ELECTRICIANS, Do you use the wire staple guns to secure ROMEX cables, or do you prefer manual hammering ?

I prefer the old fashioned GB white insulated staples.Ideal also makes these as well.

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RE:

ELECTRICIANS, Do you use the wire staple guns to secure ROMEX cables, or do you prefer manual hammering ?

There are several brands of wire staple guns in the stores, and I would appreciate hearing your comments about them.

For many years, I have used the GB brand of plastic staples, with a good old hammer. (I prefer the plastic ones because they are easy to remove if you need to move a wire.)

But...

Never use metal staples for securing wire. Only use plastic on insulated staples.

The metal can cut into and through the insulation if too tight or through movement of the wire and short out.

I do not know of a stapler the shoots insulated staples so I only use the manual type.

Romex Staples

Manually staple with hammer. This is by far the safest, normally use less staples and it is cheaper. Once you stapled into a cable, you have to replace it. Manually stapled avoids this extra work, also.

Cable Staple Gun

I always use a hammer, but try not to secure it firm as the wire will break, and cause a short. The staple doesn't have to be tight. It only has to secure it to the stud.

Go to a hardware store or to home depot or some such place. Target is not going to do it. Tell them what kind of wire it is and what the wire does. That will determine the type of wire fastener you need. There are many kinds that stick on or nail on. Don't use a staple gun on any type of wire.

I found those 'gun' staples less secure then hammered staples.

It's a bit faster on wide open runs, but they're finicky about gun

position, are hard to use in tight places, and tend to jam.

I don't think they're worth the time.