Common Winter Hot Melt Adhesive Problems & Solutions

hujumpchemical
Nov 13, 2019
2 min read

When temperatures drop in winter, hot melt adhesives can behave differently and sometimes cause bonding issues during edge banding or other applications. Here are some of the most common problems you may encounter — and how to solve them.

Q1. Edge banding strips tend to peel off in cold weather — what should I do?

Cause:

When hot melt adhesive meets a cold substrate, the surface cools and skins over too quickly, preventing proper wetting and penetration. This can lead to false bonding or weak adhesion.

Solution:

Preheat the substrate before edge banding.
Slightly increase the temperature settings of the glue pot and pressure rollers.
Adjust the pressure of the edge banding machine.
Increase the feed speed to reduce glue exposure time in cold air.
Regularly check the glue application to avoid insufficient glue coverage.
For better performance, choose hot melt adhesives with longer open time and stronger wetting/penetration, such as HUJUMP models 7030, 8010, 8030D, 8030G, 8030DB.

Q2. Chipping or delamination occurs during slotting — how can I prevent it?

Cause:

At low temperatures, both the adhesive and the edge banding strip may shrink and harden, building up internal stress at the bond line. When the slotting tool impacts the joint, this stress is released, causing chipping or delamination.

Solution:

Keep board temperature above 18°C (64°F) during slotting to reduce tool impact.
Adjust tool rotation direction to reduce impact on the banding surface.
Lower the slotting feed speed and keep tools sharp to minimize shock.
Add a small amount of HUJUMP 8080 adhesive to improve flexibility and bonding.

Q3. Why does the adhesive become stringy when edge banding in winter?

Cause:

Stringing usually occurs with transparent hot melt adhesives, especially when there’s a large indoor/outdoor temperature difference. Overheating or excessive glue application can also cause stringing.

Solution:

Increase the glue machine temperature slightly to improve flow.
Adjust the application temperature to increase adhesive fluidity.
Reduce glue amount if excessive.
Optimize based on both machine conditions and environmental temperature.

Q4. The glue application is insufficient or uneven — what’s wrong?

Cause:

Glue channels or nozzles may be clogged during pre-melting.
The machine’s heating capacity may be insufficient for complete melting.
The hot melt unit’s temperature may be set too low.

Solution:

Clean the glue tank and nozzles regularly.
Control glue feed to ensure complete melting.
Adjust machine pressure for uniform application.
Raise the glue pot temperature appropriately to improve melt flow.

💡 Tips for Perfect Edge Banding in Winter

Achieving excellent bonding results requires holistic consideration — from equipment setup and material selection to proper processing conditions. Using high-quality adhesives with reliable performance is equally critical.

👉 HUJUMP offers a full range of premium edge banding hot melt adhesives with stable bonding strength and excellent cold-weather performance. Our trusted products help manufacturers reduce defects and improve production efficiency even in low-temperature conditions.

When temperatures drop in winter, hot melt adhesives can behave differently and sometimes cause bonding issues during edge banding or other applications. Here are some of the most common problems you may encounter — and how to solve them.

Q1. Edge banding strips tend to peel off in cold weather — what should I do?

Cause:

When hot melt adhesive meets a cold substrate, the surface cools and skins over too quickly, preventing proper wetting and penetration. This can lead to false bonding or weak adhesion.

Solution:

Preheat the substrate before edge banding.

Slightly increase the temperature settings of the glue pot and pressure rollers.

Adjust the pressure of the edge banding machine.

Increase the feed speed to reduce glue exposure time in cold air.

Regularly check the glue application to avoid insufficient glue coverage.

For better performance, choose hot melt adhesives with longer open time and stronger wetting/penetration, such as HUJUMP models 7030, 8010, 8030D, 8030G, 8030DB.

Q2. Chipping or delamination occurs during slotting — how can I prevent it?

Cause:

At low temperatures, both the adhesive and the edge banding strip may shrink and harden, building up internal stress at the bond line. When the slotting tool impacts the joint, this stress is released, causing chipping or delamination.

Solution:

Keep board temperature above 18°C (64°F) during slotting to reduce tool impact.

Adjust tool rotation direction to reduce impact on the banding surface.

Lower the slotting feed speed and keep tools sharp to minimize shock.

Add a small amount of HUJUMP 8080 adhesive to improve flexibility and bonding.

Q3. Why does the adhesive become stringy when edge banding in winter?

Cause:

Stringing usually occurs with transparent hot melt adhesives, especially when there’s a large indoor/outdoor temperature difference. Overheating or excessive glue application can also cause stringing.

Solution:

Increase the glue machine temperature slightly to improve flow.

Adjust the application temperature to increase adhesive fluidity.

Reduce glue amount if excessive.

Optimize based on both machine conditions and environmental temperature.

Q4. The glue application is insufficient or uneven — what’s wrong?

Cause:

Glue channels or nozzles may be clogged during pre-melting.

The machine’s heating capacity may be insufficient for complete melting.

The hot melt unit’s temperature may be set too low.

Solution:

Clean the glue tank and nozzles regularly.

Control glue feed to ensure complete melting.

Adjust machine pressure for uniform application.

Raise the glue pot temperature appropriately to improve melt flow.

💡 Tips for Perfect Edge Banding in Winter

Achieving excellent bonding results requires holistic consideration — from equipment setup and material selection to proper processing conditions. Using high-quality adhesives with reliable performance is equally critical.

👉 HUJUMP offers a full range of premium edge banding hot melt adhesives with stable bonding strength and excellent cold-weather performance. Our trusted products help manufacturers reduce defects and improve production efficiency even in low-temperature conditions.

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