What to Do If Winter Causes Edge-Sealing Hot Melt Adhesive to Fail to Stick Firmly

In winter, cold temperatures can wreak havoc on edge-sealing hot melt adhesive: the glue solidifies too quickly—sometimes even before forming a strong bond—causing edge bands to peel off easily. Here’s how to solve it:

1. Slightly Increase Heating Temperature

Cold weather speeds up glue cooling. Raising the adhesive’s heating temperature a bit (within the manufacturer’s recommended range) extends its “open time” (the window when it stays sticky) and slows curing. This gives the glue more time to bond before hardening.

2. Preheat the Boards and Edge Bands

Cold materials (like wood boards or edge strips) quickly sap heat from the glue, making it set prematurely. Warm them up first—use a heater or preheating station to bring their surface temperature to a moderate level before applying the adhesive. This helps the glue stay fluid longer.

3. Speed Up the Edge-Sealing Machine

If the machine runs too slowly, the glue may solidify mid-process. Increasing the machine’s working speed ensures the edge band is pressed firmly onto the board before the adhesive hardens, locking in the bond.

4. Apply a Slightly Thicker Layer of Glue

A bit more adhesive creates a larger heat reservoir, slowing cooling. This extra glue also has more time to seep into the board and edge band, boosting cohesion and reducing peeling.

5. Switch to Low-Temperature-Resistant Hot Melt Adhesive

Not all adhesives handle cold equally. Choose a hot melt glue specifically designed for winter use—these formulas resist rapid solidification in low temperatures, maintaining better adhesion even in chilly workshops.

[Image Suggestion 1: A comparison. Left: Edge band peeling from a cold board (glue solidified too fast). Right: Securely bonded edge band after preheating (glue fully set).]

[Image Suggestion 2: A step-by-step icon guide: “Increase Temp → Preheat Materials → Speed Up Machine → Thicker Glue Layer → Use Winter-Grade Adhesive”.]

With these tweaks, you can counteract winter’s cold and keep edge-sealing adhesive strong—no more loose or peeling edges!