Use
- For home and DIY enthusiasts
- Containers 1K up to 4000 ml
- Containers 2K up to 1500 ml
- For viscosities from low to medium
- Force ratios from 6:1 to 35:1
- Cost: €2 – €200 (varies by model)
Manual cartridge presses are the most affordable to purchase, yet there are also price differences within this type of drive. The durability depends on the quality of the cartridge press; some models are made of plastic, others of metal. Spare parts are rarely available, and with a low purchase value, a repair is not worth it.
The extrusion of adhesives and sealants with manual cartridge presses is rather uneven and labor-intensive. Nevertheless, they are suitable for occasional use (e.g., for projects) and low-viscosity materials. Manual cartridge presses are also very well suited for spot bonding. The models are available in different pressure force translations. The higher the force translation, the lower the discharge amount per stroke.
The use of manual cartridge guns is the simplest way to apply adhesives and sealants by hand. They are suitable for occasional and small applications.
Force translation in manual cartridge presses
When the value of a physical quantity is converted into another value of the same quantity, this process is referred to as translation in engineering.
There are manual cartridge presses with different force transmission ratios. Depending on the model, these can range from 7:1, 10:1, 12:1, 18:1, 25:1 to 35:1. That means that with an application of 1 kg of pressure on the handle, depending on the model, between 7 kg and 35 kg of pressure is applied to the cartridge.
Consequently, with increasing force transmission, the output quantity per stroke decreases. The force that the user must exert, on the other hand, decreases.
Quality Features in Manual Cartridge Guns – Pusher Plate and Pusher Rod
In today's world, where the price of a product plays an important role in the purchasing decision, more and more manual cartridge guns of inferior quality are being bought. It is essential to pay attention to the quality of certain components in order to apply the adhesive or sealant correctly.
PUSH BLOCK/PUSH PLATE
One of the quality features of manual cartridge presses is the condition of the push block. The push block transmits the force from the handle to the push rod. In this case, it's not just about the thickness of the block, but about thickness in combination with hardness: the harder the push block, the more force can be transmitted. Here are some examples:
PUSH ROD
Another quality feature in manual cartridge presses is the push rod. The push rod is driven by the user's hand movement and ultimately serves to extrude the material. Similar to the push block, the same applies here: the harder the push rod, the more force can be transmitted. With low hardness, i.e., cheap steel, notches form in the metal of the push rod after the first use. Hardened steel, on the other hand, does not show any notches.
Mnemonic: "The harder the push block and the push rod, the more force can be transmitted."
The rule applies to all tools: "Those who buy cheaply buy multiple times and thus the most expensively, as the durability is many times lower than that of quality products."
Fatigue when using manual cartridge presses
The most expensive cost factor is usually labor time. Therefore, fatigue is an important factor in the manual processing of adhesives. Fatigue and the associated loss of performance occur much more quickly than most users, and even some professionals, suspect. The test was repeated on two different days (blue line and red line). In the following example, it is clearly evident that a significant drop in performance occurs after the second cartridge. Between the cartridges, an eight-minute break was taken each time.
Even during the processing of the first cartridge, a noticeable decrease in quantity can be seen. After a break, the second cartridge was processed. Here it becomes clear that the average amount is already lower than with the first cartridge. With the third cartridge, the output rate continues to decrease – and the first pains in the forearm begin to appear.
In comparison, it is clearly evident that there is no drop in performance with the pneumatic and battery-operated cartridge press. At the same time, the use of these devices is more ergonomic for the user.
