Help please

Help please, I'm trying too repair the rear window frame on my convertible, but I can't get the staple to go in I've got an air stapler but the staple are very narrow, I've tried a heavy duty hand stapler but the staples just keep bending,any help would be great, what have other people used, what stapler, what size staples

You need to have a chat with chortle as he's one of our resident experts on Cabby roofs!  

I use an electric stapler and stainless steel staples. 140/8mm
The staples are only to fix the hood material in place.

The frames are made up from 2 pieces the metal outer frame which usually rusts and a insert which is boned into the metal frame.
The staples go into the insert.


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The standard size for heavy duty electric staplers seems to be "140" series staples, which are available in 6mm-14mm depths and are about the same width as a normal desktop stapler, but are thicker. I don't know what size your air stapler is but it doesn't sound right?

I've noticed the electric stapler kicks back quite powerfully so you really need 2 hands to put pressure on the top of it, to make sure the staple goes in properly. It might be a case that you put a small number of staples in (with one hand) but they don't go in right, then go around again and put some more in better with 2 hands so you can press down on it; then remove any dodgy staples and redo that area.

I bought a £15 one off eBay but it was a bit hit and miss with firing the staples so I sent it back (it was tearing up the headlining everytime it forgot to put the staple in) and ended up spending £35 for a better one from Screwfix. I might sell it once I've done my hood, since I don't fancy ever doing it again!!!!!

I used a heavy duty hand stapler and big staples, I can't remember the size but the ends are angled so they go in nice and easily. it was a 6 years ago when I changed my roof cover.

Electric and air staplers are for wimps..  

lol.. for wimps.
Not when you do loads of them matey..
You can drive them in a bit flatter if need be with a hammer and a flat bar, but I have a small headed hammer to flush them up if need be.
You can also add some glue to the insert inner where the staples go as this helps stop the material pulling back when you re tension the hood, especially at the lower rear section by the cable channel, often see a few baggy ones there.

mark1gls said

I used a heavy duty hand stapler and big staples, I can't remember the size but the ends are angled so they go in nice and easily. it was a 6 years ago when I changed my roof cover.

Electric and air staplers are for wimps..  

I bought the electric one not to save effort, but so that I could effectively put the first few in one-handed, while the other hand held material taut etc. If you can manage this with a hand stapler I'm impressed, I felt I wasn't skilled enough to do this so just wanted to make it as easy as possible. I would rather have not spent the money on an expensie stapler I'll use once.

I had an extra pair of hands to help so I could hold and push on the stapler, it was a very heavy duty gun.
If I was on my own I would of not been able to do it as well.  

as a bove i used a staple gun, fine if you're only doign the one but if you do them all the time it would get old fast

sometimes it wouldn't fire them all the way in if so a light tap with a hammer got them fully seated. others just bent so was a case of lever out and try again! bit of a PITA but you'll get there eventually