Glu-bot or not?

[kmealy]

Any fallen in love with the Glu-bot?   I see a lot of people recommend them.   So we got some for the furniture bank for volunteers to use.   After about a year, I'm not real impressed.  Now part of it is that a lot of unskilled and semi-skilled people have been using it.  But the soft rubber caps have gotten broken off and lost.   The tips are mangled and coated with glue crud.   I know those are both replaceable, but not sure that's a long term solution.   Normally, I like the the Fast Cap stuff but this is "meh" for me.
 

[Gunny]

I use a container in the shape of a bear for glue.  My wife drinks honey with her tea so if it gets broken I have replacements.

[kmealy]

I make my own honey.   Well, I don't actually make it, I steal harvest it.

[Gunny]

In Ukraine we have several hives on the property. 

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

I had one for a short while, like you I was (extremely) unimpressed. I went back to using mustard bottles after Buck Nall suggested them (many, many years ago). Bright yellow, twist to open, hold plenty of glue. The problem with this plan is that the companies have changes the design of the bottles to something cheaper...so the ones I see now don't have the twist open tops...or even screw off lids.

Edited June 25, 2020 by Fred W. Hargis Jr

[Gene Howe]

Bought one from Fast Cap also. After emptying it, I promptly trash canned it. I'm not a fan of the TiteBond pint bottle either. But, that's what I use. Our bear bottle tops are not configured right and, the mustard bottle is still half full. We don't use much.

Reminds me of what an old buddy of mine said when asked how long he'd been married. He replied "I'm not sure but, were on our second bottle of Tabasco sauce." 

[Ron Dudelston]

I have both sizes of the Glue Bot  and like them especially  the small one.  The small tip is great for gluing rails and stiles.  

[lew]

I'm waiting for another mustard bottle to get empty.

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

I'm not a fan of the TiteBond pint bottle either.

Me either. 

[kmealy]

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

I'm not a fan of the TiteBond pint bottle either

 

I usually have to take the Channellocks to them open.

We only use brown mustard that does not come in the nice twist top.  :-(

You would think there is an engineer out there who could solve this problem, right?

[Smallpatch]

I am reading this and thinking, well duh!!!!!!! whats wrong with using the bottles the glues are sold in....Some folks like to make a big deal out of nothing!

[Gene Howe]

I thought I had found the solution with a rubber bulb and a metal tip. It didn't last long either. Can't remember where I got it. That's ok, though. It wasn't worth a crap.

[Gene Howe]

3 minutes ago, Smallpatch said:

I am reading this and thinking, well duh!!!!!!! whats wrong with using the bottles the glues are sold in....Some folks like to make a big deal out of nothing!

Unless you buy the small bottles,  by the time you use it for several projects, it becomes nearly useless. 

[Ron Dudelston]

3 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Unless you buy the small bottles,  by the time you use it for several projects, it becomes nearly useless. 

I agree Gene.  If you have a hobbyist shop you can get away with the small Bottles.  I use enough TB II and III that I buy it by the gallon so I have to find an alternate bottle.  

[Smallpatch]

I also buy the glue by the gallons and when I go to refill the two smaller bottles because they are empty I take them in the house where I have hot water and give them a good washing. I only have cold water in the shop...more of that,. well duh! I also keep the gallon bottles under my sink in the bathroom just so I don't forget and let them freeze if I stored them in the shop. So I'm already in the house to refill the small bottles …. More of that well duh.... 

  So you guys use other bottles you have to buy. May I ask if you ever wash those bottles out????

Edited June 26, 2020 by Smallpatch

[kmealy]

I've also tried mayonnaise / ketchup / mustard bottles from Gordon Food Service.   Meh, there, too.   Even the ones with caps over the yorker spout.

 

[Ron Altier]

 My daughter got me one for Christmas about 5 years ago and I immediately loved it. It did everything better than the standard glue bottle. I said so on this forum. Then someone  answered on the forum that I wouldn't like it for long(Fred?). He were 100% correct. It plugged frequently and required clean out when you needed glue immediately or sooner. Clean out was cumbersome and after a few clean outs it started to stretch and fray. It is simpler for me to just use the plastic bottle it comes in. If the spout plugs when I need badly, I open the cap and dip out what I need, quickly I have what I need.

That is only my opinion, if someone can tell me how to get better use out of it, I'll try again.

Edited June 26, 2020 by Ron Altier
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[PeteM]

If you are gluing every day, Bots are great.  Periodically, will need to empty and spend some time cleaning.  If you are gluing once a week, the glue will set up and it's a bear (pardon expression, Honey people) to clean.  Picking dried glue out of the spout tears up the spout.  The standard cap/spout on Tite glues also seems to gunk up too easily.  I bought a couple of mustard bottles that have the simple caps/outlets, tossed the bottle and mustard, kept the caps.  Been using those for several years:  easy to clean, rarely jam.  I use an old Qt cottage cheese container to hold bottle upside down on the bench while using.  Come to think, bought the cottage cheese, tossed the cheese, kept the container.  I'm wasteful, but consistent.

[Gunny]

I prefer the smaller honey bear container.  Easy to hold even with slick fingers and has enough glue for most jobs all the way through.  When top gets tacky just wash with some hot water and refill.  Takes me years to kill a bottle to the point I can't use it.  

 

My glue usage is about one bottle a week, on average.  Refill out of gallon jug.  

[Gerald]

Like Jesse I do not see the fuss. I use the Tb in pint bottle and the tips work fine . On a rare occasion I have to wash out the slip up top. Yes even tho I try to wipe the tip lots of the time glue dries on the tip and I have to scrape it off and go on.

[Ron Dudelston]

I’ve never had to wash a GlueBot out.  The tips can be based problem but I have kept a dental pick in my shop for years so I’ll clean the tip with it.  Used it on the TB bottles too.