Stop wasting money on dollar store hot glue sticks

I used the 8 pack of glue sticks from Dollar Tree for over a year because they're like $1.25. Last week I was making a wreath base and the glue kept snapping off the second it cooled. I switched to a name brand stick from the craft aisle, like $3 for 30, and the difference was instant. The cheap ones have lower melt temp and don't bond to porous stuff like cardboard or foam. What tipped me off was a basket handle I made in March that fell apart in my car on a 90 degree day. Now I check the melting point on the package before I buy. Has anyone else had dollar store glue fail on painted surfaces or plastic?

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the_andrew9h ago

Heard a craft YouTuber talk about this last year and it stuck with me. She said cheap sticks are mostly filler and wax, so they melt fast but never really grab. The heat thing is real too, regular school glue sticks soften around 120 degrees, which is nothing in a hot car. Some bargain brands also list different temps right on the pack, so it pays to read the fine print. Painted surfaces and plastic are the worst for it because the glue just peels right off once it sets.

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