We are in the process of installing Anderson 3/8 engineered flooring using a Bostitch LHF-2025k 20 gauge stapler. We are having a huge problem with staples jamming. It is totally random - where a staple will get crunched up on the tongue of the flooring. Have tried adjusting the stapler and we may get 10 good runs out of it and then a crushed stapler. A room that should have taken two hours is going on six as we keep having to dig out staples. The compressor is at 120 psi and is seating the good staples properly. Looking for answers or suggestions on what to do next.

1. Is 20 gauge 1" big enough for this flooring? The stapler is rated for 3/8" engineering and the folks I talked to at Shaw said no problem with it.

2. Are these staples junk? I have heard mixed reviews on the China made staples for these units.

3. The stapler seem adequate. The 18 gauge version (EHF1838K) didn't specify that it was ok for 3/8 flooring.

4. Any other recommendations on what I should use for fastening - I got the Bostitch recommendation from Shaw themselves - although the model numbers had been discontinued.

Thanks for any and all help.

Derek .-


Extracted crushed staple


Mangled up staple in tongue.

Are you using Bostitch staples? Why are you operating it at the max air pressure? Plus some compressors have a tendency to drop the pressure if your going to fast, they don't kick back in until the pressure drops 20 lbs. Plus you could be hitting fasteners in the underlayment/subfloor.

From the pictures...looks to me like it's the density of the subfloor. I use 18ga...20 ga just isn't stout enough for many scenarios. Infact it's almost like shooting a wire.

Howard, get back to work.

It's Friday

I am using the factory Bostitch staples, still on the ones that came with the tool. Was going to try out some of the others I bought.

At anything less than 120 - the staples were not setting far enough into the material. We started with my small pancake compressor and then wheeled in the 5 gallon unit. Talking to the local Bostitch rep - they said that I should be at no more than 100 to seat these staples. They tended to think that it was a staple problem.

I may run the tool and a sample up to this place to have them check it out - may need to get my hands on an 18 gauge unit.

Thanks for the help.

Derek.-

You may want to try the gun on something else....It's usually not the gun, ( if it's not jamming). It's fasteners, PSI, or material density. Sounds like PSI is ruled out. The odds of the quality of a Bostitch fastener problem, is pretty slim. I'm still going with density. Exact same senario I ran accross when strand bamboo came out...Only I think it's your subfloor and a 20ga wire..

I talked to the local Duro Fast dealer and he recommended we try some different staples. Even though this is a 20 ga. stapler he indicated that 19ga Senco 1" staples would work, based on another customers experience. We bought a box and have been problem free since. I think we have had one misfire - and that was because we hit something in the floor. Thanks to all for the input and the suggestion - onward with the floor installation !

dman, what is the name of the flooring you're installing?

Anderson Hickory Forge Hammer Glow 3/8" engineered.

Thanks. Looks kind of like what I just had put down.

Just don't use a regular nail gun (finishing nails) to install it like my contractor did!

I have one for about 10 years now,and it"s awesome, if its jamming (did you oil it) if so take back if new purchase ,I run pressure at 110 psi need to set staple , Happy Holiday"s