I spent a good part of the afternoon with Dewalt’s carbon fiber composite stapler, DWHT80276.
I couldn’t find my Milwaukee M12 cordless stapler test sample, and I didn’t feel like using the Arrow cordless stapler. I had used the Dewalt stapler a couple of times in recent weeks, but today seemed like a good opportunity to push it through extended testing.
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I was working out in the sun, stapling plastic netting to wooden posts – thin deer netting, and thicker poultry fencing.
The Dewalt stapler jammed up a few times, but was quick to clear, and I attributed the jams to my using several smaller strips of nails as I finished a box. The jams worked themselves out, except one time when I had to slide the plunger back.
Its light weight was definitely appreciated. Working in the heat was tiring, but if this were my dad’s all-metal stapler, I’d have felt the weight.
I went through maybe 200 T50 3/8″ stainless staples today, and it wasn’t the endurance challenge that I have endured in the past when using other manual staplers.
The stapler debuted at last year’s Dewalt new tool media event, and was said to be 50% lighter than a standard Arrow T50 stapler, and 25% easier to squeeze.
Now, 2 hours after putting the stapler down for the day, I cannot tell if my hand is fatigued or not. Maybe? Or am I feeling a little fatigue because I’m looking for it?
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Overall, the stapler was a pleasure to use. For what I used it for, it worked perfectly well, and I didn’t second guess my decision to go ahead with the Dewalt stapler instead of spending more time looking for the Milwaukee M12 cordless stapler I had initially set out to use.
The magazine plunger slid out and in with ease, the nail window made it easy to check remaining nail levels, and the belt clip came in handy.
Price-wise, it’ll cost you around double the price of an all-metal Arrow stapler.
While I haven’t used as many brands or types of staplers as I have screwdrivers or cordless drills, it’s fair to say that this is the finest manual T50 stapler that I’ve ever used.
Price: $33
Buy Now(via Acme Tool)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Compare(Arrow via Amazon)
P.S. The carbon fiber composite material is pretty cool. I think that was a good choice, from a marketing perspective. It feels strong and rigid, and doesn’t have a plasticky feel to it at all. It looks high-tech, and feels like a pro-grade tool.
Thank you to Dewalt for the review sample!
The yeti
Sorry is that another hand tool from Dewalt.
Concrete trowels must be next
Stuart
Yes, this is a hand-operated Dewalt stapler.
Concrete towels? That might be a tough area to win retail shelf space in, but I imagine that if they could make a better or distinct concrete towel, they would.
ChrisP
I would prefer a Milwaukee concrete towel because it would’t show the blood as much 🙂
The yeti
Marshalltown is already red and black. Im sure that is all that keeps Milwaukee out of that market now.
Stuart. Why do you think these 2 brands are trying to sell hand tools. Has anyone seen one in the wild.
If all a brand name means is a colour or a label. It is not much better than a generic product. Let us look at t shirts
I buy 5 packs of white t shirts for really cheap. Could pay 5 times as much for one designer t shirt.
I could really care less . I am not the guy wasting money on names or styles
Stuart
This isn’t just a yellow and black stapler, they put some effort into making a better tool.
There are plenty of Milwaukee and Dewalt hand tools that have competitive advantages.
fred
TTI – already owns Hart Tools – maker of both hammers and trowels
http://www.ttigroup.com/en/our_brands/by_brand/hart
JoeM
Yep. That seals it. Daddy needs him another DeWALT Staple Gun.
Mike K
After getting the M12 Stapler I will never go back to hand stapler. If you are invested in the M12 line it’s a great addition!
KokoTheTalkingApe
Plus 1 for that. A manual stapler would be inferior, no matter what it is made of.
Craig Tate
Looks nice for sure. A few years ago I was needing an upgrade from my old metal stapler. It was a tough choice to say the least but I feel in love with the Surebonder trigger stapler. The trigger feature is so nice in tight spaces. Only thing I wish is that it came with a belt clip.
fred
Is yours a Surebonder #5690 ? That model seems to get an equal number of 5 star and 1 star ratings (out of 15 total) on Amazon . While 15 reviews is a small sample size, such a spread always make me wonder if there might be a QC issue.
fred
BTW – if you need a cordless fence stapler for heavier-duty fencing – Paslode (ITW New Zealand) makes one under the STOCKade brand.
https://www.stockade.com/
In this class tools – the others I’ve seen have been pneumatics. I’ve never seen a battery- cordless one.
Jared
Any comments on the the staple-driving power Stuart?
Maybe this project wasn’t the best test of that – but did everything sink flush? Have you tried it on any harder material?
I use a staple gun a few times a year. One of the toughest tasks I use it for is securing a seat cover on the plastic seat pan of my dirt bike. I have a pneumatic now, but used an Arrow-brand manual stapler in the past and had to make sure I had everything positioned just right – then still tap each staple in flush with a hammer.
Stuart
As long as it wasn’t angled too far, it handled stainless 3/8″ with ease. The thicker poultry fencing doesn’t yield as much as the deer netting, and so it doesn’t sink fully. I’ll likely step up to 1/2″ and if need be longer nails with an air stapler.
I was pretty pleased with its performance in all regards.
fred
My wife complains that even with something as simple as stapling shelving liners – she leaves some staples standing proud. I’ve come in behind her with a hammer – and think it might be her technique – or maybe its when its hardwood shelving that she has an issue. She’s been using an M12 stapler for a while now – and does find it much easier than the old Arrow T50 gun or a Stanley corded one that she had in the past.
For wire fencing – many folks do use crowned staples – rather than flat staples like the T50’s
Stuart
I’ve been using T50 for the deer netting, and that’s been working fine. Yesterday I worked in a mix of the plastic poultry fencing and deer netting, and I wasn’t sure what would work best. Crown staples might be needed, and I already have my Hitachi at the ready to try out for the next step, likely next week.
fred
The heavier 10.5ga or even heavier 9ga staples are more for livestock fencing or barbed wire. They have more holding power.
I just spied a cordless one from Fasco:
https://www.nailgundepot.com/fasco-11616f-cordless-fence-stapler-details.html
This gun, even pricier on Amazon – it not something you would likely buy unless you were fencing your ranch.
Nathan
dewalt carbon fibre bodied power tools and batteries. 23% lighter than the competition, 56% stronger and impact resistance to IP98 and 215% the price. Coming to a store near you. Sorry Had to – and I like dewalt power tools.
Glad to see this works well I was curious. Probably need to buy another stapler but I think I want a cordless or pneumatic one. not sure. I’m sort of hoping dewalt would make a cordless stapler to compete with milwaukee and makita.
Framer joe
I hope DeWalt keeps making hand tools better . This stapler is great,I’d say the best in it’s class. Also, the carbon fiber swing stapler is hands down the framing and roofing companies choice..
DeWalt makes great tools , usually the best for years before another company has to make a gen 3 version to beat it…
They don’t pump out a new generation every year, they develop tools for years then Rock the market…
RX9
If that’s real carbon fiber, I think $33 would be a steal. Everything else made of carbon fiber is ridiculously expensive.
Stuart
It’s described as a carbon fiber composite. It could be, but it feels different than my carbon fiber tripod.
Gordon
“Carbon Fiber Composite” Means there is very little chance of it being woven Carbon Fiber and Resin. Most likely this is a similar plastic to a Glass Fiber Reinforced ABS or PP. The design of the stapler doesn’t lend itself to the Carbon Weave and Resin construction you’re thinking of. What you see is most likely just a paint job.
Julian Tracy
I have the standard dewalt stapler and it’s mid-level whatever performer. No better than any other manual stapler I’ve ever used. I bought a couple of their 16′ and 25′ first gen tape measures and they were pretty mid-level crap too.
I do not agree that everything they make is a mark of quality as the other poster suggested.
Framer joe
Just say your not a DeWalt guy, clearly your not….I can attest to dewalt quality through the years of using Makita, Milwaukee and DeWalt…
As a framer No company makes a cordless saw that can handle Framing rips and compound bevels in engineered lumber,But Flexvolt saws….that’s a fact.
Milwaukee saws shut down due to thermal overload even the new HD circ saw…that goes for mitre saws and table saws…..
It’s difficult for you DIY guys to understand what a tool really is or isn’t capable of because you will never use it for it’s intended purpose.
Stick to HF tools…
Jim
I don’t think your comment makes any more sense than your grammar.
So he likes a stapler? Do you really need to make generalizations and denigrating comments…because he likes a specific stapler?
Julian Tracy
And stay away from the organizers with the plastic catches – every single one has busted off the plastic latching catch. More mindless junk.
Framer joe
The tough system storage boxes are the best priced storage on the market, not sure what you do ,but I am sure your not rougher on them then my framing companies and we’ve had only a couple yellow side tabs break in 3 years of framing….and no water leaks at all….
You can buy better storage but not anywhere near this price.
OhioHead
The best stapler (IMO) is the Powershot & B&D owned the brand many years ago and sold back to some of the employees that created it – not sure of the patents on the PS, there is a reason why the PS has not been re-created…….
Old as dirt
Does the stapler use other than 3/8 in staples?
ktash
I got one a couple of days ago and used it to put on a drawer bottom for a shop stand. 1/4″ plywood bottom and 3/4″ plywood drawers. It worked pretty well, the staples were just slightly proud of the bottom (uniformly so) and a quick tap with a hammer seated them. I used 1/2″ staples. Nice and light, easy to use. It takes less hand strength than the conventional staplers.
I’ve been debating about the 18v Ryobi crown stapler, but this worked really well, so will hold off on that until I have a much bigger job, or it goes on sale. For putting on a single drawer or small cabinet back, I’ll probably just use this from now on.