Day 33 - R.I.P. Death Stick

This is the glue gun at work...that finally got a taste of it's own medicine!!!

I make presentation boards at work and I use hot glue to attach all of the finish samples 

Some days I only use the glue gun for a few minutes...other days I use it for several hours...

Big deal? Yes! it's a very big deal!!!!

This glue gun is from an office supply store and unlike craft friendly glue guns, like the one I have at home,

this glue gun has nothing to regulate its temperature. The longer it's on, the hotter it gets.

On days when I have had it plugged in for 8 hours plus the glue gets so hot

it burns through paper, burns my fingers through laminate samples, melts carpet backing,

and basically becomes a deadly weapon of mass destruction.

I have burned myself so bad that instant blisters form around the glue sealing it to my skin!

Yes that can happen!!!

Over the past 3 years I have burned every finger and I have tried every burn cream, spray, and pad.

(don't even bother with the spray and cream...

go straight for the band-aid like gel pad...it is a miracle worker!!!) 

I have also learned my lesson over the years and now systematically turn off the glue gun,

let it cool all the way down and then plug it in again making sure it never gets "too" hot.

But today it wasn't me getting burned...oh no...today the death stick itself got burned!

The glue that comes out of the gun tip (like it is meant to) is clear...

The glue that started to pour out the side venting slots of the glue gun is brownish orange...

And I think it was this brownish orange glue that today finally exploded!

There was a loud "pop", then a sizzle, a spark of red, instant black smoke and a terrible smell

After I jumped and yelped (I didn't scream...it was honestly like a "yelp")

I ran over and unplugged the gun, ripped out the end of the unused glue stick and took a step back.

I wasn't quick enough with the camera to get the mini flame, or the black smoke...and for safety reasons I did wipe off all of the burnt glue from the hot side of the gun before I took the picture...

but if you look close you can see the a hazy burn ring around the glue stick where the mini fire started.

I actually plugged it in about 30 min later and tried to use it (I still had a board to make)

But although it did heat up some I wasn't able to get any glue to come out 

and when it stated to sizzle I gave it up as a total loss and started taping my last board with foam tape.

In the end I do feel a little bad about the glue gun dying...but maybe the next one won't be as deadly.