Gluesticks

people who built popsicle stick bridges- hot melt glue guns okay?

the rules are any glue max 200 sticks max 80% each popsicle stick covered, so 20% must be exposed no cutting no laminiating must span the 85cm gap must be atleast 6cm wide weigh will be placed in the center, a bar will go through the center, then a hook will be placed on the bar where it will hold a bucket where the weights will be placed my idea is an arch design so i made a prototype bridge to get the idea of what im doing. i used hot glue and realized hot glue guns have really strong fitting , however ive never used other strong glues before like caprentors glue or epoxy the GOAL IS TO HOLD 100 pounds. (100 pounds = 100% mark, 85 pounds is 85% mark, etc) are hot melt glue guns a good choice for building a bridge? this si for grade 12 physics not some middle school bs lol

Public Comments

1. Hot melt glue is pretty strong but forms weak bonds to other stuff, unless it is also hot when you melt the glue. If you go with slow cure epoxy (15 to 45 minute cure time) you will get much better results that approach the inherent strength of the wood you are gluing. White wood glue is also pretty good, once it is fully dried. But the parts have to fit together pretty well to get strong joints. for example: http://cgi.ebay.com/MIN-CURE-15-MIN-EPOXY-4-5OZ-BSI203_W0QQitemZ200440828531 http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-Cure-Epoxy_W0QQitemZ380211167815 http://cgi.ebay.com/30-Minute-Epoxy-Slow-Cure-9-oz_W0QQitemZ250343584033 -- Regards, John Popelish