Most people are familiar with the regular office stapler, how to use it, and have no problem refilling it with the one size fits all regular staples (¼ inch-6mm). Staple guns, on the other hand, are designed to be more powerful than a regular stapler. Staple guns are used in construction, upholstery, roofing, insulation, wiring, carpeting, and also craftwork. They come with a variety of staples to get the job done.
Do staple guns use regular staples? Yes, staples guns use regular staples if you are using your staple gun to staple papers together. Staple guns are designed to attach elements to hard materials like wood, masonry, leather, and plastics objects and need heavy-duty staples to perform this function.
Regular staples are available in different sizes depending on the amount of paper you need to staple together. You can probably get away with using regular staples for the odd fastening job at home, attaching paper to cardboard, but ideally, you would use the right staple for the job at hand. Staple guns are not regular office staplers, even though some use them as such.
What Staples Are Used In Staple Guns?
Choosing the right staple for the job that needs doing is crucial. If you just put any staple in and hope for the best, the outcome may be very disappointing and ineffective. Heavy-duty staples are made out of steel, where standard regular staples are made out of zinc-plated steel wires.
Here is a guide to help you when you need to choose the correct staple to join different materials.
- Fine wire staples are used when you are connecting thin materials like fabric, textile, and leather. It is the correct staple to use when upholstering furniture and applying a canvas to a frame. It is a small, thin, and hardly noticeable staple and normally leaves no sizeable holes or breaks in the material.
- Flat wire staples are used when you are connecting elements such as plastic sheeting, ridged cardboard, and rugs and carpets. It is the correct staple to use when joining substances like plastic foil, corrugated cardboard, and insulant foil. It has a large back that keeps the elements sturdily in place.
- Narrow crown staples are used when you are linking elements such as floors, panels, and trims. It is the correct staple to use when joining elements found in carpentry like cabinets and drawers, and other granulated objects. It has a slim back with extended legs and secures nice and deep into the base layer.
- Medium and wide crown staples are generally used in the construction industry. Wide crown staples are the correct staples to use when building trusses, wrapping your house, and also roofing. Medium crown staples are the correct staples to use when constructing pallets and furniture as well as subflooring.
- Cable staples are used when you are linking elements such as wires and cables. It is the correct staple to use when connecting low-power cables (maximum 50 volts), such as PC, phone, and sound system cables. The best one to choose comes with some type of insulation element to avoid pinching the cables while fastening them.
Always ensure that you fit the right staple before starting the project, and ensure that the length of the staple is sufficient to attach the materials together. This will save you time, money, and energy in the long run.
How To Choose The Correct Staple Length
Choosing the correct staple length is vitally important when starting a project; buying the wrong length staples may lead to you having to remove them and start the project over. Or having to rectify your initial mistake somewhere in the future when the elements become unstuck.
- The standard rule when deciding on the length of a staple is quite simple. Measure the element that you will be joining and multiply the number by three. For example, if the material that needs to be fastened is 8 mm in length, then you should get a staple that is 24 mm in length.
- When using thin materials like fabric, canvas, or cloth, ideally, you will need to add 4 mm to the staple length. For example, if the material is 4 mm, then you should purchase 8 mm length staples.
- When fastening to hard objects, like hardwood or timber, you will need to use a staple twice the length of the material that you are attaching. If the material is 15 mm in length, then you should buy 30 mm staples.
Different Types Of Staples
There are different types of staples; choosing the right one can definitely add value to your project’s unique requirements.
1) Galvanized Staples
These staples are the most commonly used of all staple types. Basically, it is a steel staple with a zinc coating; this equips the staple tohandle general deterioration better. This staple compares well, with regards to robustness, to that of a stainless-steel staple. This is a go-to staple for many, as it has a long life expectancy and is seen as the all-rounder in the staple world.
2) Stainless-Steel Staples
This environment-friendly staple breaks itself down and gives back minerals to the planet. It offers more deterioration and heat protection than other staples and can be used indoors and outdoors, and is the staple to choose when the project takes place in salty environments. This could be a good choice when doing projects close to the ocean.
3) Copper Coated Staples
This is the most stylistic staple on the market. This staple reacts quickest in environments that are damp, warm and acidic, and is almost always used for carton closing and transport packaging. It’s usually covered with alayer of copper coating.
4) Aluminum Staples
This staple is normally used in projects that need to steer clear of magnetism. It offersless protection against deterioration than a stainless-steel staple but more than a galvanized staple. Easy to cut through and are usually used by lumber mills.
Related Questions
We have covered the question if staple guns use regular staples. Here is some additional information that will help you understand the world of staples and stapler guns a bit better.
How Many Pages Can A Regular Staple bind Together?
Standard-sized office staples are the ¼ inch (6 mm in length) staple. They fit into most regular office staplers, be it handheld or electric models, and generally could staple 02-30 pages of standard paper together.
Do Staple Guns Use Office Staples?
Most office staples will fit into staple guns, as the guns have a range of staple sizes that they can incorporate. However, staple guns work best with the staples provided by the manufacturer to do the intended project that the gun was purchased for.
Conclusion
Staple guns have the ability to use regular staples, as the office staples come in a size that will fit the staple gun. Thisdoes not mean that when you need to do a specific project, that these standard staples will bethe right ones to use, even if they match in size.
When using your staple gun in construction, carpentry, upholstering, and cabling fields, the best advice is to use the staples made for the specific project (usually the staples that are provided by the manufacturer of the staple gun).
Always remember, before starting a project, you need to be certain of the type and length of the staple. Normally heavy-duty staples will be your go-to when starting a project; also, make sure the staple components are in line with what you need. For example, if you are into carton closing, you should use copper-coated staples.
Staple guns are much stronger than normal office staplers; therefore, it is only correct in assuming that the staples will be of a higher quality than regular staples. If you are using your staple gun to bind paper together, you can definitely use regular staples; for everything else, use the recommended staple.
Regular staples are designed to go through paper; heavy-duty staples are made to join materials to each other,normally hard materials. Always use the right staple for the job, and you will save money, time, and energy in the long run.
References
https://kihlberg.com/en/staple-guide-all-you-need-to-know-about-staples/
https://www.nailgundepot.com/blog/choosing-a-staple-gun-for-your-project-blog.html
https://www.rapid.com/en-gb/guides/stapling-guides/how-to-choose-the-correct-staple/