Selecting a correct staple size is a necessary step in the upholstery process. The size of the staples determine how securely the fabric will attach to the furniture frame. If the wrong size staples is selected, the fabric may pull away from the edges of the frame or the staples may pop out of the wood of the furnitures.
To determine the size of staples that should be used in upholstery, three different measurement must be taken into consideration. Each of these measurements include the wire gauge of the staple, the crown of the staple, and the leg depth of the staple. The wire gauge of the staple is the measure of how thick the wire of the staple is.
How to Choose the Right Staples for Upholstery
The wire gauge is represented by a number such as 18, 20, or 22. A higher number mean that the wire is thinner. Thin wire are necessary for delicate fabrics such as silk.
A lower number means that the wire is thicker. Thick wire is necessary for heavier fabrics such as jute webbing and foam. The crown of the staple is the flat part of the staple, where the legs of the staple meet.
The crown must be wide enough to clamp onto the fabric to ensure it does not pull through the staple. The legs of the staple must be long enough to pass through the fabric, the batting, and the foam to allow the legs to enter the wood of the furniture frame by a quarter inch. If the legs are too short, the tension of the fabric will rip the crown of the staple through the fabric.
If the staple legs are too long they may split the wood of the furniture frame. The type of fabric that you’ll use will determine which staples should be used. Fabrics such as sheers and velvets requires thin wire gauge staples to prevent the creation of holes in the fabric.
For fabrics such as leather and canvas, which are thicker than other fabrics, the staples has to be heavier to secure them to the furniture. Using the wrong type of staple for the fabric may cause the fabric to pull through the staple on one side of the furniture or it may cause the wood to crack on the other side of the furniture. In addition to the type of fabric that will be used in the upholstery process, other component of the furniture will impact the type of staples that are used.
If the furniture frame is made of hardwood and foam will be attached to the frame, for example, the staples must have legs long enough to penetrate the foam to the wood. If the furniture will contain webbing for the support of the seating, the staples will need wide crown to secure the webbing. If the furniture will contain springs or corner pleats, staples will need to penetrate those layer of upholstery materials.
Another component of the staple that you should of considered before they are purchased is the material of the staple. Steel staples that are galvanized is typically used for indoor furniture. The galvanized steel is able to withstand indoor humidity but can rust if it is exposed to the outdoor elements.
The rust on galvanized steel may stain the more lightly-colored fabrics. For outdoor furniture or furniture that will be used on boats, where exposure to the elements is common, stainless steel staples will not corrode and are more expensive than galvanized steel staples. Another factor that must be considered when purchasing staples for the upholstery process is the type of staple gun that will be used.
Not all staples will fit all staple gun. For example, staples from different brands may have different amount of collation glue on the staple and may have different crown angles. The manual for the staple gun will indicate which staples are appropriate for the staple gun.
Additionally, you can test staples in the staple gun before use. The air pressure for the staple gun can be adjusted to a lower pressure to prevent the staple gun from denting the crowns of the staples below the surface of the fabric. Before the upholstery process begins, there are several factor that must be evaluated to ensure that the correct size staples will be used.
The factors that must be considered when selecting staples for upholstery include measuring the frame rail, calculating the thickness of each layer of upholstery material, selecting the wire gauge of the staple according to the weight of the fabric to be used, ensuring the staples will fit the staple gun that will be used, and testing three staples on a scrap piece of the fabric to be used in the upholstery project. If the staples move when pulled with enough force, it is necessary to select a different size of staple.
