Staple Standoff
Improvised and improved stapler for securing wiring
I wanted to staple some low-voltage wire in my crawlspace, but neither my manual nor electric staple gun had a built-in standoff setting. So I improvised: I taped a 1/8-in. horseshoe shim around the piston opening on my staple gun, and that allowed me to shoot staples that stood proud by just over 1/8 in. Plus, the ends of the shim helped frame the areas where the staples would fall.
—Nick Burger, via FineHomebuilding.com
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #283
Old House Journal Recommended Products
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Handy Heat Gun
This heat gun is great for drying joint compound, primer and paint when patching drywall and plaster walls. Plus it can soften adhesive, get a very cold small engine to start, and shrink heat-shrink tubing.
Reliable Crimp Connectors
These reliable, high-quality connectors from Wirefy work on 10-22-gauge wire have heat-shrink insulation to keep out water and road salt.
Affordable IR Camera
This camera is super useful for tracking down air leaks in buildings. The one-hand pistol grip arrangement frees your other hand for steadying yourself while maneuvering tricky job sites.
