I finally stopped using hot glue for everything after it ruined my Mandalorian chest plate

Used to think hot glue was the budget builder's best friend for attaching EVA foam details. Then last month at the Dallas Comic Con, my chest plate started shedding pieces in the parking lot because the glue melted in the Texas heat. Saw another cosplayer using contact cement and they convinced me it holds way better for like $4 more a bottle. Anyone else had their costume fall apart because of bad adhesive choices?

2 comments

2 Comments

ivanb411d ago

Might be a hot take but I wonder if people make this into a bigger deal than it needs to be. I've used hot glue for years on foam builds and never had a total meltdown situation. Maybe it depends on the foam thickness or how heavy your add-ons are. I can see the Texas heat being a real problem though, that's a special kind of awful for costume building. Contact cement is definitely stronger but I find it way messier and that fumes are no joke in a small apartment. My stuff has survived a few Midwest cons just fine with plain old hot glue and some careful placement. Just saying, your mileage may really vary based on climate and how much detail you're slapping on there.

robinwalker1d ago

Yeah, had a vambrace split apart at a con because I cheaped out on regular glue instead of using contact cement.