Dremel has just launched a new 4V cordless hot glue pen as part of their new Home Solutions lineup of crafting and DIY-oriented tools and accessories.
The new Dremel cordless glue pen, model HSGP-01, appears identical to the Bosch cordless hot glue pen that came out 8 years ago.
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We asked Dremel if there are any differences between their new model and the model that Bosch released in Europe 8 years ago, and have not yet heard back.
Update: The Dremel model is unchanged from the original Bosch Design.
Dremel says this about the new cordless glue pen:
the Dremel Glue Pen is always ready when it comes to craft projects, DIY decor, costume and minor home repairs.
It’s said to heat up in 15 seconds and the built-in 1.5Ah rechargeable battery gives you about 30 minutes of runtime.
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The Dremel HSGP-01 hot glue pen works with 7mm (0.28″) glue sticks which are widely available online and at crafting supply shops.
Dremel says the glue pen operates at 338°F.
The glue pen recharges via micro USB and has LED indicator lights. An automatic shut-off kicks in after 10 minutes of inactivity.
Dremel says that you can find this “exclusively at Home Depot,” but it’s listed at Acme Tools, and there’s also the option to buy the Bosch version from Europe.
Price: $40
Buy Now via Home Depot
Buy Now via Acme Tools
Compare: Bosch via Amazon Germany
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Discussion
Dremel says that their new rechargeable glue pen is “unlike any other glue gun,” but this isn’t actually true.
In addition to the Bosch version that launched in Europe, there’s the Steinel Neo 1.
Bosch also much more recently came out with the “Gluey”.
Buy Now: Bosch Glue via Amazon Germany
I purchased the Bosch version of the hot glue pen a few years ago, and while interesting it’s important to keep in mind it’s a small device meant for minor hot gluing tasks.
It’s not meant to replace full-sized glue guns, such as the Ryobi cordless models or standard corded tools, but is more sized for quick smaller glue-up tasks.
8 years is quite the delay, but late is better than never.
It’s unclear why Dremel chose to launch Bosch’s older-style cordless glue pen rather than the newer pen-shaped Gluey model, but maybe that one will come out later.
MoogleMan3
Interesting. I might grab one of these to keep at my desk.
fred
Interesting in that it looks different than the Bosch:
https://www.bosch-diy.com/sa/en/p/gluey-06032a2100-v44105
fred
I meant to say “different than the newer Bosch”
Dennis
One of those times where I wish all tools were sold everywhere. They get some cool stuff in Europe sometimes. Personally I’m waiting for Milwaukee to come out a glue gun that would use the batteries I already have. I’m tired of having to connect my glue guns to an outlet like a sucker, but not tired enough to buy into a whole new battery eco-system.
Jared
Either the Ryobi or Surebonder glue gun plus an adapter would work with your M18 batteries.
I have a couple Ryobi batteries and the glue gun, but I still use an adapter and some of my Dewalt batteries on occasion when I want plenty of runtime. Works great.
Dennis
Thanks Jared, I have looked into that solution before. As I understand it the Surebonder ones use Ryobi batteries as well. There are number of adapter options, I was just hoping for a native solution. I mean come on, Techtronic Industries owns Milwaukee and Ryobi. Paint the Ryobi red and alter the grip a little to accept a different battery. Jeez, how hard could that be? Milwaukee is running out of tools to convert battery power, why not glue guns? If they would just put out a glue gun and track saw then they can successfully get all my money.
Jared
Yeah it is definitely less than ideal – and makes little sense really. Cordless glue guns exist. They are awesome tools. Every major battery platform should have one.
I just wouldn’t punish yourself because Milwaukee is slow to come out with one. The Ryobi works great – and it’s cheap. I think I got mine for about $24 – here in Canada where everything is more expensive. Now it’s one of my most-used tools.
Having to buy an adapter is mildly annoying (pretty sure mine cost about as much as the glue gun) – but I honestly don’t notice it once I start using the tool.
MM
There is at least one company–Surebonder–making cordless glue guns available with a variety of different battery options. I know they make guns that use Milwaukee, Makita, or Dewalt batteries at least.
fred
Maybe that will become a trend.
I see that Reed Tool makes a de-watering pump that has switchable battery interface plates to accommodate Bosch, Dewalt, Makita or Milwaukee batteries
Jared
Neat. I just looked that up. Pricey though.
TonyT
Well, if you just need a cordless transfer pump and don’t need the fancy interface plates, Ryobi has a hybrid (battery or AC) one for around $100
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-18-Volt-ONE-Hybrid-Transfer-Pump-P750/300258095
Milwaukee also has an M18 one, for a lot more. On the trivia side, Milwaukee also makes a 10000 psi hydraulic pump – it’s price is impressive.
Joseph
I think the reason they went with the older style vs the newer one is the battery type. The newer style runs on AA batteries vs an integrated Li Ion cell. That said you could put Li AA batteries in the newer one and get similar amp hour and shelf life benefits. My guess is that its cheaper to manufacture an integrated cell vs having removable batteries.
For an item like this I would personally prefer removable AA batteries. When I need to use the glue gun its going to have sat on the shelf for 9 months and is going to be dead either way. I would prefer to just pop new batteries in than have to sit and wait for a recharge time.
Jim Felt
Totally agree. I almost never buy “tools” with an integrated battery. I van swap in or out a battery a heck of lot faster then recharging or eventually throwing out the tool itself at the end of its dedicated batteries life.
Bob
Probably not powerful enough, I’ll wait for a DeWalt Flexvolt glue gun
Tim E.
I added the Bosch gluey onto one of my purchases from amazon.de some time back, and it has quickly become my favorite glue gun for small projects. It holds chopped up “bits” of the thin glue sticks (maybe an inch and a half long if that gives you an idea of how much glue), and that should set your expectations. It’s for craft projects, not really shop or heavy use projects where you’re attaching tons of stuff with hot glue. It heats up quickly, and applies neatly, so it’s great for if I’m working on something where I maybe need just a quick drop of hot glue to hold something while I attach it otherwise.
One huge benefit of the gluey is those tiny glue sticks, if you use glittery or specialty craft glue particularly. On a regular mini glue gun (or even one like from Dremel here), you’re still kind of stuck once you only have half a stick left of blue glitter and it’s too short to pull back out. When you want to change to red glitter, you either have to waste the entire remaining half a stick of blue glitter, or have separate guns for all the “specialty” craft glues you use. With the gluey, I can get out the stick down to about half an inch left, so worst case, I just waste a half inch of a stick of glue and can swap. Much more economical. And those kinds of glues I’m usually using somewhat sparingly anyway, so the amount I can fit in the gun seems pretty fitting to me, I can do my decorative use, maybe use up the last little bit as regular hot glue elsewhere on the project, then swap in the next decorative glue I need.
Greg
You may have sold me on a Gluey, eventually. I can see the appeal for smaller projects and the form factor looks quite comfortable. Don’t have an immediate need, but down the line I might have something ideal for that.
Koko The Talking Ape
I wonder what the balance of that Dremel and the older Bosch is like. They look rear-heavy, which would tend to flip out of your hand unless you hold it tightly, which would get tiring. Though I guess you could hold it vertically all the time.
Anybody know?
Jim Felt
Bet there’s a certain amount of individual preference involved. Buy one or either and return it if it’s too unfriendly in your hands.
Koko The Talking Ape
Sure, individual preference, but whether or not it will flip backwards out of your hand is pretty objective. It’s just about weight distribution, right?
I know buying and trying is an option, but I avoid it when I can, especially when other buyers can answer my questions without too much trouble. 🙂
High & Mighty
Wouldn’t this technically be old from dremel since it was released a decade ago by their owner under their name? I get that the style is proprietary to Bosch and that the Bosch glue gun was never released in the US, but rebranding it under dremel 10 years later and changing the color scheme for it to be sold in the US is a cheap trick. Brands owned by the same company release stuff all the time that are similar in appearance, but not 10 years after the fact. That isn’t looking ahead and moving forward. That’s indicative of lacking innovation and new ideas. I get that it’s just a glue gun and there’s not much to build on for new ideas, but at least change it up some to make it look different. I guess they thought they were slick or that nobody would pick up on it. Idk.
Stuart
It was never released in the USA, and it was never under Dremel branding before. Better late than never, otherwise it wouldn’t have been worth the time or effort to post about.
I guess if the design isn’t broken, why change it? Plus, updates that are purely cosmetic in nature would have required new production tooling, potentially driving up the pricing or limiting the types of promo pricing we might see during holiday shopping seasons.
If this design is tried and proven, why take risks in changing it?
I would have liked to have seen an updated model, but what changes could have justified that? Are there any user frustrations that need to be addressed? Problems to be fixed?
Now, if Bosch DIY launches an updated product in Europe and this is what we get here, that’ll be frustrating.