Small stick with some big problems!
Written: Apr 15 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Non-toxic, washable, dries clear, carries AP seal from ACMI, inexpensive, found in most office stores.
Cons: Does not always bond well, glue can become soft/inconsistent texture resulting in clumps.
The Bottom Line: Since it's only a glue stick and really should not be such a big decision, I am going to recommend this.
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| pinkants's Full Review: Avery Permanent Glue Stic 0.26 oz. |
You know, this thing is a glue stick. It should not be very complex. It sits there, very inconspicuous, rather innocent-looking with its bright pink, orange, and yellow body. However, it contains a whole slew of properties, both positive and negative, that may shed this little stick in a whole new light...
The Cap
First off, there's the cap. It is annoyingly small, about 2 cm (3/4 inch) tall. Therefore, you need a really firm grip to pull the cap off, even though there are three ridges to help you obtain a better grasp. I guess it is actually quite beneficial that the cap is so tight (so as to prevent the glue from drying out); however, it can become impossibly tight it you get a little bit of glue on the inside of the cap (which will almost invariably happen).
Usage
After this cap is removed (which can easily become lost because it is so small!), you simply swivel the glue up by turning the base of the tube. To use, you simply glide the glue across the surface of the material that you are trying to bond. I mainly use this to seal envelopes, but it can also be used on papers, photos (it is photo-safe), and cardboard.
Results
The glue dries clear, and it does not wrinkle the paper like some liquid glues might. However, this glue sometimes does not stick very well! After I seal an envelope, the flap may sometimes "pop" right back open! This leads me to wonder how this can possibly be permanent. In fact, oftentimes, if I need to re-open an envelope because I forgot to include something, I can easily re-open it! It seems that the glue is just very crusty and is not really sealing the two pieces together. I usually end up using a thick layer in order to seal envelopes (which, of course, will result in using up the stick faster). Furthermore, I do not believe the bond is so strong as to be able to adhere heavier media, such as cardboard or thicker papers.
The glue seems to deteriorate as time goes on. You see, the first time it is opened, the glue glides smoothly, even if you do have to make a thick layer. However, maybe after it is exposed to air or something, the glue itself becomes much softer. The consistency is not as smooth. No longer does it glide; rather clumps of glue just kind of rub off. This is rather messy and inconvenient, though the chunks of glue do bond items better! Your "stick" can therefore end up in odd shapes (it can be very mashed), making it very easy to get some glue onto the cap.
Washable, Non-toxic & acid-free
The glue itself is a cloudy white colour and is virtually odour-free. You can easily wash it off your hands, and it supposedly washes out of clothing, too (I have not had to do this yet, so I am not sure if that is true or not). It is also acid-free and carries the AP (Approved Product) Seal by the Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI). According to the ACMI (www.acminet.org), this seal "identifies art materials that are safe and that are certified in a toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children, or to cause acute or chronic health problems".
Recommendation
This is probably best for regular paper & envelopes; I really do not think it would work well on other (thicker, heavier) media. Though it does get the job done, you may have to apply a thick layer and also contend with messy clumps of glue. However, it is relatively inexpensive (about US$0.50-$1.00), and can be found at most stores that sell office supplies.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pinkants
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Member: Pink Ants
Location: ANTarctica
Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 40 members
About Me:
i'm a homeowner--yay! boston property taxes--boo!
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