BOSTITCH 18 Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler Kit (SX1838K)

Comfortable to hold powerful narrow crown stapler. While spect’d as using 7/32 inch Bostich staples, on the recommendation of another reviewer I used 1/4 inch staples with no problem. Where this shines is attaching 1/4 or thinner plywood to case backs. While brads pull through these staples have great holding power. I’m now always mounting case backs to casework with staples. The oil-less operation is really helpful doing woodworking since the wood isn’t contaminated by oil. For homeowner or hobbyist application this will last a lifetime. I’ve seen pro reviews where Bostich guns last 20 years. This thing is a bargain at $109. The plastic case is sturdy with real hinges. I have another BOSTITCH Brad gun with a similar tough case providing great protection. Just a really nice unit I’m enjoying a lot. One surprise is that the gun does not have a quick clear nose. The Brad nailer snaps open. On the stapler you need to remove two hex recess screws (the hex key is included). Just a quibble, these guns are reputed not to jam often.

Great buy. Nice & lightweight Easy to use.

first of all, this is a BOSTITCH so that should say everything great! I have a coupe of these including a brad nailer and they work great. Once in awhile it will jam, but that's only because of me putting in the wrong staples. I like the appearance as it looks very professional. It's not very heavy , but the versatility is great.

The first thing I did when I got this stapler is load it with 1/4 inch crown Senco brand 1 1/2 inch long staples and shoot into hard, dry fir. Sank them all, no problem. I have yet to use the Bostitch 5/32 crown staples. Rest assured, this is a 1/4 inch crown finish stapler. I bought this one because it's one of the few that have dry fire lockout. I find it quite annoying to have to constantly check the magazine to see what's left, and much more annoying to have to backtrack through blank holes. With this one you just shoot until it stops and then reload. Love it! The belt hook was another must have for me. I recently put up 100+ cedar fence boards with stainless steel staples (1/4 inch crown of course) and that hook was a very convenient time saver. This stapler does have tool free jam clearing although it works differently than most. Instead of unclipping the front half of the nose piece, you simply open the magazine and the rear half slides back with it giving you access to any jams. Haven't had to use it but a nice feature. Oilless is a very nice convenience as well. The only con for me is the case. It's sturdy enough but has very little room for extra staples. The tool itself is definitely 5 stars.

Working on my floor & needed this to staple the smooth wood board for vinyl.

Very well made and works great.

I don’t know why Bostitch markets this tool as using 7/32” crown staples — the metric spec for the tool is “6mm crown” — and 6mm is _between_ 7/32” & 1/4”. And Stanley/Black&Decker (Bostitch’s parent company) sells variations of this same tool under their PorterCable and DeWalt brands as “1/4” crown” staplers. Marketing. Works absolutely fine with non-Bostitch 1/4" crown staples. I like this tool. It’s well balanced, comfortable to use, drives consistently in a variety of materials, is easy to load, easy to place the staples where I want them. The whole nose opens when you load it — so clearing jams is completely tool-less. I haven’t had any jams. I haven't been using Bostitch staples. Good warranty, and there are replacement parts & rebuild kits available. Unlike for cheap, disposable tools… Quibbles are that it no longer comes with a swivel air fitting (just a straight one), and the standard Bostitch hard case it comes in (not a soft one as described) has no place to hold even a small package of staples. Doesn’t come with any staples either. Still I’ve been happy with other Bostitch air tools and I’d buy it again.

Do not be put off by the cost of this unit. Yes, you can go to a discount tool store and spend a lot less money, but if you need an air-powered stapler, consider spending the extra money on the Bostitch SX1838K. I've owned a lot of different air tools over the years and I've found that the cheap ones are not as well-built, not as durable and use a lot more air. The first two won't surprise anyone, but the third one just might. To make an informed comparison, don't look at only the price. Look at how much air the tool requires at 90 psi and see if your compressor can keep up. The packaging should indicate the volume of air per minute (cubic feet per minute or CFM) that is required. Most times you will see a value for 40 psi and 90 psi. Lower pressures are typically for small tools or some spray guns. You will be wanting that 90 psi for this tool. With a less expensive tool you might find yourself waiting on your compressor. The Bostich is well built and a dream to use. Some of the things I like about it are that it comes with a swiveling connector for your air hose, the staple drive depth is adjustable, it is quiet (or about as quiet as an air tool can be), it is lightweight and it is well-balanced. If you plan to use a tool like this often or just want something that is dependable, consider this one.