Staple Gun for Cabinet Building

[Nolatone Ampworks]

I read somewhere that the front panels of Fender Tweed cabinets are glued and stapled, taking care to keep room for the roundover route.

Any experience here with that? I'd like to know the appropriate staple gun and staples to use for this type of application.

Your input appreciated.

Paul

[PRNDL]

I read somewhere that the front panels of Fender Tweed cabinets are glued and stapled

The baffle boards are made from a 1/2 BC plywood with 1"x1/4 stringers glued and nailed on the front. It's painted black with black speaker screws. The grill cloth is stapled usually with an air gun, although I use a hand one with great results.

The trick is to keep the grill cloth tight and lined up, and to use plenty of staples.

The inside edges of the cabinet are square.

Here are some photos from an expert builder (Larry is my mentor)
http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Rodgers/BaffleBoards.html

[Swarty]

1/2" baffle? I think they are thinner.

[PRNDL]

You're right ... it's 1/2" total, 3/8 BC with a 1/8" stringer.

I'm used to just grabbing the 3/8 BC without looking.

[evacuated]

I bought one of these last summer, since my old T-50 staple gun wouldn't bury a 3/8" staple in birch plywood. Well worth the money. It is just right at 70-80 psi.
http://www.amazon.com/Surebonder-9600-Pneumatic-Staple-Carrying/dp/B000EOJPC6

[Tinman]

Unless you are in a production setting, I think you can get by without a pneumatic staple gun.

[Nolatone Ampworks]

I think for the panels the brad type staples are needed aren't they? Regular staples for grillcloth of course.

I just picked one of these up at home depot:

http://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Fastener-ET200-Heavy-Electric/dp/B00020JOEQ/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1205435260&sr=1-9

I think it will cover my needs for now.

Anyhow know how long brads for tacking the front panel to the shell should be? I bought 9/16".

I bought one of these last summer, since my old T-50 staple gun wouldn't bury a 3/8" staple in birch plywood. Well worth the money. It is just right at 70-80 psi.
http://www.amazon.com/Surebonder-9600-Pneumatic-Staple-Carrying/dp/B000EOJPC6

[phsyconoodler]

I use an Arrow electric staple gun that has an adjustable drive feature.It will drive the staple just fine in birch as long as the surface under the workpiece is solid.Staplers don't work well if you are working on a carpeted surface,as they just drive the piece into the carpet.On a solid workbench it works excellent.

[PRNDL]

Anyhow know how long brads for tacking the front panel to the shell should be? I bought 9/16".

9/16" would be too long for a 3/4" panel ... 5/8" would be about right.

Some shops have several brad nail guns loaded with different sizes, although changing brads is pretty quick.

[Nolatone Ampworks]

9/16" would be too long for a 3/4" panel ... 5/8" would be about right.

Some shops have several brad nail guns loaded with different sizes, although changing brads is pretty quick.

If you're taking the front panel perpendicular to the side shell 9/16 shouldn't be to long should it?

I can see if you are worried about going through the panel based on thickness. I may be thinking about this all wrong though. I need to take my tweed deluxe cab apart and give it a good looking over.

Thanks,

Paul

[bigroy]

Take a look at some of the Duo-Fast staple guns. I consider them more of a real tool than the Arrow's. And some models have the adjustable drive feature. I have a manual model that I've owned for over 20 years. A real piece of hardware!

[PRNDL]

If you're taking the front panel perpendicular to the side shell 9/16 shouldn't be to long should it?

I wondered about this.

The 5/8 brad (and wood glue) would be used to attach the 1/8 stringer to the 3/8 board the speaker is mounted to.

The baffle board is attached to 1" stringers within the amp cabinet using 1.5" cabinet (shiny) screws. The 1/8x1" stringer gives the screw enough wood to bite into.

[Nolatone Ampworks]

Take a look at some of the Duo-Fast staple guns. I consider them more of a real tool than the Arrow's. And some models have the adjustable drive feature. I have a manual model that I've owned for over 20 years. A real piece of hardware!

Those Duo-Fast units look sweet!

I just discovered yesterday I can buy a pneumatic Porter Cable brad gun for $10 more than the Arrow. I like that idea, but I don't know if I can handle the noise of my crappy Huskey pancake air compressor in my garage. It's so small, two brads and it's kicked in again! :-(

I may try building an ISO box for it.