Staplers

Staplers are essential office, home and school equipment used for putting together documents by joining sheets of paper with staples. While there are specialty stapling machines for inserting surgical staples, sealing cartons and stitching upholstery, the most common type of this simple machine is the one for fastening pages of paper.

Comparing the Different Types of Staplers

There are three general types of staplers: manual, electric and pneumatic. A manual stapler uses a spring-loaded mechanism to drive in staples.

Using this design requires simply pressing down the metal head against the base of the tool. Electric stapling machines, on the other hand, are powered tools.

While some run on replaceable or rechargeable batteries, others are plug-in models. A pneumatic staple gun uses compressed air to push out staples. Most industrial stapling machines are of this type.

Choosing the Right Stapler

Before selecting a stapler, first consider how many people will use the device, how often they will use it and what they will use it for. While a basic desktop stapler or a mini model is good enough for home users and small offices, consider a heavy-duty version for a large office.

Furthermore, note that a desktop stapler can only handle up to 70 pages at once, but a heavy-duty stapling machine can bind 100 sheets of paper or more. For a shared office with lots of users and high-volume binding jobs, choose a heavy-duty electric option.

An electric stapler is generally faster than a manual model. It is also more powerful and can, therefore, punch through thicker stacks of paper.

What Lever Class is a Stapler?

A stapler is a second-class lever because its load sits between its fulcrum and the point of effort. The load, in a stapler, is the staples while the fulcrum is the hinge between the head and the base of the tool.

The point of effort is the position where a user applies force. For a stapler, this is at the front of the head where the user presses down on the sheets of paper placed between the jaws of the tool.

What is a Stapleless Stapler?

As the name suggests, a stapleless stapler is one that does not use staples to bind pages of paper. To fasten sheets together, this stapler cuts a wing or V-shaped slot on one side of the pages and then punches a flap on the other side.

The flap slips into the slot and locks the pages together. While this is convenient and eliminates staples, a stapleless stapler can only handle up to 10 - 12 pages at once.

Since it does not secure sheets with staples, users have to handle pages bound by this stapler carefully as the sheets can easily separate and fall apart.

Why do Staplers Jam?

There are many reasons why a stapler might jam. The most common cause is thin staples with blunt points.

When pressed hard, these bend and get stuck. To avoid this, only use the type and size of staples recommended for the device.

Also, make sure to punch staples directly through paper rather than at an angle. A staple may also jam when stapling more sheets than the recommended capacity of the tool.

To keep an electric stapler from getting jammed, make sure to replace its spent batteries regularly with fresh ones. More Less

Swingline Commercial Desktop Full Strip Stapler, 20 Sheet Capacity, Black

Item : 504308

(272)

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Full strip Swingline S.F.® 4® Premium Staples for greater compatibiity with other staplers
Heavy-duty metal construction features Swingline quality and reliability
20-sheet capacity in stapling and tacking positions

$8.99

Each

A newer version is available

Staples Standard Full Strip Stapler Combo Pack, 20 Sheet Capacity, Black

Item : 489562

(437)

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Easy-to-use flip-plate design customizes staple edges
Full-strip stapler holds 210 staples to minimize the need to reload
Staples up to 20 sheets at once for optimal utility

$10.29

Each

Staples One-Touch™ High-Capacity Flat-Stack Stapler, 60 Sheet Capacity, Black/Gray

Item : 331288

(235)

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Uses 3/8 inch high-capacity staples to keep sheets attached
60-sheet capacity to accommodate all your documents
Non-skid base keeps the stapler in place on any surface

$25.99

Each

Staples One-Touch™ Plus Desktop Flat Stack Full Strip Stapler, 30-Sheet Capacity, Black

Item : 219306

(257)

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Desktop stapler
Staples up to 30 sheets of 20 lb. paper
60% less effort than traditional desktop staplers

$15.99

Each

Swingline Heavy-Duty Full Strip Stapler, 160 Sheet Capacity, Black/Gray

Item : 386312

(104)

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Heavy-duty full strip stapler easily handles large stapling jobs, up to 160 sheets
Limited lifetime warranty
Uses Swingline 2 3/4" heavy-duty staples

$49.99

Each

Staples® One-Touch® Desktop Stapler, Fastening Capacity 20 Sheets, Black/Gray

Item : 1798852

(20)

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20 sheet capacity
Easy to use with One-Touch® technology allowing for seamless fastening of multiple sheets
Uses full strips of standard staples

$11.99

Each

Staples One-Touch™ Plus Desktop Flat Stack Full Strip Stapler, 30 Sheet Capacity, Purple

Item : 207436

(72)

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Desktop stapler
Staples up to 30 sheets of 20 lb. paper
60% less effort than traditional desktop staplers

$15.99

Each

Swingline Standard Stapler Value Pack, 15 Sheets, Black, Premium Staples and Remover Included

Item : 272120

(184)

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Plastic stapler design
Black
Classic full-strip stapler

$11.49

Each

Staples One-Touch™ Plus Desktop Flat Stack Full Strip Stapler, 30 Sheet Capacity, Blue

Item : 207438

(115)

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Desktop stapler
Staples up to 30 sheets of 20 lb. paper
60% less effort than traditional desktop staplers

$15.99

Each

PaperPro® inPOWER™ 20 Desktop Stapler with Staple Remover & Staple Storage, 1/4" Staples, Black/Grey (1100)

Item : 1828130

(5)

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Desktop stapler will staple 20 sheets using a standard staple
Standard Staples
Lay Flat- 7.75x8.50x2.50

$30.59

Each

Staples 17710-CC Desktop Stapler (24547-CC)

Item : 814977

(57)

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Desktop stapler
Sold as each
20 sheet capacity

$7.29

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Swingline® Optima® Grip Compact Stapler Fastening Capacity 25 Sheets/20 lb. Graphite Black (87815)

Item : 650726

(14)

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Compact stapler fits comfortably in your hand
25 sheet/20 lb. capacity
Black in color

$19.99

Swingline Optima Grip Compact Stapler, Fastening Capacity 25 Sheets/20 lb., Silver

Item : 630375

(80)

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Staples up to 25 sheets
Durable metal construction
Handheld ergonomic design

$15.39

Each

Stanley Bostitch B8® Heavy Duty Impulse Drive™ Electric Stapler, Black (B8E-VALUE)

Item : 364408

(170)

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Electric stapler
Impulse Drive™ technology staples in just a fraction of a second
45 sheet capacity

$69.99

Each

Swingline® Optima® Desktop Full Strip Stapler, Silver (87845)

Item : 752472

(252)

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Reduced effort - when compared to traditional staplers the Optima 40 will staple with only half the force normally required
Durable metal construction ensures long-lasting stapling performance
Convenient stand-up design facilitates handheld stapling and conserves desk space

$29.99

Each

Swingline® LightTouch® Reduced Effort Stapler, Fastening Capacity 25 Sheets/20 lb., Black

Item : 827452

(3)

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Requires less effort to staple
Durable plastic housing protects metal stapling mechanism
Staples quietly; full size ideal for desktop use

$28.69

Each

Swingline® High-Capacity Desktop Stapler, Black

Item : 854548

(118)

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Extra leverage design of this stapler applies 2x more force to require less manual effort
30% easier to staple any sheet count from 2-60
Die-cast metal construction is durable and delivers lasting performance

$28.99

Each