Still Searching For A Glue Stick that Works All the Time
Written: Apr 28 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to use, washable, non-toxic, acid-free -- for paper, cardboard, photos, fabric
Cons: not always permanent -- not 100% odorless
The Bottom Line: A good glue stick ... but has limitations.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Avery Permanent Glue Stic 0.26 oz. |
I have not had much luck with glue sticks. Granted they work for the moment, but for long- lasting staying power ... well, I haven't been impressed. I've used the Avery Glue Stic at work and home and thought I'd share my impressions of this product.
Description & Use
I purchase the Avery Glue Stic in the .26 ounce size. The glue stick comes in a tube about 3 1/4" long with a 3/4" diameter. The manufacturer makes the glue stick attractive by decorating the tube in bright colors that catch the eye. This is a permanent glue that is washable.
The glue is white and dries clear. Remove the cap with a firm tug. Then twist the bottom of the glue stick to raise the glue from the tube. It works like a lipstick tube. If the glue lifts too much from the tube, twist the bottom of the glue stick in a reverse direction to lower the glue back into the tube.
Using the glue stick is easy. For example: say you want to stick a photo in a scrapbook. Simply hold the glue stick and touch the glue to the back of the photo. Using an even movement and pressure, drag the glue stick across the back of the photo. I usually apply the glue near the edges and then mark an "X" through the middle. When you are finished with the glue, place the cap back on the glue stick. Hold the photograph and place the sticky side against the paper you are gluing it to. Smooth the photo with a clean hand to make sure it firmly adheres.
Even though the manufacturer states the glue is odorless, I find that when I use it, there is a very faint non-offensive odor. This slight smell disappears after the glue dries. The manufacturer states the glue is acid-free and photo safe and that it can be used on paper, cardboard, photos and fabric.
Once the glue stick has been opened, the glue will change consistency over time. I have opened drawers to find forgotten partially used glue sticks. The glue tends to shrink in the tube if opened and left unused.
My Impressions
There are times in my life that I have to use glue. While I like the properties of Rubber Cement, it is messy and not convenient for quick application. A glue stick can travel in a bag or purse, and for the most part is clean to use. I say "for the most part" because this rule is tossed out the window when doing crafts with children. I have experience with this ... trust me.
Paper
I prepare an annual literary journal and create dummies of it to take to editorial meetings. We are a small group, so it makes sense to run the journal off on my printer (using regular 20-pound paper) then fold the sheets like a book. Only my printing software will not allow double-sided printing on my printer (a pet peeve at the moment!) ... so to make handling the dummy pages easier, I use the Avery Glue Stic to paste the blank sides of the pages together so that only the printed pages show. This glue stick makes a quick job of the project. And since I know these dummies are for marking editorial changes and will be disposed of after those changes are made, it doesn't matter to me how long the glue lasts. For this purpose, I like these glue sticks.
At work, I prepare sample books of photos cut from various catalogs. The sample book pages are a thick stiff art paper. Someone before me started these books. I've been adding pictures to the sample books for eight years, most of the time using the Avery Glue Stic (since this is what the office purchases). The glue sticks say "Permanent" on them, and Avery states this is a permanent glue. I wonder how they define the term permanent? When I flip through the sample books, some of the glued photos fall out. These falling-out photos average in age between two to ten years in the book. If anything, I tend to over-glue ... so I know enough glue was applied. During the last year, I've switched to using double-sided tape to stick pictures in the sample books.
I hate licking envelopes. The Avery Glue Stic is excellent for quickly sealing envelopes of all sizes. Just run the glue stick along the envelope flap several times and firmly press the envelope closed. If you have a stack of envelopes to seal, then this is an easy way to do it. Note that I find one pass of the glue stick is not enough to firmly seal the envelope; run the glue stick back and forth a few times.
During all my paper glueing experiences, I have never seen this glue stick wrinkle or tear paper. The only way paper might become wrinkled is if when glueing two pieces of paper together the papers are not properly smoothed. If the two pieces of paper shift when glued, then wrinkling might occur.
Fabric
I sew a lot. Sometimes I need to tack a piece of fabric in place before sewing or quilting. I only use this glue if I am dabbing a tiny bit of glue from this glue stick onto a piece of fabric ... and then hand-sewing the material in place. I never use this glue stick for a project I plan to run through the sewing machine. I don't want to risk my sewing machine needle becoming sticky, jamming or even breaking if it hits an area that has been glued.
However, if a strip of fabric or ribbon needs gluing to a craft project that does not need sewing, then I might use this glue stick. The fabric I have glued with this stick tends to stay in place. However, the results tend to vary depending upon the type of fabric glued and how much wear and tear the item will receive. I prefer using a hot glue gun for my craft projects.
Children and Glue Sticks
Children and crafts naturally go together. And I freely admit that I have a great time creating fun projects. The Avery Glue Stic is a good way for children to assemble their crafts. The glue sticks are easy to hold and are non-toxic. Any glue that gets on clothing will wash out, too. The cap on the glue stick is large enough so that it would be difficult to swallow it. (Avery asserts that the cap will not pose a choking hazard.)
When the children and I tackle projects, I make sure all the materials are at hand so that I'm not running around the house leaving the children unsupervised. A child left alone with a glue stick is a scary thing! You only have to turn away for a second for a child to twist all the glue out of the tube. Children also have a tendency to over-glue everything (even worse than I do!). So it's a good thing these glue sticks are inexpensive. The Avery Glue Stic is wonderful for children's crafts.
Note that when the glue stick is heavily pressed, glue clumps might appear. The lumps will show when two pieces of paper are stuck together. Make sure the surface being glued receives an even layer of glue. If a glue lump is undiscovered and dries, a child might complain about it. If the project is something that is super decorated, try hiding the glue clump with more ornamentation such as glitter.
Likes
* Easy to use
* Inexpensive
* Virtually odorless
* Acid-free
* Easy to clean off of things
Dislikes
* Glue is not as long-lasting as I would like
* Doesn't work well on all materials when it should
Purchasing
I have purchased the Avery Permanent Glue Stic from Staples and OfficeMax as well as local department stores. These glue sticks can be purchased individually or in multi-packs. Avery also manufacturers other types of glue sticks. One of the varieties is a glue stick that is purple in color so that you can easily see where the glue is applied, and the glue dries clear.
Staples -- 3-pack $1.85 / 18-pack $9.89
OfficeMax -- 3-pack $1.79 / 18-pack $9.29
Office Depot -- 78-cents per glue stick (buy 4 or more and pay 59-cents a stick)
Summary
In general, I like the Avery Permanent Glue Stic. However, these glue sticks do not meet all my gluing needs. I give the Avery Glue Stic five stars for a great glue stick when used for children's crafts. For my needs, I rate these glue sticks with three stars. So I'll average it out and give the product four stars. These are good glue sticks. It just depends what you are using them for and how long you want your glue to hold.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Avery Dennison Consumer Service Center
50 Pointe Drive
Brea, CA 92821
Toll-free Phone: 800-462-8379
(call Monday - Friday 6:00 am to 4:00 pm Pacific Time)
Please read my other reviews:
Scotch Double-Coated Tape
Sharpie Twin-Tip Permanent Marker
Tombow White Correction Tape
Stanley Contemporary Electric Pencil Sharpener
Stanley Heavy-Duty Stapler for up to 120 sheets
Stanley Quick Point Knife
Fellowes Magnetic Copyholder
Avery File Folder Labels for both inkjet and laser printers
Wausau Exact Vellum Bristol Cover Stock -- in Blue (created brochures with it)
HON Metal Bookcase
Cramer Stop-Step Aluminum Ladder
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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