We purchased a CC Better Hot Glue Gun so our writer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

A hot glue gun is a handy tool to have around the house, whether you use it for small repairs, such as gluing beads back on a barrette, or for crafting ornaments or wreaths. You’ll find glue guns in a range of wattages and prices, so it’s sometimes hard to know which one is best for your needs. I checked out the CC Better Mini Glue Gun to see if it’s a good choice for infrequent crafting.

Design: Simple and adequate for occasional crafting

This gun is comfortable to hold, though it’s best suited for small hands. The glue sticks push into the back of the gun; they’re supposed to advance when you press the trigger, but I had to nudge them. 

I thought the off/on switch (which you don’t often find on mini guns) would be handy, but I forgot to use it most of the time. After working on a few projects, I don’t see a real advantage to having the switch; it’s nice in theory, but not a necessity. An indicator light on the side of the gun glows green when the unit is on, but it was hard to see.

The attached metal stand, which allows you to set the glue gun down in an upright position, is unstable. I tended to lay the glue gun on its side in between uses, rather than trying to balance it ever-so-precisely on the stand. I also wasn’t comfortable with the fact that the hot metal nozzle nearly touches the table (less than 1/16 of an inch) when the gun is upright on its stand.

Heating Capabilities: Quick heat up and cool down

Glue guns range from 10 watts for mini guns to a few hundred watts for industrial glue guns. This mini gun operates at 20 watts, and it becomes hot enough to fasten together most crafting materials including fabric, natural fibers, and wood. It took about five minutes for the gun to heat up. The glue gun cooled down for storage in about 40 minutes.

Performance: Some issues with consistency, but good adherence

I found that this gun was suitable for detail work, such as making small dots of glue to stick beads on an ornament. But it was difficult to create a long, consistent line of glue to bond pieces of wood together to make a picture frame. Sometimes the line was too blobby, sometimes too thin.

Another issue is that the 30 included glue sticks dried a milky white color, which might not be ideal for all crafts. And if you’re working on a big project, you’ll go through glue sticks fast. After adhering about 12 to 15 sequins to an ornament, I needed to load another glue stick.

I found one thing particularly exasperating about this gun: The trailing, thin glue strands as you pull the gun away from a surface. They remove easily once dry, but if you’re repeatedly attaching small items such as sequins with small dabs of glue, your project gets annoyingly “stringy.”

On the other hand, the glue adhered well to many surfaces including attaching sequins to a paper mache form, fixing ceramic mosaic tiles to a picture frame, and assembling a wooden box. It also worked well to create a bow from cotton fabric without seeping through the material. It didn’t work, however, to attach beads to a glass votive holder; the glue dried before I could attach the beads.  

I wanted to know if different kinds of glue sticks were available, so I attempted to contact the manufacturer. The box claims the glue gun has a “100 percent guarantee,” but despite three different customer service phone numbers, there was either no answer, a busy signal, or a full mailbox. The company’s Facebook page appears inactive. The instruction sheet is of limited use because the language is stilted. Sure, it’s not a rocket ship, and you’ll figure out how to use this glue gun on your own, but it would be nice to have support as promised.  

Price: A good budget option

At around $10, this glue gun isn’t going to break the bank, though it is about twice the price of most other mini glue guns at the craft store. But it’s a small enough investment if you’re an occasional crafter or want something to do minor repairs.

Competition: Good starter glue gun 

If you want a glue gun with more heft, there are other options with more features on the market:

Cobiz Dual Power Heavy Duty Glue Gun: This glue gun is about twice to three times the price at around $20 to $40, but it does have two heat settings (60 watts and 100 watts). I tried it out and recommend it if you’re bonding heavy materials such as canvas, but not if you’re doing delicate detail work.

Surebonder PRO2-220 Heavy Duty Hot Glue Gun: I also tested this glue gun, an industrial-grade unit that works equally well as a tool for DIY projects or for home repairs. It’s quite expensive—over $150 at full price—but if you’re a serious crafter, it comes in handy and pays for itself.