A furniture stapler or, as they still like to call it, a strobe-gun is a very necessary thing. But sometimes, even being recently bought, it starts to work incorrectly and either does not drive the brackets into the tree completely, or they completely get stuck in the tool. In most cases, this is “cured” by a simple setup or due to improper use of the tool. But there are situations when the stapler has already worked out its resource to such an extent that the parts in it simply worn out or led them over time. How to fix a stapler so that it starts working again, as before, and is it possible to do this in principle?
The principle of operation of the stapler
Anyone knowledgeable in mechanics is clear how this tool works. It is clear that the staple can be clogged only by a percussion mechanism, driven by a powerful steel spring. She cocked by pressing the cocking lever. When we squeeze the palm, the spring compresses. At some point, the lever releases the spring, and that, immediately straightening, actuates the percussion mechanism, which, striking the bracket, clogs it into the desired material.
Two main varieties and their arrangement
But in order to start repairing the stapler or to understand what is wrong in it that can “break” or cause these problems, you should familiarize yourself with the structure diagram of the staplers in more detail. There are two types of mechanical furniture staplers that are most common for your attention. The most common is this option, in which the spring adjustment screw is located on top.
Here is another kind of stapler, where the spring tension reinforcement screw is located under the handle. This is a rarer variety.
It can be seen that the principle of operation of both mechanisms is similar, and therefore the adjustment and repair will be almost the same, as well as the causes of problems with the operation of the tool.
The problem of incomplete clogging
Such a thing is solved by simply tuning the tool. If the stapler does not clog the brackets, no repairs are needed. It is enough to tighten the spring adjustment screw. The stronger the screw is screwed in, the more tension the spring will be and at the next descent it will finish the bracket.
If the problem is not in the settings and before that the stapler worked fine and suddenly stopped, most likely the problem is that one of the next staples was jammed and stuck in the slot. Over and over, the striking mechanism strikes her, but she is stuck firmly, thereby preventing the presser from the magazine to bring the next bracket to the “starting” position. Here you need to open a store and remove the jammed bracket. At the next shot, everything will fall into place.
There are staples in the store, but the stapler does not clog them
How to fix a stapler in such a situation? Most likely, in this case, you just need to lubricate the head of the clamping mechanism of the brackets. You should open a store, remove the staples, drip oil on the rammer and develop it. When you are sure that the rammer slides perfectly in the magazine hinged frame, reload the brackets and test the tool.
The problem with bent brackets
In this case, the material is too thick for the staples you have selected. This can be treated either by buying stronger branded staples made of high-quality metal, or by replacing longer ones with shorter ones. Staples with short legs will enter the dense material without any deformation, and will hold almost the same as long, due to the hardness of the wood or other material into which they are driven.
The problem of immediately issuing a pair of staples
How to repair the stapler with your own hands, if he began to issue immediately a pair of staples? This problem is more serious. Due to improper use or over time, the hammerhead of the percussion mechanism may become deformed. If the metal from which the shock part of the mechanism was made was of poor quality, which applies to almost all cheap and Chinese models, its firing pin can either flatten or bend slightly, as a result of which, when it hits again, it will catch not just one, but just a couple of staples. How to fix the stapler in this case and is it possible in principle? You can correct the situation, but you have to disassemble the entire stapler. The procedure can be found in the next section.
The problem with permanently stuck staples
This problem grows from the same area as in the previous case. Although the striker of the percussion mechanism passes into the slot, even if it is slightly bent, the brackets will constantly get stuck between it and the guide wall of the casing. At first, it will work normally every other time, and then at all it will be impossible for them to work due to the fact that over and over again clogged brackets will deform it more and more. In these cases, it can be stated that the stapler is broken, and how to fix it should be told in more detail.
First of all, the necessary tools should be prepared. What will be needed to completely disassemble the stapler:
- ordinary screwdriver;
- file for metal;
- pliers;
- hammer;
- vise (required).
When everything is prepared, you can begin to disassemble. This is nothing complicated and you should not be afraid that you will not be able to collect it later. In another way, you simply will not succeed. For repair it is necessary:
- Flip down the magazine, remove the remaining staples.
- Release the adjusting screw completely.
- Pull free spring through opening at top.
- Now disassemble the case. Housing parts are held with pins. On the one hand they have cast hats, on the other - lock washers. They must be pulled out so that each pin comes out freely from its hole.
For repair it will be enough to remove two pins from the side of the impact mechanism.
- After all the device stapler appears before you in all its glory. It is necessary to remove the impact mechanism and consider it.
- Regardless of whether the hammer is bent, the hammer is flattened, or if there is a bend in the place where it is in contact with the rocker of the cocking lever, you will have to clamp it in a vice. In case of deformation of the striker, it should be given to it with the help of pliers an original even shape. If the firing pin is broken - grind the bumps with a file.
- When the defect is fixed, proceed to assembly in the reverse order.
- Do not forget to grease the impact mechanism with oil. It is advisable to use oil for a sewing machine.
It happens that on the percussion mechanism, an emphasis may break off, against which the spring abuts. In this case, only welding will help, and it is not a fact that the tool in this case will be enough for a long time. As a result, the welded stop will fall off anyway and you will have to buy a new stapler.
When the tool is fully assembled, we check it, at the same time adjusting the spring. If everything is fine, you are well done. If not, it means that somewhere they did not “catch up”. We'll have to disassemble everything and check the evenness of the parts of the impact mechanism more carefully. Therefore, it is better to do everything right the first time and check ten times.
Breakage prevention measures
Some craftsmen advise to loosen the screw of the furniture stapler, which regulates the compression of the spring, during long-term storage of the tool. The smaller the spring will be in a compressed state, the greater the possibility that it will not sag in the shortest possible time and will develop a resource several times longer than what is stated in the warranty card. Of course, before the next application it will again be necessary to adjust, but this is the lesser of evils. Better to spend a few staples on reconfiguration than go to the store for a new stapler.
An important factor in the prevention of "diseases" of such an instrument as a stapler is its lubrication. Regardless of whether he was in constant work or in storage, it is advisable to lubricate the mechanical parts of the tool every three months, then you will not have to puzzle every time over why the stapler works poorly and how to fix the tool. What should be lubricated and how:
- Unscrew the set screw completely, pour a little oil for the sewing machine into the hole, screw the screw into place and take a few blank shots.
- Then open a store where blocks with brackets are inserted and pour a certain amount of lubricant into the slot of the percussion mechanism. Lift the stapler upside down and take a few more blank shots.
- It is also advisable to lubricate the staple feeding mechanism (rammer).
This simple maintenance will not take much time, but it will extend the life of your tool.
Conclusion
For the tool to work for a long time and reliably, it should be used correctly and kept in the specified conditions. It is especially worthwhile to take care that the strobe is not affected by the environment, the humidity of which will exceed 70%. The drier the air in the pantry with tools, the longer they will last and questions such as: “how to fix the stapler” will not affect you at all.