How to use a Hot Glue Pot for Making Wreaths

Using a hot glue pot for making wreaths has been a game changer in my wreath making business. A hot glue pot has become an essential tool in my small business, and it’s actually my favorite wreath making tool!

I want to share with you why I made the switch from a glue gun to an electric glue skillet, and I’ll let you in on how you can make the switch too!

FAQ’s About Hot Glue Pots

WHAT IS A HOT GLUE POT?

Whether you call it a hot glue pot, a glue pan, or an electric glue skillet…they’re all essentially the same thing – an electric skillet. More accurately, an electric skillet used exclusively to melt and contain hot glue. There are companies that manufacture electric skillets specifically marketed as hot glue pots, but a run-of-the-mill electric skillet designed for cooking will work just as well.

WHY A HOT GLUE POT IS SUPERIOR TO A GLUE GUN?

While a glue gun is the perfect tool for crafting with kids on a Saturday afternoon or completing a simple project that requires a bit of hot glue to pull it all together, it simply cannot keep up with the demands of those of us who craft professionally.

I use a lot of hot glue in my wreath making workshop. In fact, I use it in ALL of my wreaths and floral arrangements. And when I’m working efficiently, I’m using hot glue at a much faster rate than a glue gun can melt a stick of glue.

Using an electric glue pot enables me to have a generous pool of perfectly melted glue that is the exact temperature and consistency I need to construct wreaths and arrangements that are both beautiful and secure.

It is the liquid gold that allows me to work fast and efficiently!

WHERE DO YOU BUY AN ELECTRIC HOT GLUE PAN?

Over the years I’ve purchased several glue skillets but my favorite one is this 8″ Electric Skillet from Amazon is the only one I use in my wreath workshop.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN ELECTRIC HOT GLUE POT

You can purchase an electric glue skillet just about anywhere that sells kitchen or craft supplies, including your local thrift store. But there are a few features that you’re going to want to make sure to be on the lookout for:

Temperature dial

Having a dial that you can use to control the temperature of your electric glue pot is essential. You are going to need to adjust the temperature from time to time in order to get the glue to the desired consistency, and you definitely don’t want your skillet getting too hot which can cause the glue to burn.

Side note: I learned the hard way that some of the more inexpensive skillets don’t have temperature dials that are labeled with numbers. This makes it very difficult to maintain the temperature of your glue. In my case, the skillet would either get WAY TOO HOT or it wouldn’t stay hot enough.

You may have to pay a bit more for this feature, but trust me, it’s worth it!

This is the electric hot glue pot I recommend.

Size

Electric skillets typically come in a couple of sizes, usually ranging from 8 to 12 inches. I find that an 8 inch is plenty large enough for my purposes.

In choosing the size of your skillet, also remember to consider the size of your work station.

SETTING UP YOUR HOT GLUE POT

Once you have acquired your hot glue skillet, the first thing you’re going to do is… get rid of the lid.

As soon as you melt hot glue in your skillet for the first time, the lid can no longer be placed back on. If the glue is still melted, it will cause the lid to adhere to the skillet as it dries. If the glue is dried, it will most likely prevent the lid from sitting properly on the top.

Next, you need to prep your workspace to accommodate your hot glue pot.

Make sure your work surface is level and free from clutter. The skillet is going to get HOT, especially on the bottom! So you definitely want to make sure that it is sitting on a flat, stable surface away from items that may be damaged by its heat. This includes the work surface itself. I use a leftover ceramic bathroom tile placed beneath the skillet to protect my table.

HOW TO PREP YOUR HOT GLUE POT

The last step in preparing your hot glue skillet before you can get to work is choosing your hot glue and melting it down to the desired consistency.

There are many options when it comes to hot glue. Sticks, pillows, beads. High-temp glue, low-temp glue, all temp-glue. It’s important to consider your materials and how securely you need your glue to hold. My favorite are Gorilla All-Temp glue sticks as a great all-purpose hot glue stick.

Once you’ve chosen your glue, simply place it into the skillet and turn up the temperature using the dial.

It may take a bit of trial and error to find the temperature setting that gets your glue to the Goldilocks consistency. The Goldilocks consistency is like honey.

If your glue is too hot, it will be runny, and it may drip down, possibly burning you. That is no fun.

If your glue is too cold, it can be thick and difficult to work with.

Once the glue has melted down to the point of resembling honey, I simply dip the tip of a floral stem into the glue and place it into the arrangement.

Easy peasy!

A FEW EXTRA TIPS…

Hot glue can burn, and you’ll know it when you smell it. But if your glue has just turned a bit brown, it’s still perfectly fine to work with.
One of the best parts of using an electric glue pot is that you never need to clean it out!
If you see smoke, your pot is TOO HOT! Smoke is an instant indicator that you need to turn the temp down on your glue pot.
When you are done using your skillet, make sure to turn it off. The remaining hot glue will harden in the pot. When you’re ready to get back to work, turn the skillet back on and re-melt the glue, adding more glue sticks when necessary.

I think you’ll find that making the switch from a glue gun to a hot glue pot will simplify your work, allowing you to be far more productive and efficient.

It did for me!