Can I write an entire essay about my beloved glue gun? Let’s see.

My little white glue gun sits fired-up on the side of my desk. Ready for all (gluing) occasions.

Expensive – I don’t think so. Less than four dollars at Michael’s – I think it was less expensive last year. And those skinny mini-glue sticks? A bag of 100 costs less than six dollars. And the electricity? I have no idea.

How many glue guns do I own? Three. The other two identical glue guns are backups – just in case. I believe I have used up two whole glue guns in the last two years.

This glue gun on my desk is plugged in continuously. It just sits there – HOT – but not too hot. Not too hot because it’s a low-temperature gun. Which means if I need to touch the glue (more about that soon) I don’t get burned – much.

You are now probably wondering “What the heck does this guy do with a heated up “cool” glue gun”? So here are some times when I grab for my glue gun:

When I’m ready to apply glue to the edges of my self-bound books, and then rub the glue in with my fingers. Oh, yes, that’s one of the reasons I use the cool glue gun.

When I am ready to glue down a pop-up fold, or a picture that will pop up.

When my extra strength glue stick doesn’t do the job.

When I am ready to put a fast hardening seal – a dab of glue – on the 1/8” hole that I have drilled into my just-filled-up ink cartridge. Oh, the main reason I keep the glue gun fired up – because too many times in the past I have filled up a cartridge, only to realize that the glue gun was not plugged in. Waiting five minutes with my left forefinger covering the drip hole, waiting for the glue gun to warm up, was not my cup of tea!

I am a modern day Hoppy, with my trusty little glue gun at my side, ready for all shootouts – and paste-ups.

Fire me a line at robertebsen@hotmail.com