Choosing a furniture stapler and staples. Don't confuse the type of bracket!

Construction staplers are widely used today by specialists in various professions. It is used to connect various materials. The presence of many other names, for example, tacker, staple gun, staple gun, nailer, emphasizes the popularity and versatility of this tool. But to operate such equipment, you need consumables: staples, nails or pins. In practice, the first fastener option is most often used. Consumables differ in shape, material from which they are made, geometric parameters and other characteristics. The dimensions of the staples for staplers are the determining factor when choosing the appropriate fastener for the model being used.

The operating principle of a furniture stapler and its advantages

The classic stapler (gun) has found application in everyday life. With its help, wizards perform actions that can be divided into the following categories:

• Fixing thin material (canvas, thin film) to a durable base of wood, plywood;
• The connection of two layers having the same thickness. The materials on which the furniture stapler is used are pierced through. Each staple is folded over on both edges to ensure a secure fit.

The operating principle of the equipment is simple. Before starting, the master loads the clip with staples and places the working part in the place of fixation. When the trigger is pulled, staples fly out and hold the different materials together.

In everyday life, a gun can be used to perform various actions:

• Fixing upholstery on upholstered furniture;
• Surface finishing;
• Installation of insulation, fixing films and carpets;
• Fixing corrugated cardboard boxes.

If there is no furniture stapler in the house, the owner uses a hammer at home. Compared to the latter, the advantages of the pistol are obvious:

• Quickly perform work without using great physical force;
• Using the tool with one hand makes the work process easier;
• The great force with which the staples fly out ensures reliable fixation and fastening of materials;
• Safety: the staples located in the cage do not cause harm to humans.

Materials for production

Staples for furniture staplers are made from various types of metals. This allows you to select a material with the most suitable properties. There are several main types of metal:

• aluminum is the cheapest material with low rigidity. On a solid frame and when there is a heavy load on the joint, fasteners made of this metal are not used, as they bend and break. But aluminum is resistant to corrosion, which is one of its advantages;
• copper is a soft but corrosion-resistant expensive metal;
• steel - two types of fasteners are produced: hardened and without hardening. The first is higher in strength, but more expensive. Both types are susceptible to corrosion;
• plain stainless steel or zinc-coated - such elements are highly durable and are considered the most popular type of staples.

The choice of metal for staples is carried out taking into account the place of their use and purpose. It is also worth paying attention to the budget allocated for repairs and the cost of materials.

Aluminum

Copper

Steel

Types of staplers

Furniture staplers come in several types. Depending on the complexity of the design and performance, they are divided into three categories.

The simplest model is a manual stapler . To connect materials, the craftsman only needs to apply physical force. The device is easy to maintain: just lubricate the parts of the universal tool regularly. A handmade product will serve the owner for 5-7 years.

The mechanical model is convenient for performing many operations in everyday life. When working with large volumes, the use of physical force tires the master. You shouldn't expect high performance from the device.

A furniture stapler with an electric motor is suitable for medium-sized work in the professional field. To use the device, a connection to an electrical network is required. Some manufacturers produce models that operate on a rechargeable battery. The staples can be removed from the holder by pressing a button on the device body.

Thanks to the operation of the electric motor, the impact force increases many times. Hard surfaces are easily penetrated, the fastening is strong and reliable. A type of power tool is a construction stapler, intended for use in finishing premises.

The disadvantages of the electrical device are high cost, large dimensions and heavy weight. In addition, the limited length of the cord does not allow working a large area.

Electric models in most cases often break down due to incorrect choice of brackets or violation of operating rules. Beginners or inexperienced users should buy mechanical models for everyday use.

Productive and reliable are models that operate using a compressor . Such a tool is used in furniture industry enterprises, where it is possible to equip workplaces with an air supply and a dedicated separate electrical line. Such devices are not used in everyday life.

Instead of a spring, such pistols are equipped with a pneumatic cylinder. Such a unit sets in motion the air that enters when the trigger is pulled. This mechanism increases the workforce and allows the master to cope with a large volume of work. The average speed of the gun is one staple per second.

Pneumatic models do not require complex maintenance. To extend service life, periodically clean and replace the O-ring. The disadvantage of the unit is its stationary nature. The radius within which the air gun operates is limited by the length of the hose that supplies the air.

Which staples are best?

It is better to use galvanized or stainless steel staples. This material is very reliable, most importantly durable and not susceptible to corrosion. Most manufacturers use this material for their staples. However, it is worth remembering that in fastening areas where the load is minimal, it is necessary to use lightweight aluminum staples.

It is important to know that staples can be either sharpened or unsharpened. It will be much easier to work with sharpened staples: they will not have a high load and sharpened ones will be easier to use for a large amount of work.

The thicker the material needs to be joined, the more massive and higher the staple required, which will be used when working with a stapler. But in this case, the stapler needs a lot of power.

To keep the fasteners invisible, narrow staples are needed. However, it is worth knowing that in this case, not all tools will work with these staples.

When work will be carried out with strong material, it is better to choose fasteners of small thickness - such a bracket will be sufficient in this situation.

Rules for choosing a furniture stapler

The choice of tool depends on the type, volume and complexity of the work. Depending on these factors, craftsmen buy a mechanical or electrical model. For each device, manufacturers produce special brackets, compatibility with which is indicated on the packaging. Ordinary models are designed to work with one type of staples. Semi-professional guns function and connect the surface using nails and pins.

Typical staple sizes suitable for household guns:

• 53, having a U-shape. Thickness, back width, height range is 0.7; 11.3; 4-14 in mm. This type of staples is popular for fastening paper, wood, and thin materials. For thin raw materials, craftsmen use simple staples, for hard ones - hardened ones;
• 140, having a U-shape. Thickness, back width, height range is 1.25; 10.6; 6-14 in mm. These are strong and thick staples, suitable for fixing dense matter on wood and fibreboards;
• 28, having an S semicircular shape. Thickness, back width, height range (1.25; 4.5; 9-11). Products are needed for fixing finishing materials;
• 36 L semicircular shape. 1.25; 7.6; 10-14 are standard bracket sizes. They are used to secure cables and wires whose thickness does not exceed 6.4 millimeters;
• 300 (T-head nails) sizes 1.2/10-14. With such nails it is possible to attach the material to plywood;
• 500 (Nails without heads) 1.2/10-14 are suitable for working with fabric and wood.

Fasteners are selected depending on the material. The greater the thickness of the material, the more serious and powerful the staples it is important to use.

general information

The principle of operation of the stapler mechanism is very simple: pressure is applied to the staple, it pierces the sheets and rests against the recesses of the bumper, after which its tips bend, fixing the clip on the surface of the paper. The differences between staples for office staplers lie in their types and sizes.

Staples made for mechanical desktop staplers and booklet staplers have almost the same parameters, however, the characteristics of consumables intended for electrical document staplers may differ slightly from them.

To understand what staples are needed for a stapler, you need to know how the documents being stapled will be used.

Choosing a stapler for upholstery

To reupholster old or damaged furniture upholstery, it is advisable to choose a mechanical gun. The physical strength of the craftsman and mechanics is sufficient to reliably fix the matter on the wood. The hand-held device is convenient for beginners without experience or skills.

When working with durable wood or needing to use it for professional purposes, craftsmen choose an electric tool. Mechanical units do not provide the required impact force for reliable adhesion of surfaces. When working in a furniture workshop, you need to think about purchasing high-performance pneumatic equipment.

Forum members tell how to reupholster upholstered furniture with your own hands

Over time, favorite things become old and go out of fashion. And the once beautiful sofa, arousing the envy of all the neighbors, difficult to obtain through connections or bought at a sale, turns into a shabby, dull piece of furniture. Which, however, can be a pity to part with. You can return upholstered furniture to a fresh and neat look by reupholstering it. FORUMHOUSE users talk about how to update their favorite sofa and armchairs.

If the upholstered furniture has a simple shape and design that can be disassembled and assembled without special tools and equipment, and all the mechanisms are still strong enough and do not require replacement, you can do the reupholstery yourself. True, it is better to start with fabric upholstery - leather and its synthetic substitutes are considered complex materials, and such reupholstery requires experience and skill.

Useful recommendations from professionals

By reading the advice of professionals, you can make the right choice among the universal furniture staplers available for sale. The tool must meet the following specifications:

• Sturdy and durable body . For a long service life, choose models made of light alloys rather than polymer materials. Metal products are resistant to mechanical damage and last longer than plastic devices;
• Collapsible design , thanks to which it is possible to make minor repairs. A one-piece body eliminates this possibility;
• Ergonomic handle with rubberized inserts that fits comfortably in the master’s hand;
• Store made of transparent material . During operation, it is possible to control the number of remaining staples and replace the clip in time;
• Stopper preventing erroneous feeding of staples;
• Penetration force adjustment mechanism , which may look like a wheel or switch. With it, you can adjust the gun depending on the hardness of the surface. If the staple does not pass through durable material on the first shot, the technician turns the adjuster and changes its position from minimum to maximum. This action is performed until the desired result is achieved. The test feed is carried out on the rough surface;
• Double impact mechanism , which increases the productivity of the furniture stapler. If, after the first pull of the trigger, the staple does not penetrate through the surface, another impulse is applied to it. For comfortable work, choose furniture guns with an impact mechanism on a spring spring that does not give recoil;
• A power tool for professional use must be highly productive . In one minute, the device should supply from 20 to 30 staples. It is important to choose a device with a long cord, a capacious battery and a long battery life. The speed of work is directly dependent on these parameters.

A furniture stapler is a convenient tool for use in home or professional areas. Mechanical models are suitable for small amounts of work. Electrical devices that demonstrate high performance indicators are suitable for work in a workshop environment, during installation during construction.

Popular consumables for stitchers

The most popular bracket sizes are the first three items from the list above. Staples No. 10 (the smallest) are used when attaching documents from several sheets: applications with attachments, checks, invoices, etc. 24/6 and 23/8 are used to staple a package of documents.

Based on the material of manufacture, galvanized steel and painted steel clips are most often chosen. The way staples are made affects demand. Brackets with pointed ends sell better.

Alternative solutions

The Novus J-19 EADHG model will be more convenient, which has a rubberized handle and weighs 1024 g. This professional tool has a multiple impact mode, a safe reloading system and a remote stop. There is a special latch to fix the handle in the lower position, and a plastic hook allows you to hang the tool on your belt if necessary. The Rapid R353 model has an impact-resistant rubber insert on the body; it weighs 886 g, and also has a shock-free release mode, which simplifies operation and makes it more comfortable.

A little history

A device for fastening sheet materials is called a stationery stapler . Stitching occurs using a thin wire that pierces several pieces at once. The owner of the first such device was the French king Louis 15 in the 18th century. It was rarely used as a tool; it was more used as a toy.

A century later, when the rapid development of science and industry began, and with it the office, through the efforts of John McGill, who improved this mechanism, the stapler came into use among all bureaucrats in the world.

Tool Features

You can do many things with a construction stapler, but each has its own specifics.
For each specific job, you need to choose a tool that can make the task easier. The instrument should look decent and not ring in your hands. It is advisable that all its parts are made of metal - you can read this on the packaging before purchasing. For a metal stapler, staples with a length of 4 to 14 mm are used. The cost of a quality instrument is high, but it’s not worth paying twice. A cheap model breaks down quickly, which can happen for several reasons:

• the internal mechanism wears out in it;
• springs break;
• a low-quality model can hit 2-3 fasteners at once.
• it will be light in weight, and driving the staple into dense material will not always be possible with one hand.