Once in a while I need to make crates.
I recently bought a Senco SNS41 stapler for 7/16" crown, 16 ga staples
(new). I would like to know what staple leg length would be most
suitable. My crates are mostly made from 1/2" plywood and 2x4s. I have
a feeling that it would be 1.75", but I would like to ask for a
"second opinion". Thanks
i
When we were framing, we were >required< use 2" staples to shoot down
1/2" plywood deck. Having pulled enough of that stuff up, the 2"
staples hold well, and the shorter you get, you get much less holding
power. Besides, the cost between sizes when you get the larger sizes
is nominal.
This assumes that you are using a narrow crown stapler, not a wide
crown (roofing).
I always use the old shopworn formula that I learned years ago, and
that is to pick a length of fastener that is approximately 3 times
longer than the thickness of material you are fastening. So in this
case, the plywood would be 1/2" thick, times three, or 1 1/2". Add
back in the original material, and you have a fastener length of 2".
Remember the coating isn't always some kind of cool adhesive (check
the country of origin) that sets up with the heat of application, but
anymore it seems to be just a binder for the staples unless it is the
tiny 18 ga. guys.
I would get the longest staples I could, with divergent chisel points,
and when assembling shoot the staples so the crown was perpindicular
to the grain, not parallel. You could use shorter staples with glue,
but why take the time?
As always, YMMV.
Robert
"Ignoramus7897" wrote
> My crates are mostly made from 1/2" plywood and 2x4s. I have
> a feeling that it would be 1.75", but I would like to ask for a
> "second opinion". Thanks
If I were stapling 1/2" plywood to 2 x 4's I would use a minimum of 1",
maybe 1 1/4" staples for good measure. Crown staples have good holding
power, IME.
Just my tuppence .... YMMV
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/14/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)
On 2007-12-28, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> "Ignoramus7897" wrote
>> My crates are mostly made from 1/2" plywood and 2x4s. I have
>> a feeling that it would be 1.75", but I would like to ask for a
>> "second opinion". Thanks
>
> If I were stapling 1/2" plywood to 2 x 4's I would use a minimum of 1",
> maybe 1 1/4" staples for good measure. Crown staples have good holding
> power, IME.
>
Yes, I love staples for their holding power. In the 18 gauge world, 1"
or even 1.25" is not that much -- but maybe it is different with 16
gauge staples. I think that I will buy 1.5, 1.75, and 2" staples at
McMaster and will try all of them.
i
On 2007-12-28, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
> When we were framing, we were >required< use 2" staples to shoot down
> 1/2" plywood deck. Having pulled enough of that stuff up, the 2"
> staples hold well, and the shorter you get, you get much less holding
> power. Besides, the cost between sizes when you get the larger sizes
> is nominal.
The cost difference is nominal indeed. Since you seem to have some
experience with this stuff, would you say that my Senco SNS41 should
be able to properly nail the 2" staples into regular plywood and 2x4?
I seem to recall, perhaps incorrectly, that 2" staples were a little
iffy and required "softwood only". Is the combo of plywood and regular
2x4s suitable for 2" staples?
My other thought is that a 1/2" nominal plywood with 2" nominal 2x4
really is at best, 2 inches thick together. So a 2" staple,
conceivably, may come out with sharp ends on the other side, something
best avoided.
So to me, a 1 3/4" staple would not compromise much on holding power,
but would definitely not come "out of the other end" and would be a
little less stressful on the stapler.
> This assumes that you are using a narrow crown stapler, not a wide
> crown (roofing).
Yes, it is a regular 16 ga stapler for sheathing.
> I always use the old shopworn formula that I learned years ago, and
> that is to pick a length of fastener that is approximately 3 times
> longer than the thickness of material you are fastening. So in this
> case, the plywood would be 1/2" thick, times three, or 1 1/2". Add
> back in the original material, and you have a fastener length of 2".
Very sensible.
> Remember the coating isn't always some kind of cool adhesive (check
> the country of origin) that sets up with the heat of application, but
> anymore it seems to be just a binder for the staples unless it is the
> tiny 18 ga. guys.
>
> I would get the longest staples I could, with divergent chisel points,
> and when assembling shoot the staples so the crown was perpindicular
> to the grain, not parallel. You could use shorter staples with glue,
> but why take the time?
The whole point of crating is to make a crate in minimum time
required, that would hold up. I agree totally.
i
"Ignoramus14384" wrote
>> that is to pick a length of fastener that is approximately 3 times
>> longer than the thickness of material you are fastening. So in this
>> case, the plywood would be 1/2" thick, times three, or 1 1/2". Add
>> back in the original material, and you have a fastener length of 2".
>
> Very sensible.
Depends ... you shipping gorillas, or chickens?
:)
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/14/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)
On 2007-12-28, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Ignoramus14384" wrote
>
>>> that is to pick a length of fastener that is approximately 3 times
>>> longer than the thickness of material you are fastening. So in this
>>> case, the plywood would be 1/2" thick, times three, or 1 1/2". Add
>>> back in the original material, and you have a fastener length of 2".
>>
>> Very sensible.
>
> Depends ... you shipping gorillas, or chickens?
>
>:)
>
mostly metalworking machines of smaller size.
i