A staple gun is a must in every joinery workshop: it fixes upholstery, membranes, plywood, battens and mesh. It is versatile and practical, but for neat results it needs regular care and attentive use.
There are manual, corded, battery and pneumatic models. Battery ones are the most convenient, pneumatic ones the most powerful and expensive. Many can drive both staples and headed or headless nails. Care is similar for all of them, and here is how to do it.
What you will need
Important: Safety comes first. Never put your hand in the line of fire, never point the tool at anyone and use clamps. Before servicing, disconnect the battery, mains cable or air hose and empty the magazine.
Step 1
Disconnect and unload the tool
Using a staple gun every day often breeds overconfidence, which is dangerous. Before any maintenance, disconnect the power source and remove all staples or nails from the magazine.
Inspect the housing, nose and safety contact: cracks or play are a reason to visit a service centre.
Step 2
Clear a jammed staple
The weak point of every staple gun is the driver blade and its channel. A bent staple can jam here, or friction can build up until the tool stops firing.
Open the front latch, carefully pull the staple out with pliers and make sure no fragments are left in the channel. Only use staples of the size specified by the manufacturer.
Step 3
Clean and lubricate the driver and magazine
Wipe dust and staple adhesive residue out of the magazine and channel with a cloth moistened with WD-40 Multi-Use. It dissolves deposits and displaces moisture, so the spring and guides do not rust.
Then lightly treat the driver, guides and feed spring with WD-40 Specialist Silicone. The dry-feeling silicone film reduces friction without attracting dust or sawdust. Pull the trigger a few times without staples and wipe off any excess so it does not mark upholstery.
Step 4
Clean the battery contacts
On battery staplers, keep an eye on the contact plates between battery and tool. Oxidation and dust reduce current and weaken the drive.
Spray WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner onto the tool and battery contacts, wait a few minutes and let them dry completely. It leaves no residue and is safe on most plastics.
Step 5
Service a pneumatic stapler
Before each shift, put 2-3 drops of air tool oil into the air inlet and dry-fire a few times. Drain condensate from the compressor tank regularly: moisture from the air line is the most common cause of internal corrosion.
Tip: Store the staple gun in its case in a dry room. In an unheated workshop in winter, moisture condenses on metal, so wipe the metal parts with
WD-40 Multi-Use before putting it away.
What next
Clean and lubricate the driver after every big job or at least once a month, and check the battery contacts whenever the drive feels weaker. Your staple gun will then keep firing straight without misfires.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».