I have purchased 2 1\4 thick solid hardwood. Most of the floor staplers I found shoots 15.5 or 16 gauge staples. Will this mess up my wood? I will going with installing a plywood subfloor attached with concrete fasteners. Most of the floor stapler I found, shoot 15.5 or 16 gauge staples. Most of the floor staplers I read is uses 15.5 or 16 gauge staples for 3\4 solid hardwood. I recall someone mentioning that these 16g staples tend to split 5\16 solids. Thanks everyone.

Jim

NWFA/NOFMA state:
5/16" : no recommendation for T&G 5/16".
Follow manufacturer specifications.

I keep reading all the numbers and confusing myself I think.

I see it is 2 & 1/4 wide, and I think you have been reading on how to install a 3/4 thick floor, using a staple gun like an bostich M3, or power nailer. And Im guessing the floor you are actually trying to install is 5/16? I havent run across that size of flooring in all my years, but it seems its a whole lot closer to 3/8ths than to 3/4. WIth a 3/8ths floor you would use a floor runner, a small hand held stapler. I belive when I put in a 3/8th floor (many years ago) I used 18 gauge staples. A 15 gauge staple is fairly thick, and I could definatley see it cracking the tounge, or board.

Can you double check the measurments please?

I don't think you will find a 15ga stapler footplate that will accommodate a 5/16" thick material, if there is one I have not seen it yet.

I'm going with Ray.... go with the manufacturers recommendations.

Sorry everyone. Yes, a lot of numbers and it didn't help that I made mistakes too. What I meant to say was I have 2 1\4 wide and 5\16 thick solid hardwood. My concern was using a stapler that used 15 1\2 or 16 gauge staples on my 5\16 flooring.

The staplers at Home Depot for rent and the ones I was looking to buy were 15 1\2 or 16 gauge.

The only posting or articles that discussed stapling referenced stapling 3\8 thick hardwood using 15 1\2 or 16 gauge staples.

Anyone have a link for a 18 gauge floor stapler? Without going into a sob story, I'm on a tight budget.

Having a little trouble with the manufacture instuctions having bought from a internet based, discounted floor shop. here the link to my floor



Jim

edited by moderator. Links to other online flooring companies are not allowed.

You need to put more focus on finding a stapler that has a footplate that will accommodate the 5/16" flooring... the gun just comes along with the correct footplate .

I will see I can help locate one for you.

Here ya go http://www.floydtool.com/sls20hf.htm

Sell it on eBay after you're finished.

Jerry, I have one of those for sale. Since I have 3 now(FCI magazine, tool reports)

There ya go Jim... thats supposed to be a pretty decent gun IF he don't buy it maybe i will try to. My Spotnails stapler does not have an adapter plate for 5/16" flooring.

Wait, maybe I need to keep it.

No, the High Pro 4090 I did the article on, does 5/16.

Awe Man. I ended up buying one before I read these post. Sorry, Would have bought yours too. Hey, when buying staples. What size? What do they mean they reference crown? Like 1\4" crown.

Crowned refers to the top, flat or arched. The 1/4" refers to the width of the staple. You need to use a staple (gauge, crown and length) that is recommended by your particular manufacurer... their rules will trump our suggestions.

IFloor product - Woodstock Hardwood (Made in China) No luck so far on Manufacture specs