How to Shoot a Straight Staple

Straight staples are the type of staples used in staple guns. They come in various lengths, including 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch staples. You can use a staple gun for a variety of projects, including upholstering furniture and tacking wires to wood paneling. Staple guns are fairly inexpensive--standard staplers are in the $25 range--and easy to use. However, you do need some hand strength to operate a staple gun. You will "shoot" a straight stable by pulling a lever on the staple gun with one hand.

1 "heavy-duty" staple gun
1 pack of straight staples (1/2- or 1/4-inch)

Instructions

- 1
  Press the staple gun against the surface of an object. Staple guns are handy tools for construction and upholstery projects because the staples will "shoot" straight into an object and rest flush with the surface. A staple gun's flat shooting surface makes leveling the gun onto an object--such as the underbelly of a chair cushion you are covering with fabric--easy to do. Simply press the flat surface of the gun against the object.
- 2
  Wrap your hand around the staple gun's lever. Using one hand, slip your fingers beneath the lever on top of the gun and secure your hand around the top. Grip the lever firmly, but not so tightly that you see white popping up on your knuckles. Delicate hands may have a hard time with shooting staples at first because pulling the lever does require a fairly strong hand.
- 3
  Press down on the lever with one hand. Press hard until you hear the staple pop out of the gun. Use two hands if necessary. Wrap your second hand over the top, and pull the lever. The second hand will act as a support and some extra hand strength. As you continue to use the staple gun, you may find that you need only one hand.

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