A staple gun, also known as a staple tacker, is a handheld device capable of driving metal staples or small nail brads into various materials such as heavy paper, plastic, wood, or thick fabrics. Staple guns are available in manual, electric, and pneumatic variations to cater to a wide range of applications, and they offer more power compared to standard desk staplers. Prior to utilizing your staple gun for woodworking, upholstery, or crafting projects, it's essential to load the staples into the gun.
Steps
Rear-Loading a Manual Staple Gun
Find the pusher rod located at the rear of the gun. Orient the gun so that the end where the nails are dispensed faces away from you. Then, inspect the rear of the gun for a small metal rectangle featuring two notches on the sides and a small hook either at the top or bottom. This mechanism serves as the release for the pusher rod.
- If you're having difficulty locating it, follow the path from where the staples emerge from the gun to the rear area, typically forming a straight line.
Press the rod inward and pull it out to detach. Place your thumb and forefinger into the grooves on each side of the pusher. Then, push the rod forward and downward if the hook is positioned at the top, or upward if the hook is at the bottom. Once the hook disengages, withdraw the rod entirely from the gun and set it aside.
- If pushing in one direction doesn’t work, try the opposite direction before pulling it out. Typically, you’ll notice the hook on the rod unlatching as you push it in.
Insert the staples with the legs facing downward over the guide rails. Take a row of staples and place them so that the legs are oriented downward, with the staples resting atop the rails within the chamber. Then, allow the staples to slide all the way to the front of the gun. If you anticipate using a large quantity of staples for your project, consider filling the chamber completely, leaving only approximately 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) of space.
- Failing to slide the staples to the front may result in jamming when reinserting the pusher.
Reinsert the pusher until it securely locks into position. Insert the end of the pusher without the release mechanism into the chamber. Keep the rod straight and push it into the chamber, ensuring that the back of the rod hooks into place either at the top or bottom.
- While inserting the rod, you may encounter some resistance, particularly if the spring on the rod makes contact with the staplers. Continue pushing the rod until it securely hooks into place.
Verify the functionality of the staple gun by testing it on paper or wood. Fold a piece of paper in half or use a scrap of wood or fabric to test the staple gun. Position the material under or within the stapler and squeeze the trigger to discharge a staple. Ensure that the staples are dispensed smoothly without any obstructions.
- Try conducting the test on the type of material you intend to use for your project.
Bottom-Loading an Electric Stapler
Disconnect the staple gun from the power source and engage the trigger lock before loading. Remove the plug from the outlet and locate the trigger lock positioned just behind the trigger used to release staples. Move the lock to the left or right, or press it toward the trigger to secure the trigger in place.
- If your staple gun lacks a trigger lock, exercise caution during the loading process. As long as the gun is unplugged, loading should be safe.
Locate the magazine release buttons located at the rear of the stapler. The magazine release button is responsible for releasing the clip that holds the staples in position. Examine the rear portion of the stapler, typically toward the lower end. You should find two small recesses on either side of the stapler, which you'll need to squeeze and pull to release.
- If you're unsure of the magazine's location, locate where the staples are expelled from the gun. The release button should be on the opposite side of the bottom of the gun from where the staples are fired.
Depress the release buttons and extract the tray. Place your thumb and forefinger on each side of the release buttons, pressing inward before pulling outward. This action will disengage the magazine from the stapler, exposing a compartment beneath where the staples will be inserted.
- If you haven't already, you'll need to position the stapler on its side or upside-down to load the staples.
Insert the staples with the legs facing upward into the magazine. Insert a row of staples into the compartment with the legs oriented toward you, and push them toward the front of the stapler. Maintain the stapler in an upside-down position to prevent the staples from falling out.
Refer to the markings on the magazine release when loading brad nails. If you're using the staple gun to drive brad nails, inspect the magazine rod. It should indicate something like 'Load brads' with an arrow pointing upward or downward. Align a row of brad nails along the side of the compartment indicated by the arrow's direction.
- If your stapler lacks guidance for loading brad nails, it may not be compatible with them. Consult the manual or search online to confirm compatibility.
Insert the magazine back into the chamber until you hear it click into place. Grip the release button with your thumb and forefinger, then push the magazine back into the compartment. The audible click confirms that the magazine is securely attached and that the staples are properly secured.
- If you don't hear the click, try removing the magazine and reinserting it.
How to Load a Pneumatic Stapler
Power off the compressor and disconnect the stapler. Turn off the compressor by toggling the power switch located on the back of the compressor tank to the 'off' position. Loosen the nut at the bottom of the gun using your hand to detach it from the hose connecting it to the compressor. Ensure any trigger lock is engaged to prevent accidental firing.
- If the nut is difficult to turn or stuck, use the appropriate-sized wrench to loosen it.
Depress the lever on the front of the gun to release the follower. Squeeze the lever located at the front of the gun and pull the rod away from the stapler to remove the magazine. Ensure the follower rod is fully extended to lock it in place.
- The follower rod stabilizes the magazine, preventing movement. Most pneumatic staple guns feature a large follower rod at the front of the gun, visible beneath the staple firing area.
Position a strip of staples over the magazine rail with the legs facing downward. Align the staples so that their legs straddle the rail. Use your hand to slide them along the rail to ensure smooth movement without snagging.
- It's advisable to load several smaller rows of staples instead of one large row.
Engage the lever at the front of the gun to position the follower correctly. Press and release the lever to unlock the follower mechanism. The stapler should automatically feed the staples into position. If it doesn't, gently nudge the rod to initiate the movement.
- Never apply excessive force to the rod to move the staples upward, as this may lead to misfires during operation.
Perform a test with the stapler gun by stapling into a scrap piece of wood. Reconnect the compressor and wear safety goggles before switching on the gun. Then, position the front of the gun on a piece of wood and pull the trigger to ensure that only one staple is dispensed at a time. The staple should eject smoothly, sitting flush against the wood.
- Attempt to use a piece of wood with similar thickness to the materials you'll be stapling together or made of the same material. For instance, if stapling into particle board, use scrap particle board to test the stapler.
Helpful Pointers
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Consult the staple gun's manual to verify that you're using the appropriate staples or nail brads for the tool.
Important Reminders
- Before loading an electric or pneumatic staple gun, always disconnect the power and secure the mechanism to prevent accidents.
- Ensure your eyes, ears, and hands are shielded with safety goggles, earplugs, and gloves when operating a heavy-duty stapler.