I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a scratching
post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm having trouble
getting them all the way into the wood. They don't seem to go all the
way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet and wood (too short).
Also, one side of the staple keeps bending everytime which I suspect
may be part of the problem. Here's a picture of the bent staple -
www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg

What am I doing wrong? Do I need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?

Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had no
problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that staple gun
is better than the one I'm currently using.

Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.

Mike S. wrote:
I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a
scratching post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm
having trouble getting them all the way into the wood. They don't
seem to go all the way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet
and wood (too short). Also, one side of the staple keeps bending
everytime which I suspect may be part of the problem. Here's a
picture of the bent staple -
www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg

What am I doing wrong? Do I need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?

Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had no
problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that staple gun
is better than the one I'm currently using.

Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.

You may need a different stapler and you may need to hold the stapler
tighter to the surface. Different carpet may also be a problem.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

On Oct 16, 3:13 am, "Mike S." wrote:
I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a scratching
post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm having trouble
getting them all the way into the wood. They don't seem to go all the
way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet and wood (too short).
Also, one side of the staple keeps bending everytime which I suspect
may be part of the problem. Here's a picture of the bent staple -www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg

What am I doing wrong? Do I need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?

Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had no
problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that staple gun
is better than the one I'm currently using.

Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.

Use carpet tacks. You won't need very many.

R

Pneumatic upholstery stapler or carpet tacks as recommended.
Short drywall screws would handle any carpet overlaps and still offer
sufficient penetration.


On 16 Oct 2006 05:11:38 -0700, "RicodJour"
wrote:
On Oct 16, 3:13 am, "Mike S." wrote:
Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.

Use carpet tacks. You won't need very many.

R

Been there done that. I ended up buying a Duo-Fast electric narrow
crown stapler. It kicks like a 22 pistol. I now have at least 3
staplers (not sure I haven't seen the 4th one for a while), 2 electric
and a manual. I find the manual one good when you don't want full
penetration like hanging weather barrier temporarily till I can get the
siding up, but any upholstery job, unless you can see through the
material, calls for the electric narrow crown.

Mike S. wrote:
I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a scratching
post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm having trouble
getting them all the way into the wood. They don't seem to go all the
way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet and wood (too short).
Also, one side of the staple keeps bending everytime which I suspect
may be part of the problem. Here's a picture of the bent staple -
www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg

What am I doing wrong? Do I need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?

Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had no
problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that staple gun
is better than the one I'm currently using.

Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.

Mike:

Practice a few times with scrap carpet and scrap wood. When stapling
carpet to wood I usually have to push most of the carpet nap out of the
way of the stapler, and push the stapler very hard against carpet
backing and wood. If you still have problems, you may need the extra
length staples.

Best -- Terry

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:55:23 GMT, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

Mike S. wrote:
I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a
scratching post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm
having trouble getting them all the way into the wood. They don't
seem to go all the way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet
and wood (too short). Also, one side of the staple keeps bending
everytime which I suspect may be part of the problem. Here's a
picture of the bent staple -
www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg

What am I doing wrong? Do I need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?

Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had no
problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that staple gun
is better than the one I'm currently using.

Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.

You may need a different stapler and you may need to hold the stapler
tighter to the surface. Different carpet may also be a problem.

Or you could give up on the stapler and use roofing nails.

Goedjn wrote:
On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:55:23 GMT, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

Mike S. wrote:
I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a
scratching post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm
having trouble getting them all the way into the wood. They don't
seem to go all the way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet
and wood (too short). Also, one side of the staple keeps bending
everytime which I suspect may be part of the problem. Here's a
picture of the bent staple -
www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg

What am I doing wrong? Do I need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?

Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had no
problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that staple gun
is better than the one I'm currently using.

Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.
You may need a different stapler and you may need to hold the stapler
tighter to the surface. Different carpet may also be a problem.

Or you could give up on the stapler and use roofing nails.

Or what the OP could do is use 1" crown staples in
an air gun. They work well on the floor so they
should work on a post. Double the carpet over and
staple about 3/8 inch from the fold for a neat
application.

"George E. Cawthon" wrote in message
...
Goedjn wrote:
On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:55:23 GMT, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

Mike S. wrote:
I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a
scratching post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm
having trouble getting them all the way into the wood. They don't
seem to go all the way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet
and wood (too short). Also, one side of the staple keeps bending
everytime which I suspect may be part of the problem. Here's a
picture of the bent staple -
www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg

What am I doing wrong? Do I need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?

Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had no
problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that staple gun
is better than the one I'm currently using.

Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.
You may need a different stapler and you may need to hold the stapler
tighter to the surface. Different carpet may also be a problem.

Or you could give up on the stapler and use roofing nails.

Or what the OP could do is use 1" crown staples in an air gun. They work
well on the floor so they should work on a post. Double the carpet over
and staple about 3/8 inch from the fold for a neat application.

Or use a piece of metal threshold strip up one side, and screw through it
every few inches. That would make it a lot easier to replace the carpet next
time.

aem sends....

"Mike S." wrote :

I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make
a scratching
post for my cats.

Somebody's law says the more effort you put into a toy, or
shelter, or scratching post for cats, the less the cats will
use it.

Good luck.

replying to Mike S., la wrote:
littleboyblu87 wrote:

I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a scratching
post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm having trouble
getting them all the way into the wood. They don't seem to go all the
way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet and wood (too short).
Also, one side of the staple keeps bending everytime which I suspect
may be part of the problem. Here's a picture of the bent staple -
www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg
What am I doing wrong? Do I need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?
Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had no
problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that staple gun
is better than the one I'm currently using.
Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.


My staples seemed to go halfway and crooked,also. So simple... the entire
bottom of the gun has to be flat on the item being stapled to to get full
penetration. I hope your problem is this simple.

--

Maybe the wood is very/too hard. How well do the staples go in if you try to apply the staple gun directly on the wood?

Mike S.:

I run into a similar problem whenever I try to staple carpet underpad down onto an old hardwood floor.

Staples simply don't cut across the grain of wood very well.

You'll find things work a lot better when the prongs of your staples are aligned WITH the grain of the wood rather than cutting across the grain.

I think the carpet tack idea is a good one. Professional upholsterers use pneumatic staple guns which have vastly more power than an electric or hand held stapler.

If it were me, I think I would just use screws and fender washers to hold the carpet to the post.

In roups.com,
la typed:
replying to Mike S., la wrote:
littleboyblu87 wrote:

I'm trying to staple carpet to a 4x4 piece of wood to make a
scratching post for my cats. The staples are 1/2" (12mm) and I'm
having trouble getting them all the way into the wood. They don't
seem to go all the way in and they're easy to pull out of the carpet
and wood (too short). Also, one side of the staple keeps bending
everytime which I suspect may be part of the problem. Here's a
picture of the bent staple -
www.geocities.com/littleboyblu87/staples1.jpg What am I doing wrong? Do I
need longer staples? The only other size
staple is 9/16 (14 mm). Or is the problem that I need to use more
strength/force to get that staple in?
Last year, I used another staple gun to do the same thing and I had
no problems. But I may have used longer staples. Or maybe that
staple gun is better than the one I'm currently using.
Just in case anyone wants to know, the staple gun I'm using is the
Stanley Heavy Duty Staple and Nail Gun - Model TR250.

My staples seemed to go halfway and crooked,also. So simple... the
entire bottom of the gun has to be flat on the item being stapled to
to get full penetration. I hope your problem is this simple.

The OP, littleboyblu87, posted this question on October 16, 2006, so my
guess is that his cat's scratching post days have long since passed and
perhaps so has his cat.