Tips On Using A Heavy Duty Staple Gun

A heavy duty staple gun is an essential tool in basic home construction and carpentry. Here are some tips for using your heavy duty staple gun:

• What Type Do You Need

There are several types of heavy duty staple guns. Evaluate your job and see which type you need. A standard staple gun is manually operated and will shoot staples or brads into any wood or plastic surface. Electric or air-compressed staple guns are trigger-operated and allow you to shoot staples with more force/frequency. These are often used for stapling upholstery and larger stapling jobs (house wrap). A hammer tacker is another manually operated staple gun that functions more like a hammer and uses it’s momentum to drive in staples. This tool used is primarily for carpeting, roofing, and insulation.

• Staple Size

Determine what size staples you will need for your job. Heavy duty staples come in various sizes (1/4”, 3/8”, 3/4", 15/16”). Make sure to correctly load the right-size staples according to the directions for the specific model.

• Safety

Staple guns can be extremely dangerous if they are not used safely. Carefully review your staple gun to see which spot ejects the staples. Mark that area on the side of the gun so you are always aware of where the staple will shoot (if it is not already marked). Do not shoot the gun into the air or at anyone else. Staple guns shoot staples with a great deal of force. If it can penetrate construction material than it can most likely break your skin from a certain distance. Also be aware of where your fingers/feet are when you are stapling material (especially with a tack hammer).

• Good Brands

Good brands to check out for standard staple guns and tack hammers are Stanley, Bostitch and Arrow Fastener. Craftsman is also good because they offer a lifetime warranty on hand tools. Surebonder and Porter-Cable are recommended brands for air-compressed staple guns. For electric staple guns check out Stanley, Arrow Fastener, Craftsman, and Duo-Fast.