staple gun advice

[Pat]

Can someone here help me operate a staple gun? I just bought my first one, I've read and re-read the directions and still can't get the staples to go flush to the wood.

The one I bought is the Arrow ET2025HD combo staple / nail gun. It's made to staple over wire, and I removed the small metal guide in the front so that it should shoot the staples flush to the wood like the instructions said, but they're still sticking up about 1/8 inch, not much different from before I removed the guide. I'm using Arrow T20 3/8 inch staples, and the wood is pine. I'm stapling screen to the wood. The instructions also say to twist the top, and it has a plus and minus, but it doesn't say what this does, and which way does what.

I hate it when a simple tool like this can make me feel stupid, and I don't want it to win.

What else should I be doing to make the staples lay flat against the wood?

Thanks! Pat

[Bob]

Take it back for a refund. It is junk!

I bought one also and hate it. It simply does not have enough power to drive a staple. I use my spring loaded staple gun with much better results.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

It may be the same one I bought years ago. It just does not work well at all. I was able to drive 1/2" brads fairly well, but for staples, it just does not have the power. Invest in a small compressor and an air gun.

[Pat]

Yes, that's the advice I'm getting from everyone else, too. Guess I'll head back to the store. Darn.

Thank you so much!

Pat

instructions

[Tim Douglass]

Smack them with a hammer?

-- "We need to make a sacrifice to the gods, find me a young virgin... oh, and bring something to kill"

Tim Douglass

[Roger]

I usually shoot the first couple right through whatever I'm working on before I remember to crank the air pressure way back, but I see this is an electric model. I've got three different electric staplers on my shelf in the basement and none of them work for beans. I now use a Senco pneumatic fine wire stapler and it works like a champ.

Roger

[Malcolm Webb]

I have a "Rapide" staple gun similar to the Arrow T20. I use 12mm staples and it fires them fully into softwoods, ply etc. Mine has a +/- lever on it. When set to - it leaves the staples proud, but when set to + it fires them in flush.

Malcolm Webb