How to find the right staple gun

If you have a project that involves fastening material to wood such as textiles, building materials, low voltage cables, plastic foil or thinner wood, a staple gun is the best solution.Choose a staple gun and everything from outdoor construction jobs to delicate, interior hobby work can be tackled with confidence.

The first step when buying a staple gun is to find the right staple. You choose staple according to the task or project you want to do. Read our guide on finding the right staple and then continue here to find the right tool. Staple guns come in several different types – manual, electric, pneumatic and hammer. It's the circumstances of the job that define which type of staple gun you need.

Manual Staple Guns 

Probably the most common and what most people bring to mind when they hear staple gun. Manual staple guns are used by professionals, DIY enthusiasts and hobby users alike. As they are manual, they are easy to carry with you, easy to handle and perfect for project that require a limited amount of staples.

As with any manual tool that you use extensively it can make you fatigue. Some are constructed in plastic for lighter tasks whereas others are made of aluminium or steel for longer lifetime and more demanding work.

Electric Staple Guns

Electric staple guns are versatile tools that are able to fasten materials quickly and with high levels of accuracy – great if you’re looking for a less physically demanding working day without compromising on end results or a quality job.

They’re also extremely handy in corners or when stapling vertically upwards onto a ceiling and applying force manually can be difficult. Electric staple guns can be either corded or cordless – so if you need to use the stapler in a place where there is no power, that’s no problem.

Pneumatic Staple Guns

The most powerful of the options would be a pneumatic powered staple gun. They are suitable for professional construction tasks and specific jobs such as panelling or fastening mouldings to simpler fastening work around the house or upholstery jobs.

Pneumatic staple guns are lightweight but needs to be connected to a compressor, which limits their mobility. The compressor however, allows for almost unlimited power, which delivers high-tempo and precision performance.

The high power also allows working with longer staples. It could be said that these models are more for professional users. However, their low weight, powerful performance and reliability make them popular with demanding homeowners too.

Hammer Tackers 

When speedy operation over larger areas is important, but where precision stapling is not, a hammer tacker is the perfect solution. Professional users and DIY enthusiasts use these tools for fastening building materials such as roofing felt, moisture barriers, insulation plastic and wind protection.