Opinions Wanted Canvas Stapler

[janetj1968]

I have used a couple of Canvas Staplers...one electric and one manual. I don't have a pneumatic one because I'm not happy with the width of the staples available.

I've found lately that my stretcher bars are coming in with greener and harder woods and my staples aren't making it into the wood 'smoothly'. I don't like the way it looks.

Suggestions? What are you using?

 

[Bill Henry-]

I, too, have both an electric and manual stapler. I use the manual one most frequently. It is a “medium” duty jobbie I bought from Sears.

The problem with the manual staples not driving all the way is not new, at least to me. Most strainers I use have several splines in them. You can go along as happy as a clam, then “whammo” you hit a hard section. I’ve found that most of the time that if I carefully tap them over the bend of the staples I can drive them in pretty well. But, even if they are sloppy, since most of the stretched canvas goes into a frame, it doesn’t bother me too much.

The electric stapler makes me nervous. Even though I wear eye goggles, I can never remember which way the safety knob turns to disengage it. I am forever worried about shooting myself in the thigh.

Also, the staples used in the electric gun are considerably thicker than the dinky manual ones. I am concerned that they are more likely to tear the canvas.

 

[JFeig]

pneumatic staplers come in assorted staple withs and wire gauges. The Senco that I have uses staples that have a crown of about 1/2" - 5/16" long and about a 19 gauge wire.

 

[PaulSF]

Manual stapler and a hammer.

 

[framah]

I have an air powered Porter Cable Model US58 Upholstery stapler.
It takes a minimum 1/4" to a max 5/8" length by 3/8" wide staple. This paid for itself the first time I used it.

I think the important thing here is that it is designed for upholstery.

I can pull the canvas with the pliers in one hand and staple with the other all the way down the side in one shot.
Basically, this is a no brainer here. The enormous time saved as well as the pain of hand cramps from hand staplers makes it a must in any shop.
Electric staplers just don't have the power you need.

 

[Pat Murphey]

I can't tell you enough how much easier stapling is with the Sears Easy Fire manual stapler. The handle is reversed from the usual layout - you are pushing on the staple instead of sqeezing the handle on the wrong end.