Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I've about decided on 1/4" plywood skin for my weekender. Looks like gluing and stapling might be the best way to attach. I'll be using epoxy fillers and paint to cover it. Anyone have any recommendations on a decent air gun stapler? I've seen them online from $19 to $600. This will probably be a one time use for me so I don't want to invest a lot, but I want a decent quality product that won't fall apart on the first box of staples.

The combo harbor freight that shoots both 18 gauge brads and staples is usually around 20 bucks on sale and works really well. If you have a harbor freight local to you just use that and the 3/4" staples from there and you'll be good to go.

+ 1 on the HF Stapler/Nail gun. I just got one for $19.00 on sale, and love it. I never knew there were so many things in my life that could benefit from some extra nails.

I got a nice Husky brand brad/stapler for $20 at the local pawn shop. Appears to be in new/unused condition, doesn't even have an air chuck in it yet.

I haven't seen the HF unit but I would bet that you can get a better quality tool for the same money, if slightly used, just by popping around any pawn shops near you. There must have been 50 different guins at the three local shops I dropped into, and they are all small time shops.

I have both a high end bostitch brad nailer and the hf and have to say I've had to disassemble the bostitch about 4 times and hf 0 and both get equal use. Not everything at hf is junk. Usually if it's low usage you can't beat the pricing ever there.

+1 on cheap HF and definately try wetting and prebending your skin or 1/4" will crack, one of the build journals shows one guy having to do it 3 times before it didn't crack.

Cliff

+1 again for the Harbor Freight combo nailer/stapler gun. I just bought one a week or two ago (not extensive use so far, but my 1/8" birch headliner is in with it) and I've had no issues, worked great. I will say from what I've read online is that you should buy good quality staples from a local hardware or big box store instead of those available at HF. There are some reviews online of jamming with this gun, but most have resolved their issues with higher quality staples. I did just that and bought staples at my small town hardware store - went through 4 re-loads without a jam.

This is the one I picked up:
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-gauge-2-in-1-nailerstapler-68019.html

I bought the campbell /hausfield from HD. It was 39.99 but I had a store credit and got it for 20. Works really well. Like everyone to me you will find way to many things that need stapled down

Hi again,
If you don't have a compressor or a pneumatic nail gun/stapler, what could /would you use in stead?

I am trying to picture how I will secure the 1/8" Baltic Birch "headliner for my TD.

Some people use glue for the permanent bond and use screws to temporarily hold the ply in place until the glue sets up. Then remove screws and fill the holes.

I used a bog standard air fed 18 gauge nailer as many have said.

Just turned the air down a little, to avoid the staples shooting straight through, kinda balance between power/avoiding misfire.

I suppose an electric one could be used instead?

For a headliner, a normal wall stapler (type people use for posting missing dog posters etc) would work fine, just make sure the staples wont rust.

IslandStorm62 wrote:Hi again,
If you don't have a compressor or a pneumatic nail gun/stapler, what could /would you use in stead?

I am trying to picture how I will secure the 1/8" Baltic Birch "headliner for my TD.

Just buy one, you know you will use again soon.

Of course, that is what got me in trouble with my build. All those tools to buy

les45 wrote:Some people use glue for the permanent bond and use screws to temporarily hold the ply in place until the glue sets up. Then remove screws and fill the holes.

That's what I did.

Glued and fastened with screws. (The plywood scraps held spread the clamping force of the screws.)





Screws removed and holes filled.



Filler sanded.



Even though I didn't use it at this time in the build, it was a good moment to purchase a narrow crown stapler for use later.