Customer Reviews

Franklin International 1341 Titebond HiPURformer Kit

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Be sure to read all the other reviews, especially the highly critical ones, for they are all correct. But there are some simple solutions the the problems. I have spoken to Franklin about adapting one of these solutions permanently for their tubes of glue, and their tech reps are submitting this idea to the company. I believe this system is worth a little extra trouble on the part of the user, for it does things no other system can do.

This is the most amazing glue system I have ever used since the advent of epoxies. It allows you to complete projects that would be almost impossible otherwise. On one project, I needed a 2x4 next to an existing one to attach fold-down shelf brackets. But there was no way of getting behind the wall to screw or nail in another 2x4. I could just barely reach behind there enough to slip in a 2x4 coated with the 30 second adhesive and shove it against the existing 2x4. There was no room for clamps and conventional glues. It worked superbly. It is also marvelous for attaching trim without nails and for attaching edge pieces to the normally awful sides of plywood, with all the gaps and voids. And the 300 series glue will handle almost any material known to man.

Now the problem with the system. The gun plunger does not mate properly with the back end of the glue in the tube, and after one use with subsequent cooling, the back of the tube deforms, often causing glue to leak and frequently making future use of the rest of the tube difficult or impossible. This causes the dribbling effect the first reviewer mentioned. To prevent this, here are two ideas. First, remove the glue tube from the gun before it cools, something they don't tell you in the manual. BUT WEAR GLOVES. A more complete solution until Franklin designs something better is to take some stick epoxy and form a small piece to fit the back of the NEW tube of adhesive. Then while it is still soft, put it in the gun and shove the plunger into the back of the epoxy plug to make an indention. This creates a perfect fit between plunger and tube back and will allow full use of the tube after numerous cooling and heating cycles. Also, freezing the tube in a vacuum sealer bag or vacuum container extends the life almost indefinitely.

the gun lasted only a few times before the cheap plastic screw on thing broke. if you don't use all the glue in a tube the first time you open it, the rest of the glue goes to waste because it hardens after that and takes forever to heat up. then when it finally does it drips out of the end wasting a bunch unless you use the cap which means you gotta screw it on and off every time so you have to wear gloves coz the gun is too hot. The glue holds when you can get the gun to work. the glue is good but the gun is bad. you'll be sorry you bought (I think). hope this helps. this has been my experience with it. others may have different experiences.

I've read the one star review and believe he got a bad gun initially. If you want to save the glue for latter use, you have to squeeze out and inch long string of glue and put the cap IMMEDIATELY ON. IF you do that, your gun will reheat the partly used glue cartridge. I've used the regular hot melt guns, and NONE have the holding power of these glues. IF you use the red sticks (multipurpose) you can glue almost ANYTHING TO ANYTHING. I glue a 2 x 4 to a brick wall, and you can get it off with a sledge hammer!! Buy all the different types for all your remodeling projects. It's the best thing for returns for finished carpentry. With this gun, and a 23-gauge pin nailer, you can do the best looking crown moulding possible. HIGHLY RECOMMENED!

this is the best item in a tool box for fastening mouldings,casings, whatever.Just glue ,hold the item and a permenant bond is created.I did notice that primed wood should be stiped in joining areas to give a wood to wood bond.otherwise the paint comes off if bond is stressed.

Works great out of the box, but after about a year of Use the gun started to deteriorate, eventually splitting at the seam of the housing by about month 18. I am a professional carpenter, and used the gun several times a week, for bouts of 6-8 hours at a clip. (just trying to put the wear-out rate in perspective) I still replaced the gun and use the new one regularly as well since the glues work so well, but the gun could use some design impovements in the future.

This is a whole new way of looking at wood building and other projects. I also bought a fancy jig system, then realized this adhesive is the only thing I need. I lined the inside of a cabinet, fastened a dummy door pull to the closet, and added a 3/4 inch piece of wood to the bottom of a door in less than ten minutes. Very fast and very strong!
As suggested by another reviewer, I remove the tube after squeezing out an inch of adhesive and capping it. I store the tubes in the freezer in a vacuum sealed jar. Oh, and customer service by Franklin international is awesome.

Edit: After a using it for over a year, I am more aware of the limitations at home and in my beginners woodshop. It did not replace the pocket screws or the dowelmax, but complements them. It is unbelievable when I have 2 clean surfaces to be joined with enough flat surface area to hold. These are critical factors to remember.

The short set time for the 30 and 75 glues, though, means I have to get things aligned perfectly and very quickly--which as a novice woodworker is almost never! I just assembled a downdraft sanding box trying the 300 (5 min set time) which worked better for me on this kind of project. A more skilled person would use it for even more things. the biggest advantage is not having to wait overnight for the glue to set before moving on with a project. You are supposed to wait 24 hours before "stressing" it but it is strong enough to sand or whatever within 15 minutes.

I just used a tube of the 75 (partially used) and a new tube of the 300 that had been stored in my freezer and almost 1 1/2 years past the expiration date. Very good product IMO.

This is a great product for certain occations. I am a professional woodworker and never would have guessed at the strength this glue unit would have. I can see myself using it way beyond woodworking. When experimenting I found great strength in a simple but joint, which is the weekest joint there is. Now there is a small gap left sometimes where there might be a little to much glue, but that can be kept to a minimal. Im sure that this wont replace anywhere where gluing and clamping normally take place, but it will take over where ever a brad nailer might be used. Not having to fill the little holes when attaching molding is great.

The item is way overpriced, I expected much more for a device that costs 3 to 4 times what the "normal" hot glue gun goes for. $99 vs. $4-$25

All 3 of the glue packages shipped with the gun were LONG out of date. The "use before" dates were all from 12 to 18 months out of date.

No where in the advertising was I made aware that the glue had a short shelf life of up to 90 days after it was removed from the package. No where did it state that the glue shelf life was only a year if left sealed. Normal hot glue stores for years.

I use Titebond glue almost exclusively in my shop with outstanding results. I thought a product with their name on it would meet up to their nomally high standards.

The Franklin Titebond HiPURformer is Hot Glue for Grownups. It is like Hot Glue on Steroids!
It forms much, much more secure bonds than traditional no-heat Polyurethane glues.

The kit is complete, and if one reads the instructions carefully it works as advertised!
It is advisable to remove Adhesive Cartridges from the gun while still hot. The heating element is thick, heavy, and fully surrounds a new full Cartridge.
Heat the Cartridge for the recommended 20 minutes; when you remove the gun from it's stand you have at least 10-15 minutes to work with it before the cartridge begins to cool.

As the instructions state it is best to replace the cap after you lay down a bead of glue- it just takes 5 seconds! and should be done immediately before you start mating and joining your project pieces.

Initial bonds are incredibly strong even after just 2-5 minutes. Once the Polyurethane has cured for 24-48 hours and has had time to chemically bond with exposure to air and moisture, the bonds are indestructible!!!

Be sure to consult the Adhesive's Properties guide, so that you choose the right glue for your job.

Some have complained about the plunger; it would be stronger if it was made of metal and plastic. However, the plunger works just fine if you let each cartridge heat for the full 20 minutes- even after the light is green. This will ensure good adhesive flow, and don't force the plunger or trigger. I have never had oozing problems with mine. If you are getting nozzle seepage after applying a bead; just pull the trigger enough to allow you to pull back the plunger. All my cartridges have worked flawlessly with no rear seepage or oozing.

This is an amazing system! It's easily worth the $100 price tag, and the adhesive cartridges are pretty cheap to at about $7-8 each. Best thing to come along in years! This Adhesive System is in a League Of It's Own!!!

This product was used by a company that did our kitchen cabinet's restoration recently. The employee was highly impressed with the product and that sold me on it. I ordered my own kit and have used it twice. I look forward to using it in the future on other projects of mine.