The 10 Best Upholstery Staplers
Editor's Notes
November 29, 2020:
We removed the Yanda 3-in-1 due to reliability and jamming issues, and replaced it with the Yeahome 4-in-1, another manual model. The Yeahome 4-in-1 still has an impressively low price, and also includes a huge supply of fasteners, making it useful for a variety of jobs.
Following safety protocols is incredibly important when handling upholstery staplers. Even though the pneumatic versions are relatively small, they are still combining compressed air and sharp projectiles, which is inherently a dangerous situation. Whichever model you choose, even the manual versions, make sure to thoroughly read the instruction manual before using it.
Never leave a stapler attached to its air supply unattended, and never allow a child to operate an upholstery stapler. All it takes is a fraction of a second for an inexperienced user to cause an accident that can result in serious injury. Always wear eye protection when using an upholstery stapler, and never point it at anyone, even yourself, whether it’s loaded or not.
If you opt for a pneumatic model, you’ll need an air supply in order to get started. This collection of air compressors should provide you with a good variety of options. Or, if you know you won’t be tackling any large-scale projects, one of these smaller pancake compressors might be a better option.
June 28, 2019:
This list is mostly made up of pneumatic — or air compressor operated — upholstery staplers, though we have picked out a few manual models, such as the Yanda 3-in-1 and Stanley TR250 SharpShooter. It's important to note that these are trigger-style staplers, which means they should be used with extreme caution and unplugged and/or stored properly after each session.
With regard to updates, the Meite MT7116LN and Air Locker U630 have been removed due to quality concerns. The Porter-Cable US58 was added and awarded the first spot due to its heavy-duty construction and popularity among professionals and hobbyists alike. The 3Plus H7116SP is another new addition, included to provide users with yet another well-reviewed, budget-friendly option.
The Main Types Of Upholstery Staplers
They must be powerful enough to send staples through thick items like leather, or even roofing materials.
Anyone who has ever sat in a diner booth or old reclining chair has likely noticed an object they usually associate with paper sticking out of it: a staple. That staple, however, is unlike the ones used to connect receipts to invoices. The stapler used to apply it is quite different, too. Upholstery staplers, also commonly called staple guns, are far more rugged than office varieties. They must be powerful enough to send staples through thick items like leather, or even roofing materials. They are often used for projects that would otherwise call for several screws or bolts in a line. Upholstery staplers can send out several staples in the time it would take to fasten just one screw.
Having an upholstery stapler can save a person a lot of money. Considering that the typical couch has around 15 yards of material, and the rate a professional reupholsterer charges per yard, fixing one's own couch can offer substantial savings. There are three main types of upholstery staplers. There are light duty and heavy duty trigger models, and then there are pneumatic and electric ones. Both trigger models require manual force to send staples into an object. Light duty upholstery staplers can usually take staple sizes 1/4, 5/16, and 3/8-inches. Heavy duty upholstery staplers support all the staple sizes of the light duty ones, as well as sizes 1/2 and 9/16-inches.
Pneumatic and electric upholstery staplers resemble guns, which is why they're often called staple guns. They have a magazine that holds the staples and a trigger. Pneumatic ones, however, are powered by compressed air. Meanwhile, electric ones are of course powered by electricity. Those who use the latter should take certain safety precautions because electric staple guns can be quite dangerous.
Traits Of A Quality Upholstery Stapler
Pneumatic and electric staplers are becoming the standard for serious DIYers and construction workers. Since one might use their upholstery stapler regularly, they need to be aware of some of the conditions and injuries that can arise. Any activity that requires a person to repetitively grasp something can result in trigger finger. Fortunately, many upholstery staplers boast modes that enable them to send out several staples in just one pull of the trigger. This can reduce one's chances of developing trigger finger.
Those working on dense material like wood, they should make sure their upholstery stapler has enough force to fire a staple all the way through. Workers with a long day of projects ahead of them should make sure their model has an extra long magazine, so they do not need to stop to reload it midway through a project. Many staplers have a view window that allows the user to monitor their staple supply. Upholstery staplers that work with the standard air compressors are extremely convenient. Construction professionals and workshops typically already have an air compressor on hand, so ideally they do not need to purchase an additional one for their stapler.
Sometimes one must insert a staple into hard-to-reach areas, like behind panels through which they cannot fit their hands. An upholstery stapler with a nose extension can be quite helpful at those times. Since upholstery staplers can deliver some kickback, users should look for a model with a textured, non-slip grip.
Important Safety Tips For Using An Upholstery Stapler
Workers should always put the safety lock on their upholstery stapler when they are not using it. It's very important that pneumatic tools have an effective rear exhaust feature to release any trapped pressure inside of the tool. One should only put their finger on the trigger when they need to fire a staple and at no other time. This will prevent misfires. It's also critical in construction work that one checks the material they are stapling for electric wiring or hard metal objects.
Always pressing the stapler firmly against the work surface can prevent accidents.
Even though electric cable installation usually requires some stapling, one should make sure they never shoot a staple through a wire. The staples should be wide enough to hold the cable down without puncturing it. Stapling into a cable could leave electric wiring exposed.
Electric staple guns should be unplugged any time they are not in use. One should never point their upholstery stapler at another person or at themselves. Safety goggles should be worn when using an upholstery stapler. This is especially true when one is stapling wood since it can send splinters into their eyes. Always pressing the stapler firmly against the work surface can prevent accidents.