screening porch, which staples to use?
davem
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
i’m replacing the screen on the porch, and am not sure which stapler to use. i have the regular manual stapler with 1/2″ (i think) crown staples, and i have a 1/4″ crown pneumatic. which is better?
in fact, wade in and tell me anything you think might be helpful, except telling me about the new screen systems. the framework is up, and it will be a traditional metal stapled screen with screen mold covering.
thanks in advance.
Replies
I used a standard 1/2 type with an electric stapler. Ripped some left over deck pickets to make lattice to cover. That way it matched the rest of the PT lumber and it covered any staples that were not in line.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=77821-393-TRE550&lpage=none
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Edited 3/8/2008 11:48 am ET by rasconc
Did you find that electric stapler to work OK? I had one of those and it was nothing but frustrating... can't remember the brand - it was at least 10 years ago, and seemed to mis-fire every other shot... Maybe they are better now?
The first one was an Arrow, it has a brown plastic body and my FIL bought it by accident. It did not have a lot of power. I bought the Stanley Sharpshooter and it is reasonable. It is adjustable but not very much. I used 3/8 gal but my PT is the old CCA.
If manual I would use one of the powershot ones that pivot from the bottom, much easier on hand than the finger squeeze, still rough on wrist for a bunch of staples. I broke my first one after about 12 yrs, got a Sears copy as a present and it broke. I will look at that HF air job next time I darken their door.
I bought one of those electric ones years ago.
Wouldn't put a staple in a watermelon. Useless.
Bought a Senco, they call them "fine wire" I think. Works great, zillions of staples through it. Got a Craftsman too for a spare, same thing, zillions of staples with an occasional jam.
Joe H
I googled and found this:
http://www.gotgreattools.com/senco2.html
So, what's this "B wire", "C Wire", "DWire" etc?
"B" wire are roundish, and not stamped out flat. Hence not as prone to tearing out the fabric.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Not a clue. I don't remember any of the boxes of staples being labeled like that.
I buy them at the local fastener/tool store. They carry Duo-Fast, they work in both the Senco & Sears.
Joe H
Forgive me if this falls into the category of a "new screen system", but I would consider making custom screens using frames and hardware that is readily available. You don't even need to cut miters because they use plastic corner connectors.
Then, should any of the screens ever get damaged, it's a simple matter to put a new screen in the frame using a spline tool.
Here there are companies that will do that for you. Not cheap, but not teribly expensive either. The last screened proch I did using this method, I think I paid $500 to have the screens made and installed. Can't really remember. but I'm thinking the porch was 14'x20' and 3 sides were done.
I'm about 90% sure a narow crown stapler won't work for that. You need to use regular 1/2" staples. I guess just about everyone has got one of those shiney chrome ones made by Arrow...
Don't use the narrow crown they'll overdrive and tear out the screen too easy. I like the Arrow type and either staple into a rabbet and cover with a trim strip or better yet, I run a saw kerf and insert spline.
I made slew of screens/doors one year and went through about 4 staplers with broken springs and what not..decided splines was way better.
Now I have an air stapler that upholster's use for fabric ( Harbor Frieght about 20 bucks) and it has shot thousands of staples in tarpaper, Visqueen, Tyvek, Insulation and a few screens.I HIGHLY reccomend that to save your hand from the constant squeezeing.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
thanks for the input. i knew i'd never seen narrow crown staples on a screen, but wasn't sure why. i never thought about the over-driving. while i was out buying the screen material, i picked up an arrow proshot that shoots T50 1/2" crown staples for $29.swmbo vetoed every creative idea i had on the porch (some would call it remuddling), so if it doesn't look like it went up in 1941, it ain't going on the porch.
Use SS staples...
Or use monel staples, which are available from arrow for the arrow stapler.
I used to use those, but was wondering how compatible they are with the PT wood we have these days...
Monel would work with ACQ OK.
What size staples does the HF stapler shoot? I had one but it died. I think it was 1/2" 20 gauge... Or is your's something different?
It shoots the same as Arrow and Duo-fast. Like the swing tacker does. I like teh power to drive the longer leg staples, without the stapler exploding on a Sunday afternoon out in the wilds, near nothing..LOL
And FAst as you can pull the trigger w/o killing yer carpel tunnel.
I can squeeze 300lbs on a bathroom scale, but all day with tinsnips or a stapler kills me.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Doing it the old fashioned way? Well, here's the best way to do it.
The staples are there only to hold the screen in place until the trim strips are on. I suggest using the longest staples that your stapler will completely sink into the wood.
Once the screen is anchored, nice and taut, by a few staples ... cut the trim strips and attach them atop the screen / staples with brads. Then use a razor knife to cut off excess screen material.
The trim strips are what actually hold the screen on, by holding it flat to the frame. This keeps the screen from tearing against the staples, or pulling the staples out. In effect, the screen is gripped along its' entire perimeter by the edges of the trim.
I borrowed a trick from canvas artist frames I made using a gripper to stretch the canvas..a simple pet brush, the kind called a "slicker" real teeny wires in a small rectangle with a handle.
The bristles will penetrate the screen and you can lever the head against the frame to stretch, tighten and aline the weave.
Handy as a shirt pocket for screening.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
The one closest to your home.
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