A staple consists of two leg and a crown, which is the flat top that connect the two legs of a staple. The crown of a staple is critical to the performance of the staple because it distribute the load of the staple across the material it is fastening. Using a staple with a crown that is too narrow for the material will result in the staple pulling through the material or the material tearing.
Using a staple with a crown that is wide enough for the material will allow the crown to clamp on the material and prevent the staple from becoming pulled loose from the material. It is critical, therefore, that the crown size of the staple are appropriate for the specific task that is to be performed. Due to the nature of upholstery materials, staples of specific size are required for upholstery projects.
How to Choose the Right Staple for Your Project
Using staples with narrow crowns on upholstery materials like vinyl or foam will result in the crown puncturing the fabric of the upholstery material. As individuals sit on the upholstery, the hole created by the narrow crown will widen. To prevent such problems, use staples with wider crowns on upholstery projects as they will distribute the weight of the individual without puncturing the fabric.
The wider crowns will also provide more surface area for the staple to distribute the weight of the individual on the upholstery without allowing the upholstery project to unravel. Due to the nature of the materials used in construction projects, different sizes of staple is required. For construction projects using heavy materials like plywood or roofing felt, you should use staples with wide crowns.
These wide crowns will distribute the force of the staple over the plywood or OSB plank. Furthermore, the legs of the staple will firmly bite into the wood. In contrast, if thin wire staples are used on the roof, these thin staples will not be able to withstand the force of the wind or the weight of the roof.
In such cases, use thick wire gauge staples with wide crowns to ensure the staples can withstand the weather and storm. Another critical factor for staples is the wire gauge. The wire gauge determines the strength of the staple.
For tasks involving delicate materials, thin wire staples with high gauge number are used. For tasks involving more strength and holding power, staples with thick wire with low gauge numbers are used. For indoor projects, bright steel is an excellent metal for staples.
However, for outdoor projects where the staples will be exposed to the weather, galvanized staples will develop a protective layer that resist rust on the damp lumber. Using bright steel staples for outdoor projects will cause the steel to rust on the wood. For projects in coastal areas, you should use stainless steel or alloys as these metals are resistant to salt.
The type of nailer that you will use will determine what type of staple will be loaded into the machine. As staples of different crown size will jam the staple gun if loaded into the gun, the crown size of the staples should be ensured to match the specifications of the nailer. Furthermore, you must make adjustments in the air pressure of the pneumatic nailer that will be used.
For upholstery materials such as fabric, the air pressure should be adjusted to lower settings to avoid blowing the fabric. For hardwoods or other heavy materials, a higher air pressure should be used. Before the project is commenced, the nailer should be tested on some scrap materials.
The strength of a staple is determined by both the crown and the legs of the staple. A staple with wide crowns and stout legs can hold a large amount of weight in a piece of pine. Additionally, a staple with a wide crown and stout legs is suitable for roof loads.
A staple with a narrow crown is only suitable for projects like trim where less weight will be placed on the staple. The legs of the staple should penetrate the material by at least half an inch to provide enough anchor for the staple. Furthermore, if the material will be exposed to side loads, such as fences exposed to the wind, the staple should have shear strength to resist the force acting on it.
Due to many causes, projects can fail. If the crown size is too narrow for the material like foam, the staple will pull through the foam. If the legs of the staple are too short, it will not provide an adequate anchor to the material.
If someone drives the staple into the wood in a direction parallel to the grain of the wood, the wooden material will split. Using too much air pressure when driving the staple with the nail gun will cause the staple to dent the material. Using bright steel staples outdoors will result in the metal rusting on the wood.
To avoid these problems, ensure that the staple is rotated perpendicular to the grain of the wood and that the depth of the material is measured to ensure that the legs of the staple will fully penetrate the material. Another problem that can be avoided is rusting staples. If you store them in a dry place, staples will not rust before being use on projects.
