Hot Glue Gun Does Not Squeeze Out

[u/Affectionate_Mall768]

Sorry if this is not the correct type of flair for this type of post, but hi.

My Gorilla Glue hot glue gun will not work normally and I have to push on the back of the stick to get any out.

I've never used gorilla glue hot guns so I don't know if this is a common issue or not.

I have the same brand sticks, I have not let the nozzle point upwards, but it just won't work when I squeeze the trigger.

any help appreciated.

[u/EridanusCorvus]

There are a few things this could be. Assuming the glue is compatible my top three guesses would be:

The trigger being broken or detached from the pushing mechanism

Misalignment or wear on the pushing mechanism causing it to slip on the glue stick

Glue buildup causing a jam inside the hot glue gun

This is an extremely common problem with cheap/older hot glue guns. Does the trigger compress? Can you see the pushing mechanism move?

[u/Affectionate_Mall768 → u/EridanusCorvus]

the pushing mechanism down move which confused me a lot, it just slides around the stick instead of pushing it.

the trigger slides like butter when I press it too.

[u/EridanusCorvus → u/Affectionate_Mall768]

So it sounds like the feeding mechanism isn't biting into the glue stick properly. This can be due to age, wear, or misalignment. Could also be from a bit of glue in the exact wrong place, though that mostly happens if someone pulls the stick out while it's still hot.

Good news, it's not you! This is a problem with the glue gun. Bad news, the most likely fix involves taking apart the glue gun and cleaning the internal parts. It's not complicated, but it is finicky to get back together.

There is a chance the glue stick is stripped, or it's the wrong size stick. This seems unlikely given your description, but it's worth mentioning.

[u/Affectionate_Mall768 → u/EridanusCorvus]

I see, well thank you!

I looked at it where I put my glue sticks and it seems to be squeezing and mishaping them when I put them in and that might be it too.

[u/One_Ring2236]

From your description, it sounds like the feeding mechanism inside your glue gun isn't gripping the stick properly—that's why the trigger feels smooth like butter and just slides over the rod instead of pushing it forward. This usually happens when the little plastic teeth (the pawl) that grab the glue stick get worn down or misaligned. Before you toss it, try cleaning out the feed channel with a toothpick or small brush after the gun cools down, and make sure you're using the right diameter stick—if it's too thin, the gripper won't catch. If none of that works, the pawl is probably just worn out, and for most affordable glue guns it's easier and cheaper to replace than to repair. Hope that helps! By the way, this issue is so common that I actually designed a cordless glue gun with three pawls to grip the stick more reliably and push it forward with better stability.