Don't Nail Cables and Cords - Glue Them!
Hot glue guns have their uses for more than just crafts and are a handy tool to have in your toolkit, especially when fastening cables and cords to walls and around skirting boards.
03/04/2022
The humble hot glue gun hasn't received the attention it is due over the years. It is not only great for craft projects but there are also plenty of home tasks where you can use a hot glue gun. One example of the usefulness of a hot glue gun is to use it for fastening cables, cords and leads as an alternative to using cable pins.
I am sure that most of you already know what cable clips are. These are available in different sizes and used for securing cables, leads and cords to walls or around skirtings for electronic devices and appliances such as a TV, Dstv decoder, audio, and visual equipment, and so on. The clips are placed over the cable and the hardened steel pin hammered into a wall or surface to secure the cable in place. The main downside of using cable clips is that they can damage walls by chipping or causing plaster to fall off or cause even more damage when they need to be removed for any reason.
I have been using a hot glue gun to secure cables to walls for many years and I have discovered that not only is it an easy way to secure walls without any damage whatsoever, but it is also easier to remove or move cables fastened without damaging walls. After pulling the cables away from the wall, it is easy enough to peel off the hardened glue as well. It's an excellent idea for preventing cables from lying loose on floors or dangling from a ceiling.
How to Use a Hot Glue Gun to Secure Cables
Prepare beforehand
Make sure that you have everything you need on hand to secure the cable to the surface. Walls and skirtings should be clean and free from dust that will interfere with the process. Use a feather duster or soft cloth to wipe the surfaces before you start. Cords, cables, or leads need to be untangled and ready and you will need a silicone pad for the hot glue gun to prevent glue from sticking everywhere.
Quick Tip: A silicone pad prevents glue from sticking everywhere and is easy to clean once the glue has set hard.
Heat up the glue
The trick to using a hot glue gun is to work as quickly as possible. Heat up the glue to the required temperature, so that it is clear and runny when it leaves the glue gun. You need to quickly apply the glue to the surface before pressing the cable into the hot glue before it has time to cool and set hard.
Secure the cable
Apply the hot glue in small sections at a time. The idea is to press down a small length of cable until the glue sets and then move on to the next section. If you apply a long length of glue, you risk the glue setting before it has time to adhere to the cable.
Make sure that each section is set before moving on to the next section.
If you stay in a rental home, glueing cables down won't damage walls or surfaces.
Fastening a cable to a wall uses the same method as fastening it anywhere. Make sure the surface is clean and work in small sections. Start at the top of the wall and work your way down in small sections.
Work quickly to apply a bead of glue and then press down on the cable until the glue sets and you can move down.
Using a hot glue gun to secure cables, cords and leads leaves a neat finish without any nails or cable clips - one that can be painted over if you want to disguise it.
Quick Tip: Purchase a hot glue gun that accepts the larger diameter and longer glue sticks. These are a far better option than the thinner and shorter glue sticks.
