PSA: Hot glue fails on load-bearing cardboard joints

Built a little shelf for my cat's toys last weekend and it collapsed after about 3 hours. The hot glue just gave out on the vertical supports where the weight was concentrated. I used low-temp glue too, thought that would be fine. Switched to tacky glue mixed with some short wooden dowels and it's solid now. Has anyone else had their cardboard projects fall apart from glue failure mid-use?

2 comments

2 Comments

iris_mason881mo ago

Wait, you used low-temp hot glue on something that was actually holding weight? That stuff barely sticks two pieces of paper together for more than five minutes. I've had whole projects fall apart just from moving them around, let alone with a cat's toys sitting on top. Did you use a high-temp glue stick on the dowels or just the regular school kind?

perez.barbara1mo ago

Low-temp hot glue is actually plenty strong if you let each bead set for 10 seconds before pressing the cardboard pieces together. People just rush it and then blame the glue for their own impatience. Tacky glue is great for porous surfaces but it takes forever to dry and can warp thin cardboard.