I’ve been using the Dewalt Carbon Fiber Stapler (aka Tacker) for a few weeks now and had some thoughts to share about this tool.
For background information on the Dewalt DWHT80276 you can read our Dewalt Stapler Buying Guide, which contains a lot of the research I did before buying myself this stapler. It’ll run through all the specifications and dimensions you need.
Experience With The Stapler
Most of our reviews are pretty long term, but this one is on the shorter side, having just used the Carbon Fiber stapler for a month or so. I’ve done two good sized jobs with it — some outdoor carpeting using T50 staples and a cedar-lined closet using 18-gauge brads. My thoughts on the stapler are based on these experiences.
My Stapling Experience
Overall the stapler worked quite well. It was very reliable with staples and I only had a few small jams when working with 18-gauge brads (8GA, 5/8-inch). The brads are held together with adhesive and sometimes the stapler would loose up the adhesive ahead of time and one of the brad got caught in the track above it. This only took 30 seconds to clear.
The stapler never misfired and only twice did it shoot out two brads instead of one. The staple behavior was just about flawless with the only issues being when I stapled in a too-hard surface.
I was using Arrow 508 T50 1/2-inch staples to put down some lightweight carpeting over wood. This worked well, with good penetration. I was concerned the Carbon Fiber stapler would have insufficient power compared to an Arrow stapler to the Dewalt Heavy Duty stapler, but it’s fine (it’s not exception, but it’s good).
The combination of a lighter-than-normal squeeze pressure and the lightweight carbon fiber stapler body meant I never felt fatigue from the stapler, which was nice. The biggest difference with the weight wasn’t when I held the stapler but rather that it was comfortable to clip into my belt, which isn’t the case with a heavy stapler. It’s also a good deal less slipper than my standard Arrow T50 and its chromed exterior.
I only dropped the stapled once — 4 feet onto concrete — but it was fine. I’m curious to see how the carbon fiber will stand up over the years. The magazine has big plastic clip that holds it in. If anything is going to break, I’m pretty sure this is the part that will fail.
The Dewalt Carbon Fiber stapler sells for about $30-$35 depending on your hardware store or where you shop online.
The main competition for this stapler will be the Arrow T50, which costs about $18, and the Dewalt DWHTTR350 “Heavy-Duty” aluminum stapler/brad nailer which is about $20.