Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Staple Guns

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I am so proud of myself!  I recovered my grody table top ironing board this weekend.

The first step was to put on two layers of batting, then a piece of pretty fabric.  I flipped the board over, positioning everything just so, then got out the staple gun to secure the fabric and batting in place.

But my staples wouldn't go all the way into the wood of the ironing board.  What was I doing wrong, can any of you tell me?

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Can you see what I mean?  The staple would only go in part way.  I had to go hammer them all in the rest of the way.

Was I not pressing down hard enough?  (Whew, it was hard work as it was—I don't know how I could have pushed any harder.  But maybe I am a weakling?).   Or was I using the wrong size staples?   Maybe these were too thick?  Would 1/4" staples have worked better?

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Or is my staple gun a piece of junk?  Do you have any recommendations for the best staple gun out there?

I may be recovering some chair seats in the near future, and I don't want to be fussing around hammering staples in because the staple gun didn't do the job 100%.

You guys always come through for me!  My husband and I went out to dinner Saturday night for our anniversary, and he was telling me how lucky I am to have so many blogging friends.  He said my life is fuller for it.  I agree!

58 responses to “Staple Guns”

  1. That happened to me when trying to recover my big board. The wood is too hard for the strength of the staple gun, or the person trying to hold it tight to the board. We took mine downstairs to DH’s workshop and used the air staple gun. Worked very well. I think we are just not strong enough.

  2. That happened to me when trying to recover my big board. The wood is too hard for the strength of the staple gun, or the person trying to hold it tight to the board. We took mine downstairs to DH’s workshop and used the air staple gun. Worked very well. I think we are just not strong enough.

  7. You need to push the tip of the staple gun down hard enough that it won’t pop back on you when you squeeze the trigger. If necessary, use your other hand to hold the tip down so it doesn’t bounce back. Check out this video:
    http://www.ehow.com/video_6128167_operate-staple-gun.html
    It’s good for a little laugh, too – a big burly guy explains how “dainty little ladies” need to put pressure on the staple gun.

  8. You need to push the tip of the staple gun down hard enough that it won’t pop back on you when you squeeze the trigger. If necessary, use your other hand to hold the tip down so it doesn’t bounce back. Check out this video:
    http://www.ehow.com/video_6128167_operate-staple-gun.html
    It’s good for a little laugh, too – a big burly guy explains how “dainty little ladies” need to put pressure on the staple gun.

  9. I had the same problem when making a window treatment so am interested in the responses here. For a big job, I might buy on electric staple gun.

  10. I had the same problem when making a window treatment so am interested in the responses here. For a big job, I might buy on electric staple gun.

  11. From your picture it looks like the wood is oak and if that is the case, then nothing is wrong with the stapler, the staples, or you. Oak is a very hard wood. My husband is a trim carpenter and I just told him about your story and he said if you are not using an air stapler, you would have to resort to the hammer to drive the staples the rest of the way in. I didn’t want you throwing out a perfectly good stapler or staples. Good luck with your other upholstery project!

  12. From your picture it looks like the wood is oak and if that is the case, then nothing is wrong with the stapler, the staples, or you. Oak is a very hard wood. My husband is a trim carpenter and I just told him about your story and he said if you are not using an air stapler, you would have to resort to the hammer to drive the staples the rest of the way in. I didn’t want you throwing out a perfectly good stapler or staples. Good luck with your other upholstery project!

  13. The wood is probably just too hard – shorter staples would have worked better. I’ve had the sample problem with my big board and my small table top board.
    BTW, my husband says the same thing about my blogging friends – I feel very blessed.

  14. The wood is probably just too hard – shorter staples would have worked better. I’ve had the sample problem with my big board and my small table top board.
    BTW, my husband says the same thing about my blogging friends – I feel very blessed.

  15. I have read all the comments with great interest because I have also had the same problem. Sounds like we are not weaklings, but just buy strong wood! Love the fabric on the ironing board – and Happy Anniversary!

  16. I have read all the comments with great interest because I have also had the same problem. Sounds like we are not weaklings, but just buy strong wood! Love the fabric on the ironing board – and Happy Anniversary!

  21. As another person said- the wood is probably very hard and or old. just use a hammer to finishe driving the staples in. Lover your board cover! Janet in NY

  22. As another person said- the wood is probably very hard and or old. just use a hammer to finishe driving the staples in. Lover your board cover! Janet in NY

  23. I used to have this problem with the same kind of staple gun you used but now I have an elecric one and it is so much easier and works better. Happy Anniversary!

  24. I used to have this problem with the same kind of staple gun you used but now I have an elecric one and it is so much easier and works better. Happy Anniversary!

  25. If you’re going to be doing a lot of stapling, an electric stapler is your friend. Otherwise, pounding in the recalcitrant ones is your only option. Those electric staplers are probably $40 ish, I’m thinking? Worth it to save your hands and time prolly, tho.
    Blogging friends are great :), I agree!

  26. If you’re going to be doing a lot of stapling, an electric stapler is your friend. Otherwise, pounding in the recalcitrant ones is your only option. Those electric staplers are probably $40 ish, I’m thinking? Worth it to save your hands and time prolly, tho.
    Blogging friends are great :), I agree!

  27. It is so great to make new friends through blogging – I love the little glimpses into fellow quilters’ lives! I use my staple gun a lot and found if I push down hard and use my weight on the tip they usually go in. And try using the smallest staples that will hold – 3/8″ may have worked. The result is fabulous though!

  28. It is so great to make new friends through blogging – I love the little glimpses into fellow quilters’ lives! I use my staple gun a lot and found if I push down hard and use my weight on the tip they usually go in. And try using the smallest staples that will hold – 3/8″ may have worked. The result is fabulous though!

  31. And our life if fuller for having you in our blogging lives. Happy Anniversary to you both. Lovely job recovering the tabletop ironing board.

  32. And our life if fuller for having you in our blogging lives. Happy Anniversary to you both. Lovely job recovering the tabletop ironing board.

  41. Yes, you were not pushing down hard enough. It is tough to staple by hand, I can’t do it. Do yourself and favor and rent an electric staple gun for doing the chairs…trust me on this!

  42. Yes, you were not pushing down hard enough. It is tough to staple by hand, I can’t do it. Do yourself and favor and rent an electric staple gun for doing the chairs…trust me on this!

  43. OOOOO! I have that iron too. LOVE IT!! Not sure about your stapler issue but sounds like the hard wood is your issue.

  44. OOOOO! I have that iron too. LOVE IT!! Not sure about your stapler issue but sounds like the hard wood is your issue.

  45. I just recently recovered my tabletop ironing board too. My husband helped by stapling the new fabric and had the same problem. He used a hammer to finish pushing those staples into the board. Voila! New ironing board.

  46. I just recently recovered my tabletop ironing board too. My husband helped by stapling the new fabric and had the same problem. He used a hammer to finish pushing those staples into the board. Voila! New ironing board.

  47. MOrning, might I suggerst you forget about the staples altogether and use upholstery tacks. They are very sharp, and quiet easy to use with a nice simple hammer. They will stay in and do a good job and it is cheaper in the long run. Lizzie

  48. MOrning, might I suggerst you forget about the staples altogether and use upholstery tacks. They are very sharp, and quiet easy to use with a nice simple hammer. They will stay in and do a good job and it is cheaper in the long run. Lizzie

  49. Great video posted above by Sandy. Love your new ironing board look! Would love to hear about the iron too 🙂

  50. Great video posted above by Sandy. Love your new ironing board look! Would love to hear about the iron too 🙂

  51. The ‘wood’ on mine (looks just like yours) is NOT wood, but a composite – tooooo hard. My Dh could press hard enough to make it work but I finally have given up on that particular job and made several covers with a bias tape around the edge and threaded a strong cord through, making them washable. It’s easier to make a new one than it is for ME to get DH to help me. 8-))) A new one sure looks nice though!

  52. The ‘wood’ on mine (looks just like yours) is NOT wood, but a composite – tooooo hard. My Dh could press hard enough to make it work but I finally have given up on that particular job and made several covers with a bias tape around the edge and threaded a strong cord through, making them washable. It’s easier to make a new one than it is for ME to get DH to help me. 8-))) A new one sure looks nice though!

  53. Hey Nicole,
    Loved this post and the comments! I’ve been wanting to invest in a stapler gun and didn’t know quite what to look for. These comments are very helpful. And yes, I would be interested in a post on the iron, as well. Been keeping my eyes open for a good one.
    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!
    Beverly in WA
    P.S. Did I miss the results on the fabric give a way? We were out of town for a while and I didn’t log on the internet while away.

  54. Hey Nicole,
    Loved this post and the comments! I’ve been wanting to invest in a stapler gun and didn’t know quite what to look for. These comments are very helpful. And yes, I would be interested in a post on the iron, as well. Been keeping my eyes open for a good one.
    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!
    Beverly in WA
    P.S. Did I miss the results on the fabric give a way? We were out of town for a while and I didn’t log on the internet while away.

  55. My big board is covered with the most ugly beige cover ever created, I never would have thought to cover it myself, with something pleasing no less, THANKS! Did you get that staple gun going?

  56. My big board is covered with the most ugly beige cover ever created, I never would have thought to cover it myself, with something pleasing no less, THANKS! Did you get that staple gun going?

  57. I used upholsery tacks as well when I redid my valinces (sp?). The went into the grain much better then my staple gun.
    Be careful though, they are sharp little devils!

  58. I used upholsery tacks as well when I redid my valinces (sp?). The went into the grain much better then my staple gun.
    Be careful though, they are sharp little devils!