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To nail lining, film or vapor barrier to the crate, upholstery or chipboard to furniture – all this can be done with a construction stapler. This device is also called a stapler, stapler, nailer, staple gun and tacker.
Types of staplers
The first step is to decide what type of staple gun you want. According to the type of driving force, construction staplers are:
- Mechanical. They are powered by hand, have low productivity, a small number of staples that can be “filled” into it. With such equipment it is quite difficult to work with solid materials – you have to make considerable efforts. But mechanical staplers are small in size, weigh little, which allows you to work in uncomfortable positions. Their low price is also attractive, although there are models with a rather high price tag.
- Electrical. The brace flies out when the trigger is pressed, but the trigger mechanism is powered by electricity. Some models are mains powered and some are battery powered. Naturally, the productivity is higher than that of manual staplers, but the prices are much higher, especially for cordless staplers. Also larger in size. Moreover, for models powered by a network, the cord interferes and restricts movement, while for battery models, the weight and bulky handle are inconvenient – the battery is usually attached to it from below. But physical effort is minimal.
There are a lot of construction staplers. There are only three “drives” – they can work by hand, electricity and compressed air - Pneumatic. The driving force is compressed air, under the influence of which speeds or nails fly out of the magazine. They also have high productivity and a large magazine that fits a large number of staples or nails. But the hose from the compressor (and the noise from it) interferes even more than with electric models. Moving with such a unit is problematic. So this type of stapler is more suitable for professional use in a certain place.
If you need a construction stapler for one-time work – only during the construction or finishing of a house, apartment, choose mechanical or electric. Mechanical works in any conditions, electric only in those places where there is electricity. Even battery models require periodic charging. Yes, you can buy a second set of batteries for them and while one is working, the second is charging. But charging also requires electricity.
Pneumatic staplers are purchased mainly in workshops for professional use. For one-time work, this is too expensive and very noisy equipment.
Professional or household
Like the rest of the tool, construction staplers are conditionally divided into professional and household. The difference in price is very significant – at times. And this is justified. The point is in the functionality, the number of settings, operating modes and in the working resource. Household models have a small working resource, as they are mainly made of plastic.
Professional models are made of steel, often stainless steel. They have plastic elements, but these are metal overlays on the handle to soften the recoil. It is clear that they will work longer, and usually it is easier to work with them – staples enter more easily, less often jam, etc.
There is also an intermediate class – semi-professional. They fall between these two categories in terms of price and quality. Often it is in this group that you should look for equipment for home use. It works well and doesn’t cost much.
How to choose a mechanical stapler
A mechanical stapler is one of the most common tools. It costs very little, but is used in many works and operations. According to the structure, mechanical staplers are of two types: with a twisted spring and spring (lamellar).
Coil spring staplers are the cheapest models. Such a tool belongs to the category of household. They are simple, but during operation, considerable effort is required to cock the mechanism again. In addition, over time, such springs lose some of their elasticity, begin to work worse. Another unpleasant moment is a large recoil force. Such models are suitable for short-term use – the load is too high.
Professional mechanical building staplers are made using flat leaf springs. They provide smoother operation, less impact, have a longer resource, but are more expensive.
If you plan to work for several hours, take this type of tool. It will justify itself, and there will be application – a lot of all sorts of operations can be done with such a device. It is especially useful for those who try to do a lot with their own hands. During construction, it is used very often, and then it will come in handy on the farm.
important points
When choosing any mechanical stapler, pay attention to:
- The case must be collapsible – with screws. Then it is possible, if necessary, to disassemble it, clean and lubricate.
- How far is the handle from the body? The closer it is to the body, the easier it will be to work.
- On the possibility of adjusting the punching mechanism. When working with soft materials (pine, for example), the minimum value is set. So that the bracket enters, but the material does not jam. When working with hardwoods, plywood, chipboard, etc., you will have to make more efforts, otherwise the staples do not go into the material, and finishing them with a hammer is not the most fun thing to do.
Please note that these must be screws, not rivets. - The presence of the function of double impact. This is just for working with hard materials. This mode of operation allows you to re-hit a bracket that is not completely clogged. A new one is not supplied in this case.
Also, for safe transportation and storage, it is desirable to have a “shockless descent” function or the ability to jam the mechanism – often it’s just a metal loop that fits over the handle.
How to refuel
The construction stapler can have two types of magazine. It is more convenient to use if the store opens. Then refueling a construction stapler is as simple as a clerical stapler: the spring is pulled back, a block of staples is inserted, the spring is released. Everything can work. During operation, at any time, you can remove the stuck bracket, correct the block, etc.
If the store is retractable, inserting the staples into the stapler is also easy: after releasing the latch, extend the spring, insert the staple block, return the spring to its place, fixing it in the damper.
With this structure, it can be problematic to remove a stuck bracket. You will need to pick it out of the striker, and this can be dangerous – do not forget to block the trigger.
What fastener can work
There are three types of staples that mechanical staplers work with: U and U shaped staples and pins (in the form of the letter T). Naturally, it is better if the device can work with all types, but these are usually expensive models. Yes, and U-shaped brackets are needed mainly when laying a cable, and this, you see, is a specific job, and T-shaped brackets are used infrequently, since they do not provide stable fastening, but they are indispensable if you need to make fasteners as less noticeable as possible.
However, U-shaped brackets are most often needed. They are almost universal, they are available with different back thicknesses and leg heights, they are selected for the type of work. The characteristics of the stapler usually indicate the maximum length of the legs that this unit can handle. On average, it is 10-15 mm. By this indicator, one can judge the impact power – the longer the staples a construction stapler can hammer in, the more powerful it is and the easier it is to do the job.
Electric construction stapler
An electric staple gun is necessary for frequent and long-term work, as well as in cases where you need to use large staples – the power of these devices is much higher. The average indicators are the length of the legs is 20-25 mm, and the maximum for some professional models is up to 50 mm. Some models can work with nails, but such a function must be sought.
The main parameters
The first indicator that you should pay attention to is the number of “shots” per minute. The average is 20-30 pieces, the high one is about 50. If time is running out, such slowness is annoying, but in this case, use pneumatic staplers. They are the fastest.
If we talk about electric power, then it is relatively small – no more than 1,5 kW and almost all models operate on 220 V. If you are going to buy an electric stapler powered by the mains, pay attention to the length of the cord – the larger it is, the more convenient it is to work.
If you decide to purchase a rechargeable model, choose one in which the battery capacity is larger or a second battery is included. It’s also good to know the charging time – the lower the better. And one more thing: if you already have some kind of cordless tools, it makes sense to buy a construction stapler of the same brand or with similar batteries – they will be interchangeable.
And in conclusion about the electrical part: see how long the electric stapler can work without interruption. That is, how much time with active use will pass before the engine warms up. When overheating, power is significantly reduced, the staples clog worse. If such a situation arises, take a break.
But with all this, it must be taken into account that an electric construction stapler weighs from 1,5 to 2 kg, which is quite a lot if you have to work on vertical surfaces. Yes, the effort when pulling the trigger is minimal, but it is difficult to maintain the weight during prolonged use. So, when choosing, we also pay attention to weight.
More about the appearance: the case is made of impact-resistant plastic, but it is better if the platform (lower part) is entirely made of metal.
Additional functions
To adjust the operating mode for specific conditions, it is convenient if there is a smooth adjustment of the impact force. There are also switches that have several operating positions, which is also good.
Protection against arbitrary operation will help prevent trouble. If an electric construction stapler has such a function, it “issues” staples only when the working part comes into contact with some surface.
Pneumatic staplers
This type of tool is mainly used in the production of medium and high power. It is highly productive: a speed of 50-60 staples per minute is the norm. The pneumatic construction stapler differs in structure: there is no spring, the impact occurs due to the energy of compressed air. The air supply is provided by the compressor, and the moment of supply is determined by pressing the trigger. In stationary models, this can be a foot pedal, but in manual models, it can be a familiar trigger or button.
When choosing, you should also pay attention to what kind of fasteners this unit can work with. By the way, they can drive even longer staples and nails – an average of 50-80 mm, but you can also find those that work with 100 mm nails.
For this equipment, the most important parameter is the working pressure. The minimum is 4 Bar, on average – 5-6 Bar. Accordingly, the compressor must guarantee the required pressure.
Of the positive aspects – the low weight of the gun – only about 1 kg. And despite the fact that they are mostly made of steel.
Staples for a stapler: types and choices
As already mentioned, each staple gun works with a specific fastener. When you go shopping for new staples, you need to know the type, or at least the dimensions. Information about the type of brackets is in the product passport or on the nameplate (metal plate) with information fixed on the case.
Staples for staplers are made from different metals:
- Aluminum. A good choice for working with soft materials such as pine, but they simply do not fit into hard materials – they are jammed.
- Copper. An expensive option that is used in rooms with high humidity. They also work with soft materials.
- Steel. An inexpensive option that is good for hard materials too. But they have a drawback – they rust.
- Galvanized and stainless steel. Good choice but pricey. But reliable fasteners are obtained, and for any conditions.
The most popular sizes of staples for a stapler and from marking
In addition to the material and dimensions (length of the legs and width of the back), one must also look at whether the legs are sharpened or not. For soft materials, this is unimportant, but when working with hard ones, it can be a decisive moment: sharpened ones go into the densest boards or plastic much easier.