No matter the office setting, there are a few essential items that you'll always find ' paper, pens, rubber bands, paper clips, and staplers. Although simple and straight forward to use, staplers play an important role in maintaining organization. Whether you're compiling important files at work, bundling coupons at a retail store, or consolidating research at a university, a stapler is always within arm's reach.
What Is a Stapler?
A stapler is a mechanical device used for joining papers together. The fastener, called a staple, is a 2-pronged shape that's usually made of metal. When pressure is applied to the stapler, it drives the staple through a stack of paper, which folds the prongs down to create a firm binding. Staplers come in two distinct power types: manual and electric. The chart below will help you determine which type of stapler is best for you.
Power Type | Pros | Cons | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
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| $ | |
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| $$ |
Parts of a Stapler
Pin: The pin allows the handle to swing up and down to load staples.
Magazine: The piece that holds the staples and pusher.
Staples: The fasteners used to join papers together.
Pusher: A piece of metal that adjusts to accommodate strips of staples. This keeps the staples loaded in the magazine and ready to be inserted by the hammer.
Hammer: The part that drives a staple into a stack of papers.
Crimp Area and Anvil: When the staple is forced through the paper, these two parts are what bend the staple into the secure shape that keeps the papers securely joined.
Throat: The section you slide a stack of papers into. The deeper the throat, the further into the stack you can staple.
Base: A sturdy bottom that most often has non-skid properties.
Which Style of Stapler Is Right for Me?
At this point, you may already know which type of stapler (manual or electric) that you want, but did you know they come in different styles? Think about your intended application and check out the chart below for a breakdown.
Style | Description | Usage |
|---|---|---|
Most universally recognized style of stapler. A popular accessory for any office or cubicle, this style is usually placed on a work surface or tabletop and the operator feeds paper into it. |
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 | A hand held stapler is picked up from a work surface and used in hand. They most often feature a soft-grip handle for comfortable use. One of the most common types of manual stapler. |
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Typically staples through 100+ sheets at a time. This style also includes stapling pliers and guns, which are frequently used for industrial applications. |
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Features an extra-long throat that's perfect for large binding projects. |
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Small, compact size that's perfect for students or traveling consultants. |
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Typically smaller in size, an upright stapler stands vertically on a surface for convenient storage. |
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Features of a Stapler
Now that you've familiarized yourself with the many different styles of staplers out there, you can begin exploring the various features that makes each stapler stand out from their competition.
Ergonomic and Reduced Effort
Our selection of ergonomic and reduced effort staplers have soft-grip or light-touch handles. This allows you to eject staples with a quick touch.
Jam-Free and Power Assist
With a jam-free or power assist stapler, you can staple hundreds of documents quickly.
Tacking
Great for schools and daycares, tacking staplers feature handles that open a full 180 degrees.
What Is a Staple?
Staples are the actual fasteners that hold documents together. They come in several sizes and shapes, but the general anatomy remains the same. When a stapler pushes a staple through a stack of papers, the teeth puncture the paper, and the legs fold behind the crown to secure the items in place.
Did you know that staples are sized by leg length? Certain staplers require specifically-sized staples for their application. This chart gives an overview of the most common-sized staples.
Leg Length | Attributes |
|---|---|
1/4" |
|
5/16" |
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3/8" |
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1/2" |
|
5/8" |
|
3/4" |
|
15/16" |
|
Styles of Staples
Half strip, full strip, and cartridge staples are some of the most popular styles of staples. As long as the staple size matches your compatible stapler, purchasing a half or full strip length is completely up to you. Cartridge staples are a little more exclusive in terms of usage, as they're designed for electric or heavy duty staplers only.
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How to Fix a Jammed Stapler
It's inevitable: at some point, your stapler is going to jam. But never fear, our experts have discovered two easy methods for unjamming a stapler. All you need is a paper clip!
Method 1: If a stray staple is preventing the handle from detaching from the magazine, insert the paper clip between the two sections and slide it around until the jam is loose.Method 2: If a staple is stuck between the hammer and the magazine, use the paper clip to fish out the staple.
Types of Staple Removers
Blade Type
A blade staple remover features a retractable blade that extracts staples when you hook its metal tip beneath a staple and pull.
Wand Type
A wand remover features an ergonomic grip, allowing you to pull staples out with one motion
Jaw Type
A jaw type staple remover features durable steel jaws to grab staples and pry them out.
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