nailer vs. stapler

[crazy diamond]

I would like to know if you use a air nailer or air stapler to put together frames?

[Apuuli]

I just use a hammer, but I've always been traditional/cheap.

[okb]

Stapler if ive got lots of air that day or hammer if I need to blow off steam or just use plastic if im feelin lazy.

[Sundance]

I have both but for frames a 1/4" crown staple is tops in my
book. Along with glue........

[berkshire bee]

I hand nail and glue frames. Use electric nailer for wedges that hold foundation in

[Robert Hawkins]

either or. Always with glue.

Hawk

[Dan Williamson]

Narrow crown stapler w/ 1" staples. In my opinion its the equivalent of putting 2 nails in one shot. I also glue all frames.

[Ross]

18 guage brad nailer with 1" brads and Titebond II glue. If you nail at an angle to the joint, it's plenty strong. The glue is more important.

[beegee]

I use a narrow-crown stapler. I use two staples through the top of the top bar into the side bar on each end, one staple through each end bar into the top bar on the part opposite the wedge, and two staples up through the bottom bars into the side bars. I use a brad nailer to nail in my wedges, because my staples in the staple gun are too long and I don't want to switch.

I have a friend who uses a wide-crown air stapler and uses only one staple in each joint.

I also glue all joints with Titebond III. Nothing is more aggravating than pulling apart a frame loaded with brood or honey as you pry it form the hive.

[livetrappingbymatt]

titebond and elect brad nailer.
bob

[shughes]

i agree with Sundance. I picked up a narrow crown stapler after hammering two frames together and have not regretted it since. I was one of those ones who thought I would start out with 2 hives as a first year beekeeper but now have 9 on my property and have built over 250 frames with my stapler using 1 inch staples for the frames and 5/8 inch staples for the wedges. i am glad i splurged early on. this hobby is very contagious.

[Yuleluder]

Last night I went and bought a bostich nail gun. I was having a hard time deciding what to go with, the stapler or the nail gun. I chose the nail gun because I could go from 3/4" nails to 2 1/2" nails, while all the staplers were 3/8" to 1 1/2" long staples. I'm sure I will be buying a stapler in the near future, but I wanted to get something that I could use with larger projects.

[John F]

I have the choice of either and always...

Use just glue.

Titebond III if you are wondering.

[riverrat]

I used to hammer away then I got lazy and bought a 1/4 inch air brad/stapler from harbor freight ($38.00) I can assemble frames using a jig at about 1 a minute thats gluing and stapling. hive bodies are quicker also. I have already got my moneys worth out of the cheap stapler if it craps I will buy another one. try to find a 12 step program and get away from the hammer you will feel better in the end and have more time to enjoy the better things in beekeeping

[rand chandler]

Arrow electric brad nailer works great along with titebond III. It (nailer)was not that expensive and makes me run like a Japanese factory compared to how I used to do it with the hammer and those little nails. The frame assembly jig is wonderful too.

[honeyman46408]

I use 1/4" X 3/4" crown staples = no glue

[Everett]

I use crown staples for top bar down into the end bars. Then I lay the frame down and use a brad nailer to nail through side bars to top bar and bottom bars. Pine is soft and the brads are small guage and short so they never split anything. I use propolis for glue -- actually, the bees do the gluing. I just nail them as described and put them in. No failures yet.