Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

[Darren Nemeth]

I find I have two choices for putting upholstery together; air gun stapler you attach to a compressor and hand staple gun found at Lowe's and Home Depot for under $25.

I am making new seats and side panels for the boat. The ply it is going into is 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch Douglas Fur and am using Naugahyde.

It will be for a one time use on the upholstery.

Which would be better for my uses and why?

I see the recent thread but that is all about air gun staplers. No regular hand guns are mentioned.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

If you have a compressor of ANY kind, even a small Pancake type then I would spend the 20 bucks at Harbor freight and go with the Air Stapler. I tried using an electric and a manual and found them to be quite unsatisfactory in their ability to drive the staple with any type of consistency. If you want a quality job, go with the air.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

I've got a Duo-Fast electric commerical stapler, probably not good for one-time use tho, it was 300.00........But it will drive the staples!!!!!! I'd go with woods suggestion. Most of the big-box store electric guns are crap.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

I had trouble finding SS staples for my air stapler locally. Had to order them online.

I agree with Wood also, Air is the way to go! Made the job much easier....I've used a manual and always have to go back and drive the staples in with a hammer. Pain in the butt!.....Air stapler drives em right in..1st time.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

I couldn't find any staples locally that were short enough to run through my air stapler. So, went with the electric. Not as nice but it does the job.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

Menards has a pneumatic stapler they often sell for $10 after rebate, uses T50 staples just like most hammer tackers and I think it will shoot up to 3/4 staples. I've only used mine once but it worked great.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

Most upholstery shops and manufacturers use pneumatic staple guns. They also use'em like they're machine guns--requiring upholstery shops to remove hundreds and hundreds of staples per piece of furniture (with diagonal pliers.) (I've been to upholstery school.)

Be sure to use stainless staples or you'll be re-doing the job in 2-3 more years. Like it was said, you may have to order'em on the internet.

 

[BWT]

Re: Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

IMO there is a reason there isn't much info on manual staplers; air is the way to go. Although you mention that it would be for a one time use, I can guarantee that if you have it, it will get used more often than you think. Just my 2cents.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Best for making upholstery?: Hand staple gun or air compressor staple gun?

Speaking of recovering boat seats, where is a good place to get marine material at (meaning decently priced). Can't find any affordable stuff locally.

Art