It is important to note that crown staplers have nothing to do with crown molding. A crown stapler is not the right tool to use if you want to secure molding to the walls. Rather, finish nail guns are the best tools to use for the installation of crown molding, and the main reason is because of aesthetics.
Crown staplers offer an ergonomic grip just like a nail gun. However, instead of using nails, a crown stapler uses staples, which feature either a round or flathead. The type of head allows for robust contact between materials, such as upholstery and wood.
You can find a packaging stapler, an upholstery stapler, hammer stapler, flooring stapler, and construction stapler, depending on the type of application. The crown staple guns that you choose to use for your projects such as construction and woodworking are classified as per their sizes.
Based on the width of the crown, the staples are classified as:
- Narrow crown
- Medium crown
- Wide crown
Each of the above staples can only be used in a specifically designed stapler based on the type of the staple crown width, but they can shoot different lengths. Narrow crown, medium crown, and wide crown staplers have different uses. Therefore, depending on the application, you can choose different staple guns.
What is a Narrow Crown Stapler?
A narrow crown staple gun is a tool that normally shoots 18-gauge wire diameter staples, with a crown width of ¼ inch or 7/32 inch. The staple length for narrow crown staple guns includes 3/8 inch or 1-2/8 inches. These staple guns are smaller and thinner versions of wide and medium crown staple guns. A narrow crown staple gun uses smaller gauge staples that make it a perfect tool for securing sheet goods and thin plywood onto the wood.
A narrow crown stapler fires narrow staples and it is ideal for finishing applications such as stapling backs onto cabinets. Additionally, the wire gauge is thinner and this is the main reason why it prevents wood splitting in the finish applications.
Narrow crown staple guns offer advantages compared to nail guns. This is because staples can be more secure in certain situations. While nails are typically a singular object that is driven into a material, the staples offer two points of contact. In some applications, staples are thus superior compared to nails. This is true especially in cases where one material is softer and more flexible than the other such as in the case of wood and fabric.
What are the uses of narrow crown staplers?
You can use a narrow crown staple gun for finer applications compared to using medium crown staple guns. A narrow crown staple gun will normally be found in the following applications:
- Assemble drawers
- Cabinets
- Installation of thin trims and moldings
- Installation of roof soffits and fascia
- Fixing sheet goods on plastic or wood
In addition, any application of a similar size will be best suited for narrow crown staple guns. It is important to note that, when it comes to usage and appearance, the differences between a narrow crown staple gun and a medium crown staple gun are subtle at best. Generally, they are the same shape and are handled in the same manner. The only difference between the two is that the holding power is dependent on the size of your project where you are using the tools.
Crown staple guns for roofing
You will need to check your local building codes to verify if you can use staple guns for roofing shingles. In areas that are prone to hurricanes, the use of staples for roof shingles installation is not allowed. Staples were banned not because of the lack of strength, as many may believe. Crown staples offer the same or more strength than the same gauge nails.
However, staples normally have two problems. One, staples have improper installation. This is because you can easily overdrive them and for you to have good or the best results, you require to drive the staples perpendicularly. Two, the portion of the crown of the staple is exposed to moisture and heat continuously. Therefore, the staples can rust, making them weak in the long run.
Final Thoughts
A narrow crown stapler is a lightweight tool, which offers an inexpensive way of fastening thin materials to plastic or wood. It is important to check the instructions from the manufacturer to understand the size of the staples you need to use for your crown staple gun. This will ensure that you choose the right one for the project you are performing.
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