Long time readers will remember I made my own web gun a while back. However, I wanted a bigger glue gun, and was shopping for such when I ran into the Webcaster gun on an after-Halloween sale. For $20 I couldn’t pass it up. It’s taken me a while to actually open and use it, however.
The Webcaster Gun is a nice little package with a number of nice features.
The on/off for both glue gun and air right in the handle are very nice (If designed for a right hander, but you can’t blame them for that), and allow for quick and easy use.
The gun does exactly what it sets out to do: Sprays webs quick, easy, and convenient, and for that, it is to be commended.
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| From 2011 buildup |
That is not to say it’s not without it’s little niggles.
First up, as with all these style web guns, you REALLY, REALLY want the BIG glue sticks. Not the little standard sized ones they sell on their website, and distribute with their gun. You burn through glue in a hurry, and as their FAQ even states, you’re going to burn through two full sticks before you even get any glue out, thanks to the guns “large heat chamber”.
This heating chamber also causes another little issue, in a minor lack of control of the glue dispensing. After you release the trigger, glue is going to continue to come out of the tip for a few moments. In fact, I found it easier to get the control I wanted by leaving the trigger depressed and manually pushing the glue stick with my other hand, then pulling it back slightly to stop.
Another minor quibble I have with the gun is the size of the tubing used for the pneumatics. There’s not a very good volume coming out, and this limits the range compared to other such guns on the market, and my own homemade version. I question the listed “12 feet away” on the website. Especially for something “designed to be used outside”.
Still, for “small” projects (a porch, a prop, etc) this very well may be the perfect little package. For doing an entire yard, or haunt, however, it’s going to take a considerable amount of time and may be worth investing in a different commercial web gun, or building one yourself.
I live in Omaha where the Webcaster gun was designed by the son of David M. Mangelsen. I met Mr Mangelsen (Senior) one day at his store ( http://www.mangelsens2.com/Welcome.htm ). He told us that his son designed it from researching the different varieties of casters and then deciding to build and mass produce his own. One thing he mentioned is how the Webcaster doesn’t require specialized glue sticks such as square, triangle, or larger diameter. They prefer you to use their own glue sticks because they are manufactured with the correct melting point for their gun but it isn’t necessary. David was very nice and polite. They also run their own haunted house right in the parking lot of the store! http://www.theshadowsedge.com/ (hence the need for webcasters LOL)
That being said, we have used this gun for a couple years now on our haunted yard and the effect is acceptable but it sure does take a long time and a lot of sticks to get the desired effect. We usually buy the large sticks from places like Harbor Freight and such. Wearing gloves is a must from the drippage and we bent the air tube upwards a smidge towards the glue aperture for better distance and a less clumpy stream.
Cheers, Steve
What is a Niggle ?