Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I got this item for this Halloween, since we do a huge display in the front yard. We had been using the cotton-candy type webbing in the bags, but it never really looked authentic. So, based on other reviews on here, I decided to give it a whirl. Here is what I learned from the experience: 1. Definately make sure you let the gun heat up for at least 10-15 minutes. It really makes a difference. Keep an old rag handy to wipe the tip of the gun off periodically. Be really careful, because the tip is hot, so don't use paper towels. 2. It is not something that you can do quickly. I learned that only Spiderman can put up a good web in a couple seconds. The biggest issues were that the sticks only last for a short period of time and that, even with a construction/nail gun, compressor, this thing uses a lot of air. You have to stop every 45 seconds or so and let the compressor build back up. 3. Contrary to a previous review - and not intending any slight to the reviewer - the black websticks are horrible. All they did was spit globs of black goop on my windows, plants and sidewalks. Took forever the next day to get it off the windows, screens, and brickwork. And it would not create any real webbing. And yes, I tried letting the gun heat up more. And cool off some. I tried more trigger pressure and less trigger pressure. I varied the airflow. All with the same results. Instead of a nice thin strand of webbing, I kept getting the gun spitting out big blobs of black glue, with a tiny little tail of webbing, most of which ended up on the house. We had to make an emergency run to Walmart to get regular gluesticks so I could finish the job, since it was Halloween day. 3b. If you do get it on screens, windows or brickwork - let it cool completely then it will just pop off with a fingernail or a razerblade. DO NOT try and wipe it off while it is still liquid. You will never get it off after that. 4. Regular gluesticks work wonderfully with this. We bought the extra long ones and that helped with not having to stop and change out the gluesticks so often. They didn't plug up my gun and they came off just as easily as the regular white web sticks that were included in the gun. Something I cannot say for the black websticks. 5. Yes, it is important to build a base with thin fishing line, especially if you are doing this over an open space, like I did between the columns on the front porch. You will not see it and is really the only way you will get a nice size web built. It makes cleanup easier too. I just put up those command hooks - with the adhesive that you pull the tab and they release - and the next day was able to take 90% of the webbing down by just taking the fishing line off the hooks. 5b. To help keep the webbing off the house, we decided to use the same command hooks to hang up old, king-size sheets behind the open area we were spraying in. Worked wonderfully - if only we had thought about it before I got the black globs all over the house. You do have to be careful taking the sheet down, because some of the webbing will be stuck on it and connected to your intentional web or to the fishing line. Sounds crazy, but the best way we found was to walk back and forth between the two locations and cleared the space well. You will want at least 2 feet or more of space between the web you are creating and the sheet. 6. The previous reviewer, who recommended the black sticks, is correct, that the white webbing does not show up well in the dark, unless you are close. But most cobwebs don't. However, once people came to the door, we received a ton of positive comments on "how cool your cobwebs are." You won't get those huge white streamers like you do with the cobweb in a bag stuff. All in all, this gun does what it says, though your results will vary depending on the webcasting material you use. After the poor performance of the black sticks, I will be staying with our regular gluesticks. I will, however, get the webbing done a day in advance, because it is so time consuming to build up an nice thick webbing. Since the webbing is a background item, done before you put most of the decorations out, it works perfectly to do ahead of time. Then, once the decorations are in place, you can use it to touch up or web over the decorations. One word of caution, do not put any open flames, like torches or candles near these things, especially if the wind can blow the flame close. I am not sure that they are flammable, per say, but it is a quick way to destroy a lot of hard work and possibly catch your house on fire.