N. Crown Stapler vs. Upholstery Stapler
I’ve posted at Breaktime before, but this is my first post at Knots. My fiance and I will be inheriting (and recovering) four chairs and a small dining table from her parents in a month or two for our first house. The chairs have metal frames with what looks like a hardboard seat (1/4″ thick?) that is padded and wrapped in fabric.
My fiance’s mom mentioned that renting a pneumatic stapler would make the job go faster and easier. I agree with her. My thought is to spend a few bucks more and just buy a basic stapler – It doesn’t really take much to convince me to buy a tool if it will get used. I can always try to sell it after I’m done with it if I don’t have a use and it is just sitting in the garage. Access to an air compressor is not a problem.
Looking at Porter Cable’s website, they make both narrow crown and upholstery staplers. The big difference appears to be crown width and staple length. I know other companies make narrow crown staplers. Porter Cable, Hitachi, and Bostitch are readily available locally and online.
I have a few questions:
1. What type of stapler will do my main task (recovering chairs at this point – maybe making and covering valances of some sort for our family room and sunroom windows)?
2. Will narrow (1/4″) crown staples have enough holding power to keep the fabric on chairs that will be used daily? Will I have problems with the fabric pulling these staples out?
3. What else can I use this type of tool for?
Like I said before, I have a little time to figure out what I want to do. I just want to be ready to buy (the right tool) if I see the right deal. Thanks for your help.
Replies
An upholstery stapler is really made for just that, but it's also about the only kind that I know of that stainless staples are made for (which means is can be used for marine seat covers and side panels. A 1/4" crown stapler would work but the staples may go through whatever you're covering- I don't think they come shorter than 3/4".
boiler7904 ,
The wide crown , I use 3/8 " and 1/2" is the tool for fabric applications .'
Narrow crown staples have the power , but can blow right thru the fabric in some cases . Maybe it is the way the narrow crown sets the staple below the surface .
You can find a few other uses for the wide crown .
For the small amount you have to do on the chairs , imo rent one if possible like you think you want to buy and try it out . Your job of stapling may take only a few hours .
A good hand stapler or an electric will work for occasional use . I use the wide crown staplers for business and need to depend on a heavy duty tool that always works I use air powered.
good luck dusty
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled