1″ stapler enough for 1/2″ engineered wood?
I have my dad’s manual Portal Nailer (that shoots a t-head nail) that I used to install 1/2 engineered hardwood flooring in my dining room. Unfortunately, there were a few places where I didn’t have the nailer perfectly square with the wood and upon hitting it, I knicked the finished. I now need to install the same hardwood in my family room.
I was considering getting this Bostitch flooring stapler:
It’s designed to not require any hammering which should help with preventing damage but it only shoots a 1″ staple. Even though it’s designed for 1/2″ flooring, the 1″ staple doesn’t seem sufficiently long enough to me to provide the hold needed.
Is a 1″ long staple long enough to hold 1/2″ flooring down?
My other choice is to either buy a used air powered nailer (and then sell it off) or get the Harbor Freight model. Renting wouldn’t make sense as I’m so slow, I could buy the tool by the time I’m done with the rental.
Replies
Engineered flooring does not require the same strength of fastener as solid wood. I believe that stapler would be fine, even for 1/2".
Is a 1" long staple long enough to hold 1/2" flooring down?
What does the floor manufacture spec? I don't think that I have ever seen a manufacture spec less than an 1.5 inch staple.
If you think that you will so slow that you could buy rather than rent by all means buy. Buy a used power nailer on EBAY and sell it when you are done with it.