocks because you’re dealing with bare wood. Where it fails is when applied over some or even many finishes, so I no longer use it for fletchings on wood arrows though it’s fine on carbons. At least in my experience …

[gigglemonk]

#56061

I’ve been using the yellow glue sticks for awhile with no issues on bamboo and wood. I’ve had the clear pull out on me.

I’ve used the yellow in temps down to the mid 30s. That’s cold enough for me.

If you’re using wood shafts you better be making self nocks. Pretty sure that’s in the tradbow T&C

[mikelee]

#56254

If you’re using wood shafts you better be making self nocks. Pretty sure that’s in the tradbow T&C

Im still trying to wean myself off of carbons . Might be awhile before I tackle self nocks . Ha!

[David Petersen]

#56693

Mike– selfnocks it is! Splined with osage for more strength, wrapped with sinew and (to be) fletched with wild turkey feathers.

[Murray]

#57268

Craft glue is all I’ve used for years. I bought a big bag at a cheap price. I’ve never lost a point, field or broadhead. I wash the points out with alcohol, then burn that out with my torch.

[mikelee]

#57796

David Petersen wrote: Mike– selfnocks it is! Splined with osage for more strength, wrapped with sinew and (to be) fletched with wild turkey feathers.

Absolutley! Might have to make anouther trip to the land of Oz for the feathers and osage ! most of the turkeys round here live in Victoria (parliament bldg.)

[grumpy]

#20745

I’ve been down in Dixis, and grits will stick anything to together.

Called Garrison Keilher, and he says everything is held together with bailing wire.

Called Red Green, in Maine, his nephew answered and said he uses duct tape for everything.

In Calif. They hold things together with hair elastics (won’t help when they tumble into the sea).

[grumpy]

#20747

Oops forgot…Techies around here use nylon wire ties for everything.

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