The idea of using glue to stick led strip lights is a very common thought. However, is it something you can do? In this article, I will answer the question of whether or not you can hot glue led strip lights.
So can you hot glue led strip lights? Hot glue does not contain any harmful chemicals that can damage your led strip lights or the surface you’re attaching it to so you can use a hot glue gun to hot glue led strip lights to any surface to secure it firmly so that it does not fall off. This is also possible because the adhesive has a great deal of strength and it dries quickly.
To learn more about hot gluing led strip lights, keep reading this article.
Hot Glue And LED Strip Lights
While using hot glue is one of the most common methods for securing led to a surface, there are a few things to consider when you hot glue led strip lights.
Be Careful About The Hot Glue Temperature
Since you are using hot glue to stick led strip lights, it is important that the temperature of your hot glue gun isn’t too high.
This is because the high temperatures can damage and melt your led strip lights. Let me quickly add that this is less likely to happen.
This is because oftentimes the electronic parts of the led strip lights are soldered at much higher temperatures.
But it is worth keeping the temperature of your glue gun in mind. It is important that you use a glue gun with the appropriate temperature range.
If your hot glue gun has too low of a temperature, then the led strip light adhesive will dry too slowly and may not be as strong.
On the other hand, if your hot glue gun has a high temperature, this may damage led strip lights and can also damage or warp certain surfaces that you may be trying to hot glue led strip lights onto.
Of course, this would depend on the surface you are trying to attach it onto as well as how long and close your gun was at any one time.
The Amount Of Hot Glue To Use On LED Strip Lights
When your use hot glue led strip lights, the amount of adhesive that is on your light strip will depend significantly on what surface you are attaching it to.
This is because you want to make sure the adhesive has enough strength to hold it in place, but not too much that can cause damage to the surface.
This is a big reason why you would want to use a glue gun because it allows you to control how much adhesive comes out.
You should not also apply a lot of glue into one spot or you may cause a short circuit on your lights.
It is crucial that you use the right amount of hot glue when attaching led strip lights. Do not use too much hot glue that they cove the LEDs or chips.
If you would want to go over the strip itself for better adhesion, you can go over where the copper pads that are not being used are.
But I will advise against doing this if you’re not an expert as it can be difficult to identify.
Just use enough hot glue that covers the underside of the led strip light and make sure the hot glue application is not too much that it comes around the sides of the led strip lights.
Using too much can warp the strip itself because the adhesive becomes too thick.
Use High-Temperature Glue
If you’ve ever seen or hot glued led strip lights onto a surface and later found the glue giving up is due to the fact that low temperature was used.
Low-temperature hot glue can melt easily with the slightest heat from the led strip light and as a result, led strip lights begin to fall off.
High-temperature hot glue on the other hand requires high temperatures before the glue can melt.
Meaning the heat from led strip lights will not be able to affect the adhesion when you use high-temperature hot glue.
You just have to make sure that when using the high-temperature glue, you apply the hot glue on the surface you’re gluing the led strip lights to instead of the led strip lights itself.
This way the adhesive will have more strength to hold it in place without falling like other adhesion solutions.
High temperatures are required for the glue to reach its full strength. If it isn’t high enough, then you will not get a strong bond.
Viscosity Of The Hot Glue
Another thing you need to consider is the viscosity or consistency of the hot glue. If the hot glue is too liquid it can seep in between the led strip lights itself.
This will cause the adhesive to not hold as well and may even damage the led strip lights themselves. This can be counteracted by using glue that is thicker.
The viscosity of the hot glue will vary depending on what brand and type you use, but they all aim to make glue that is thick enough to hold the led strip lights in place.
If you want, you can also buy hot glue sticks with high viscosities to ensure that the adhesive does not seep between your led strip lights.
The viscosity of hot glue is important as it can cause led strip lights to fall off.
Non-Waterproof Rated Led Strip Lights
If you are using non-waterproof rated led strip lights, it is important that when attaching them to surfaces with hot glue, make sure the adhesive does not come in contact with the hot glue.
This is because the adhesive can wet the surface of the circuit board and cause it to fail.
To avoid this, you can use heat shrink tubing over the led strip lights which will not only make it waterproof but also prevent hot glue from coming in contact with the circuit board.
You can buy hot glue sticks from your local hardware store to ensure that you have what it takes to attach the led strip lights.
You can also use a heat gun if you have one to help with your hot glue application as it does not get so hot.
The heat gun will help you avoid having to use too much adhesive which also helps prevent excess gluing especially when it comes around the sides of the led strip lights.
Benefits Using Hot Glue To Attach Led Strop Lights
1. Quick And Easy To Use
Hot gluing led strips are very quick and easy to use. You can do this without having too much experience or needing so many tools. All you need is a heat gun and hot glue sticks.
2. Small And Compact
Hot gluing is a small and compact solution to attaching led strip lights. You will not need any tools and you can use them in small areas where other solutions may not work.
3. High-Temperature Glue Will Make The Adhesion Stronger
Using high-temperature glue will make the adhesion stronger. It is important to use this if you want your led strip lights to stay in place for a long time. This also ensures that you do not have to apply too much glue.
4. It’s Safe And Risk-Free
Hot gluing led strip lights is safe and risk-free. You can do this without having to worry about damaging the led strip lights themselves. All you need is a good adhesive and hot glue sticks.
5. You Can Do This Without Being Experienced With Adhesion Solutions
If you are someone who is not experienced with adhesion solutions, you can still hot glue led strip lights as it is a quick and easy solution.
You do not need any special tools or skills to use this method, you only need the hot glue sticks.
6. Cheap When Compared To Other Adhesion Solutions
Hot gluing led strip lights is cheap when compared to other adhesion solutions. It is very affordable and you can do this even if you are on a budget.
With as little as $20, you can get a good amount of hot glue sticks that will last you for a long time.
Bad Things About Using Hot Glue To Attach Led Strip Lights
1. Can Warp The Led Strip Light Surface
If you use too much, hot glue can warp the led strip light surface. This will be evident when there are bubbles or even bulges forming on the surface of the led strip lights.
2. Hot Glue Can Get Stuck To More Than You Expected It To
When applying hot glue to led strip lights, you can find that it gets stuck to more than you expected it to. This is because hot glue has a strong bond and when it cools down, it becomes a permanent adhesive.
3. Increased Risk Of Over Glueing
When you are using hot glue to attach led strip lights, it is easy for you to over-apply the adhesive.
This can be very problematic because it can cause the surface of the led strip lights to sit more than it should.
Over applying hot glue is also very risky because adding too much can cause the led strip lights to fail.
4. Seepage Of Hot Glue Into The Circuitry
When you use hot glue to attach led strip lights, it can seep into the circuitry and damage it.
This can happen when using a heat gun to help with the hot glue application. It heats up the led strip lights and this causes it to soften.
How To Hot Glue Led Strip Lights
Hot gluing led strip lights to the surface is very easy if you follow these simple instructions:
Step 1:
- Turn off the led strip lights first. If there is a switch, turn it to ‘off’.
Step 2:
- Remove unnecessary adhesive from the surface so you only have the led strip lights adhered to it.
Step 3:
- Apply hot glue to the surface where you want to attach the led strip lights.
- Make sure not to apply too much.
Important Tip: If you are sticking a very long strip of led light apply the hot glue in sections. This will ensure that the hot glue does not glue before you get to stick the led strip light on.
Steps 4:
- Start to adhere the led strip light to the glue application. Make sure it is as straight or curved as you would want.
- Again, if you are mounting a long strip of led light, you can apply the hot glue for one section before adhering to the led strip light.
Step 5:
- Apply pressure to the led strip light so it adheres to the glue application.
- Continue doing it until the whole length is stuck in place.
Here’s a video of how to hot glue led strip lights:
Steps For Removing Hot Glue From The Surface Of Led Strip Lights
If you made a mistake and over-applied the hot glue, you can use rubbing alcohol to help with removing it. Just make sure the rubbing alcohol is 91% and higher.
The best thing about using rubbing alcohol is that it will evaporate quickly and leave no wetness that can damage your led strip lights.
While rubbing alcohol will evaporate quickly, you would want to make sure the rubbing alcohol has completely dried before turning on the light. Here’s how to use rubbing alcohol to remove hot glue from led strip lights:
Step 1:
- Dip q-tip in rubbing alcohol.
Step 2:
- Dab it around the area where the glue is.
- Make sure to get just about enough on it.
Step 3:
- Leave it for about 2-3 minutes.
Step 4:
- Begin to peel the hot glue off. But be gentle not to snap the led strip lights.
- If you find that any part of the hot glue is still very strong, apply a little more rubbing alcohol, give it about 2 minutes and the hot glue will come right off.
Final Thoughts
Hot gluing led strip lights can be a fun and easy application. However, when you are using hot glue to stick the led strip light to surfaces, there is always a chance that it will cause damage in one way or another.
As long as you follow these simple steps for how to attach led strip lights with hot glue, you should be fine.
I hope this article has helped you in some way. Thanks for reading!
FAQ’s
Q. What is the best glue for led strip lights?
A. The answer to this question depends on what you are using it for. Hot glue, E6000, and super glue will all work fine if used properly. You can also use silicone adhesive or epoxy depending on your application requirements as well. Just make sure that whatever adhesive you choose does not seep into the circuitry of your led strip lights.
Q: Can I use glue that isn’t meant for led strip lights?
A: No, you should never use any glue that isn’t meant for led strip lights. Glue may seep into the circuitry and damage it. This can happen when you use glues that are not meant for led strip lights