How to choose a construction stapler?

Mechanical staplers

This is the cheapest and easiest type of stapler, designed for small volumes of work. Their main advantage is their small size and weight, thanks to which you can work in uncomfortable positions and always have them at hand. According to the design features, there are two types of mechanical staplers :

Mechanical stapler with coil spring.

• With coil spring. The main shock mechanism of such models is a twisted spring, which is cocked and then released when the lever is pressed. With the help of a screw, you can adjust the force with which the bracket will be clogged. This feature is especially useful when working on soft surfaces where a strong impact can damage the material. The working resource of the spring is 10 – 12K strokes, after which the recoil becomes stronger and it becomes uncomfortable to work with the tool. Models may have the function of driving staples, nails or studs. Prices for such a tool start at $ 5, which makes it very popular among home craftsmen.

Mechanical stapler with leaf spring.

• With leaf spring. In this type of staplers, a flat spring located horizontally is responsible for the tension of the drummer. Its resource is much higher than twisted and reaches 55 – 60K strokes. It also has a softer and shorter return spring, making it easier to push the lever and less recoil than coil spring models. However, a stapler with a lamellar spring is more expensive than the previous type of staplers and its resource allows it to be used for large-scale work on the installation of vapor barrier and closing the rear walls of cabinets with hardboard plates.

Impact (hammer) type model.

• Shock. The stapler looks like a hammer and has the simplest design. When hitting the head, the bracket is ejected. The work is not entirely accurate, but it is fast.

Features of the choice of mechanical models

When choosing a construction stapler of a mechanical type, pay attention to the following indicators:

• Frame. It must be collapsible with screws so that it is possible to carry out revision and repair.
• Removal of the handle. The closer the handle is to the body of the stapler, the easier it will be to press and, accordingly, the hand will get tired less.
• Protection against accidental shots. On coil spring models, this should be a metal loop that slips over the handle. In units with a leaf spring, the handle must extend along the plain bearing, thereby preventing accidental cocking of the firing pin.
• Having a knife. This function is applicable only to impact models, on the end of which an interchangeable knife can be attached. It is applicable in furniture production when you need to quickly cut upholstery or other material.

Electric and battery staplers

Battery stapler with case.

Unlike mechanical models, electric staplers are equipped with more powerful springs that provide high impact force. This allows you to work with large staples and nails, as well as hammer them into high-density wood or plastic material. They work from a conventional 230 V socket. Some models are additionally equipped with batteries for autonomous operation.

Due to the fact that a minimum of effort is required for a shot, even women can easily use electric models. Electric staplers from different manufacturers have contact or non-contact types of operation. With the first type, the staples are fired only when the tool is firmly pressed against the workpiece. This protects the user from injury if the trigger is pressed inadvertently, and also allows fasteners to be hammered with high accuracy. But at the same time, it is worth remembering that the clogging speed is reduced. With a non-contact type, studs and staples can be fired without being pressed tightly against the workpiece, which is unsafe, but less effort is needed and the work is done faster.

Features of the choice of electric and battery staplers

When choosing an electric furniture stapler, pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Double strike function. Some models can finish off the nail after the first shot, driving it deeper into the hard material. In the case of using staples, the function works a little differently: two staples are fired at once in one hit. This is useful when it is necessary to fix the material more firmly, for example, when installing a thick cable. Note that only electric models can have the double strike function.
• Spare battery available. For work in conditions of lack of electricity, purchase a model with a battery. Due to the absence of wires, it is convenient to move around the room with it. Included with some units, such as Bosch GSK 18 V-Li Professional 0601480304 , there are two batteries and a docking station to charge them.
• Presence/absence of carbon brushes. In some battery units, such as AEG B18N18-0 Price from 9 998 up to 13 100 ₴, the manufacturer deliberately removed the carbon brushes. This prolongs the battery life and durability of the engine.

Pneumatic staplers

Pneumatic stapler Makita AT1150A.

This type of staplers is the most powerful and performant, and is used mainly in production. The working body is driven by the force of compressed air supplied to the tool from the compressor. On average, the operating pressure of pneumatic staplers varies from 5 to 8 bar. This pressure allows you to hammer fasteners up to 50 mm long, which most electric and mechanical staplers cannot.

Unlike other types of staplers, there are much fewer moving parts in pneumatic ones, so their resource is longer. They are also less expensive than electric ones. However, the air gun for staples has the most important drawback — the need to connect a compressor. Because of this, it is problematic to transport it, and the cost of the entire set of pneumatic tools increases several times (the cheapest compressor costs from $ 70).

Features of the choice of pneumatic models

When buying an air gun, look at the following:

• Operating pressure. The higher the pressure the machine can handle, the easier it will be to drive into dense material and the longer the fasteners can be used. For example, Makita AN943K Price from 18 999 up to 26 705 ₴, with a nominal pressure of 8.3 bar, is capable of driving nails up to 90 mm long.
• Staple folding function. Inherent only in staplers. It is useful in cases where two thin materials are fastened together and they break through. To implement this function, a metal anvil is required, which can be included with the tool.
• Air hose. Although this hose is included with the compressor, it is still better to buy a new long hose with the purchase of a stapler (complete with a compressor usually does not exceed 2 metres). This will allow you to work at a greater distance from the compressor and move freely around the shop.

General criteria for choosing construction staplers

The following parameters apply to all types of construction staplers:

• The ability to adjust the force of clogging. This parameter is necessary for working with materials of different densities: soft surfaces do not deform, and hard staples enter without the need to finish them again.
• Adjustment of force and height of impact. Some models are equipped with a power regulator, thanks to which you can lower or increase the impact force depending on the density of the workpiece material. The impact height is changed by a screw regulator by raising or lowering the striker.
• Rate of fire. Medium-priced models are capable of performing 20 – 30 beats / min, which is quite enough for small volumes of work. However, for furniture upholstery, it is better to purchase a model with a rate of fire of 60 beats / min.
• Store angle. Expensive models of cordless staplers have a magazine inclined relative to the body for more convenient work in hard-to-reach places (for example, under the ceiling) and for driving staples at an angle. Usually the angle of inclination does not exceed 20 – 25 degrees.
• Store capacity. For infrequent or low-volume work, models with a magazine size of 70 to 100 staples are suitable. For industrial use, staplers with a magazine of 150 or more staples are needed so that there is no downtime in work.
• Driving nails / studs. Most staplers can only clog staples. However, the design of some models allows you to hammer all types of fasteners at the same time. For example, nailers are particularly suitable for fixing fiberboard in cabinets and sofas. It is worth noting that the price for them is much higher than for highly specialized units.
• Case. If you plan to use it not only for homework, then buy a stapler with a case for transportation. If the model does not come with a case, it can be purchased for up to $10.
• Bracket width. Wide staples are useful for securing wide flat cable in electrical wiring and other types of work. They can be from 5 to 13 mm wide.