The equipment that you use when you create your projects with hot fix embellishments is very important. Having a good applicator can make your embellishing easy and simple. I like the professional touch applicator myself. It is heavy enough that it will not fall off the table. Because the barrel on the applicator is short it does not need a stand. If it was to drop on the table or floor the barrel would not touch the either the floor or table. It also has an on/off switch that will light up when it is on. You dont want to walk away from an applicator that is still on. The applicators reaches a temperature of 350 degrees.