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[backlash]

i'm making a seat cover for a 1998 buell and needed a staple gun, ok went to wally world and bought a stanley electric i tried to different size staples and neither would go all the way the plastic and vinyl , so i need some real good advice for one -- i have air compressors but i thought the electric would work fine for small jobs----wrong---- again. old man backlash

[Bondo497]

Hi Backlash
Check out the Bostitch line of air staplers, they are great preformers for not a lot of money. I haven't used their staplers but I do have their brad nailers and floor nailer and they work very well.

[BigRig]

Backlash! I used that exact same staple gun from Wallworld in one of my first projects a quad seat. It was miserable and I chucked it. I bought a Fasco and it is shooting staples like a dream even at 50 psi on my compressor.

[John]

My favorite is the BEA 71/16-421 https://amzn.to/2r36t0F. They last forever. The BEA might be more than you want to spend for just a few projects. The ones recommended above might be a better option for your situation. Harbor freight might even have something to get you started. Unfortunately the electric staplers aren't strong enough to go through the plastic.

[BigRig]

With good practice and word of mouth maybe some of us will need to jump to using that gun too!

[backlash]

thanks guys for the help, i bought a harbor freight stapler today and it works unbelievable and it was 5 bucks cheaper than walley worlds - by the way i returned the one from them. i had to set it on 50 #s so far i'm really impresses with it. if i have trouble with it will let yall know . have a good week end ---- old man backlash

[Blucher]

Hey, guys,

I'm a beginner and want to get into re-upholstering furniture, car seats, boat bolsters and seats, etc., and need a staple gun. But the range of choices on them is bewildering. I get the feeling I should go with a long nose gun for furniture but beyond that, I'm stymied. My first summer job over 40 yrs ago was in an upholstery shop, but I don't remember much!

3/8" or 1/2" crown? Sailrite says 1/2" is better and has less chance of tearing the fabric or vinyl. I also see some that use T50 staples.
20 gauge...21 gauge...22 gauge ... there seem to be about a million combinations and permutations of these things!

Can anyone give me any guidance or tips here? I'd like to get something that will meet most of my needs for a long time without a huge price tag. Was considering the Porter Cable US58 3/8" crown, (1/4-Inch to 5/8-Inch length 22-Gauge C-Crown) , the Wen 61705 (20 gauge, 3/8" crown), and various BeA staplers, but I'm going cross-eyed trying to decide. I already have a Harbor Freight (1/4" crown 18 gauge 1/2" to 1-1/4" length) stapler/brad nailer, so I'd like to avoid "overlap" on functionality...help!

[John]

I highly recommend the brand BEA. I dont use anything else. Ive been using mine for 10 years and its still working great. BEA is pretty much the industry standard for staple guns.
The short nose is only $120 and will work in 95% of situations. https://amzn.to/2r36t0F
I you really think you need the long nose its still reasonable at $220. https://amzn.to/35Qex7S

Hope this helps!

[Blucher]

Thanks for your reply, John. I've heard a lot of good things about those BeA staplers.

What about the 3/8" crown versus 1/2" crown issue? What Sailrite says (that the 1/2" crown staples have less chance of cutting into the vinyl or fabric and may hold vinyl better) makes sense to my inexperienced ear, but I have no real experience from which to decide. Is there any "down" side to using 1/2" crown staples, particularly with furniture/cloth upholstery? I'm currently leaning toward this BeA 1/2" crown gun:

https://www.amazon.com/12000071-20-Gaug ... B00EPG2YTU

but don't want to make a mistake if there are potential problems with that size staple. (As I said, I want a gun I can use with both automotive/marine upholstery as well as normal furniture.)

Thanks again.

B.

[John]

I have always used 3/8 crown. I have never seen an issue with 3/8 staples cutting the vinyl as long as you install the staples correctly. The problem with staples cutting in to vinyl is caused by having your air pressure set to high and shooting the staple in to deep and cutting the vinyl. With vinyl and leather you should set the air pressure so that the top of the staple sits flush with the top of the vinyl. This is something you should check and adjust for every new job.

I would also lean towards 3/8 crown because they are more common and usually in stock at upholstery stores.

[BigRig]

Whats John said is exactly the cause too much air pressure. If you cannot regulate your pressure and those staples are smacking in too hard cut strips of vinyl and double up so you at least gt a hold.

[Blucher]

Thanks for your replies, John and BigRig. I appreciate your help. It sounds like 3/8" is the way to go.

[jmot53]

I have a newer BEA 3/8" crown and a new Senco SFT10XP air staple guns. Both guns are shooting the staples deep enough to cut the marine vinyl fabric I am using to recover some side panels on a boat. I have tried adjusting the air on tool pressure side to the compressor and still shooting to deep. I have noticed the plunger that sets the staples, is protruding from the end of the gun a little bit, but enough to dent the wood of the panel noticeably. Can I adjust this plunger? and if so how?

John

[jmot53]

I have always used 3/8 crown. I have never seen an issue with 3/8 staples cutting the vinyl as long as you install the staples correctly. The problem with staples cutting in to vinyl is caused by having your air pressure set to high and shooting the staple in to deep and cutting the vinyl. With vinyl and leather you should set the air pressure so that the top of the staple sits flush with the top of the vinyl. This is something you should check and adjust for every new job.

I would also lean towards 3/8 crown because they are more common and usually in stock at upholstery stores.

I have tried the air pressure setting with no success.

[John]

I personally have never used any upholstery staple gun that was not adjustable by the air pressure. My personal opinion is something it wrong with your air regulator. The BeA 71/16-421 i use does not have a manual depth setting nor do other guns Ive seen.

However I did find this on the Bea website and may help. Just be very careful about modifying your gun.

Fastener is driven too deep (countersink):

The air-pressure might be too high.
Reduce air pressure. In general the minimum air-pressure is 75 P.S.I. Consult manual or specification sheet for further information.
Adjust depth of drive on tool.
If the BeA tool is equipped with a depth of drive adjustment, change to desired level of depth of drive.
The driver blade is too long for the specific application.
Most pneumatic BeA tools are equipped with a driver blade that protrudes slightly from the nose area to allow the fastener to be countersunk. If this is not desired, carefully grind the driver blade to the desired length. Chamfer the bottom rear edge of the driver blade slightly before re-installation.

https://www.beafastenersusa.com/faq/#18

I still believe that something is wrong with your air regulation though.

I hope this helps!