Best Staple Guns - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide
by Scott Miller Updated on
A staple gun is famous for stapling paper, but that is not all that this tool can do.
There are staple guns which can drive staples into many different surfaces and they are considered very useful tools in the house.
Being that there is a variety of shapes and sizes of this tool and that manufacturers made it manual, electric or pneumatic, choosing the best staple gun is of great importance but at the same time great trouble.
To make your choice easier, we have created a list of staple gun reviews of the best models and our buying guide which will explore the most important features of this tool.
The second best is the Makita XTS01Z, electric model which is more effective than a manual product and users like it because they can do the work quickly and effectively.
The hand fatigue caused by the manual staple guns is gone and this is something that attracts the users.
The Makita XTS01Z model has the ability to drive staples into a wide range of materials, being that the motor is so powerful and can drive a wide range of 3/8 crown staples as well as flat crown staples.
Additionally, there is the depth control setting – a single knob easily controlled.
This is great as it helps users avoid breaking thinner materials.
Furthermore, what users found useful is the jam-proof mechanism ensuring that you can continue stapling without a hitch.
We also found that working with this model causes almost no hand fatigue and you can work with it for a longer period of time.
Manufacturers thought about comfortability, so they made the grip covered in rubber.
We have to state that the only disadvantage of the XTS01Z is the motor which tends to be a little noisy.
Number three on our list is a pneumatic staple gun – the Hitachi N3804AB3.
Being that it is pneumatic, there is no need to worry about a sore hand and the manufacturers have made the rubber grip making it even more comfortable model to use.
The long handle is useful as you can get both hands on it if that is necessary.
There are even more positive features of this tool.
The N3804AB3 is lightweight, weighting just 2.3 lbs, making it much easier to hold and move around.
The tool is pneumatic, and when these kinds of staple guns are in question, you need to supply them with the right amount of pressure.
Operating pressure ranges from 70-120 PSI.
This staple gun uses an 18 gauge narrow crown staple and we noticed that it is designed to be used for a wide range of materials.
The magazine is fairly large and can hold 130 staples, so that it will save you a lot of time.
This is better option than manual staple guns which can be tiring to use and you get hand fatigue after the extended period of time.
The Bostitch 651S5 is not as light as some of the other units, but at the same time this model is not too heavy, being that its weight is 4.2 lbs.
We have noticed that there are many electric-powered staple guns which are much heavier.
The 651S5 is quite maneuverable and the rubberized handle is there to make user feel comfortable when working with it and to ensure he/she does not lose grip.
The handle is big enough so that you can use both hands if there is a need to improve stability.
Users claim that this product is both durable and reliable and what is even better, the Bostitch 651S5 is designed for big projects.
We have to mention that this model has some useful features such as the open nose allowing you quick access when the unit jams and a fantastic rapid-fire feature that allows you to shoot some 10 staples per second.
The only problem users encountered was related to staples misfiring.
The last model on our list is designed only for stapling jobs around the home.
It cannot be used for some heavy duty tasks as it is not designed for them.
The Stanley TR150HL has an anti-jamming mechanism which is there to prevent the problem which many staple guns have to face with, and that is jamming.
With this model you will not waste your time with such problems.
The creators thought about comfortability so they made the handle of this manual staple gun ergonomic and flexible when your hands are tired.
The tool boasts the high and low power levels for hard or soft materials.
Another advantage of the TR150HL is that it works with T-50 staples as well as with TRA700 staples.
The easy-slide mechanism of the SharpShooter makes the loading quick and easy.
Furthermore, this durable staple gun is made of the heavy-duty aluminum housing and its long life is proved by a limited lifetime warranty offered by its producer.
Being that it is the last on the list, there have to be some downsides
People with small hands find it hard to fire staples due to the position of the lever.
Now, that you have read reviews about our staple guns you probably have the idea which model is best for you.
But, if that is not the case, you should continue reading about additional characteristics of the main types of staple guns.
That way you will be sure which product is for you.
What are the differences among a manual, electric and pneumatic staple gun?
Manual staple guns require your power.
On one hand, this is good as you do not need an extension cord, a power source or an air compressor nearby to do the job.
The flexibility is improved and portability as well.
On the other, the main disadvantage is that you need to use your own strength to fire every staple which cause a lot of tiredness and slows down the whole process.
Additionally, these models are known to jam on occasion, so they are better used with smaller, quicker projects.
The advantage is that they tend to be cheaper than electric and pneumatic staple guns.
Electric staple guns work either on battery power or via an electrical outlet.
You do not need to use your own strength to be able to fire the staples, which results in much less fatigue than with a manual staple gun.
This is very useful for people who are working for longer periods of time.
Electric staple guns are easy to operate and include a number of useful features to make your work easier and faster.
The negative sides of these models are that you need to have a constant power supply and that they tend to be more expensive.
Pneumatic models offer quick and accurate staple gunning, high-performance and easy maintenance.
There are better than manual and electric staple guns, as they are more powerful and designed for heavy-duty tasks.
We have to mention some disadvantages of pneumatic staple guns.
They are on the noisy side, more expensive and require an air compressor to supply power to them.
It is true that they are powerful, durable and ideal for larger, more demanding jobs so usually they are chosen by people who plan to use it for professional tasks.
One of the most important things to consider before your purchase is to know which one of these models will match your intentions and needs.
What can each of them do for me?
What a manual staple gun can do vary from what an electric or pneumatic staple gun can do.
Manual staple guns are designed for smaller jobs usually done around the house and what you can do with them is light crafts, home decoration, repairs to door and window screens.
There is a possibility of working on upholstery, as these tools are portable and versatile for small projects.
On the other hand, an electric staple gun can be used for some home decoration and some smaller DIY jobs.
You should know that the smallest jobs cannot be done with them.
These tools are useful when it comes to some larger projects such as the installation or repair of carpets or flooring.
The last version is the pneumatic staple gun, which is very powerful and usually used by professionals for things such as manufacturing and construction.
These tools are designed for larger household projects including installing insulation or new flooring.
Which features should I pay attention to?
Comfort – This is the first important feature as staple guns come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. What you need to do is to find the model which will offer you the most comfort. Those people who are not planning to use the staple gun on a regular basis do not have to pay so much attention to this characteristic, but those that will use it for extended periods of time will need to have a comfortable tool. Staple guns with ergonomic designs which have rubberized grips are more stable and do not cause so much fatigue. There are also models with extended handles to allow grip with both hands when necessary.
Staple size – What size you will use depends on the material with which you will be working. Manual staple guns shoot 1/2 inch staples and this is not a feature to consider. However, with pneumatic and electric staple guns have dials for changing the size of the staples and this is made easy to do. This means that one unit can accept a variety of sizes and even there is a feature which allows the user to control the depth at which the staple is shot. This is created to help user avoid damaging certain materials.
Ease of use – This feature is frequently related to comfort. Actually, hand grip and handle shape have an impact on whether a staple gun is easy to use or not. Additionally, the feature that affects the ease of use is the weight of the staple gun. It is better to get the lighter model which will be easier to maneuver in general. Much heavier models would cause hand fatigue when used for a longer period of time. Users also like those guns which have enough space on the handle to use both hands when necessary. This improves the control over the tool. In general, the pneumatic staple guns are most typically used by professionals due to the fact that they are very powerful.
Durability – This is a very important feature as you do not want your tool to break down after just a few months of use. We have to mention that the models we mentioned are all high-quality, durable products and users are very satisfied with them. When the durability is in question, you need to pay attention to the material with which it is made and the warranty period that is offered with the tool. This feature is very important for people who are planning to do heavy-duty projects as they need a tool which will be up to the task. Durability is the characteristic which can help you decide between two equally solid options.
Conclusion
Now, it is up to you to decide whether a manual, electric or pneumatic staple gun is the right tool for your project.
Being that there are plenty of models to choose from and so many factors to consider when buying a staple gun, we have done a little research with the aim to narrow down the options and find a staple gun that is right for you.
Staple gun market has really grown in recent years and various brands are doing their best to make a tool which can be beneficial to the consumer, at prices which are competitive.
We suggest you choose a staple gun which will suit your needs even though it is not well enough to match all levels of usage for a wide range of projects, large or small.
The first and most important thing when purchasing a staple gun is to suit your usage and we wanted to help you be happy with your latest tool purchase.