One of those days. It doesn't pay to be cheap.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Sometimes I cheap out, and usually I regret it.  You'd think I would learn my lesson, but the Scottish is strong with this one.   

I have been meaning to run a wire along the underside of a kitchen cabinet for some time so that I can move the microwave to the other side of the counter and make the kitchen slightly more functional.  I decided the best way to run the wire was with a staple gun, but I broke mine last year when I got angry at something and threw it across the room.  That kind of behaviour is very rare for me, but it happened and hiding it won't help.

Anyways, I picked up a new staple gun today, and rather than get the all purpose, contractor grade one for $30 I decided to cheap out and get an ultra light duty Stanley one for $10.  What the heck, right?  I'm only using it to tack up some wire.  Mistake #1.

So then I decide to get some staples for it, as none are included in the pack.  No big deal, staples are only $5 or so and you get hundreds of them, so nothing to worry about there.  They also have a variety pack, but that's $12, and frankly I don't need that.  Mistake #2.

I get home and find out that for some reason the #206 staples, at 3/8" or 10mm don't fit in the stapler, despite the package saying that #206, 3/8' or 10mm staples fit in it.  Apparently they were meaning a totally different kind of #206/ 3/8"/ 10mm staple, because the staples don't even match the "actual size" ones pictured on the box that the staple gun came in.   

If I may digress for a moment..... who the hell came up with the brilliant idea of matching all of the numbers together then using them on a completely different type of staple?  If I find that jackass, I am going to beat him to death with the stapler after having used it to nail his goodies to the wall so he can't get away.

Back to the story, I'm annoyed, but smurf happens.  On the up side, it appears my old staple gun actually works- there are still some brads loaded into it and they fire nicely into the plastic box my Dremel came in, so that's good news.

So I go back to the store to get more staples.  I'd use the ones I bought in my old staple gun, but they are a bit too thin and a bit to short to really hold the wire properly, so I might as well get some staples that can do the job I need to do.  Bear in mind, I am driving about five miles in traffic to spend $5 on staples.  In rush hour traffic now.

I get to the store, and again I look at the multi pack and think "Yeah, I probably should have gotten that first" then pass it over for another $5 box of staples- this is a plastic pack, and I can see that these 1/2" staples are big enough to hold the wire properly, so I take them to the cash, pay for them and head home.  Mistake #3.

Once I get home I decide to try and use the new staple gun- it's smaller and would probably be easier to use upside down under the cupboard, but guess what?  Yup.  The new staples don't fit in it either.   

No problem, I'll just get out my old staple gun and use that, right?  I load it up and go to fire a staple and..... nothing.   

Apparently firing the odd brad into a plastic Dremel case is the extent of it's abilities at this point and it won't actually fire any staples.  It will separate them from the rest of the group however, and spit them pathetically onto the floor where doubtless the cat will find them and try to eat them.   

If only I'd bought the good staple gun in the first place.....

If only I'd bought the multi pack in the first place....

If only I'd learned my lesson and bought the multi pack when I had another chance.....

 

Def

[Syph007]

That's what you get for being fancy.  Bend over nails with a hammer.   

[AimlessWanderer]

Been there.

Too many times.

As an aside, I routed a lot of the wiring loom on the boat using self adhesive saddles and tie wraps. Worked like a dream, and was better system if I needed to change something at any point - snip tie wraps (zip ties), do the change and tie wrap back up. No machine required or difficulty getting in awkward places.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/111652170897

Where possible, I also ran the cable in flexible conduit for protection, using the same ties and bases. The bases often take a central countersunk screw too. Probably do the whole job for less than the price of a new gun, and saves accidentally firing a staple through the cable (knowing you and the sparky stuff  )

Note: take the time to match the slots on the bases with the tie sizes. Told you I'd been there 

[PTRSAK]

What? you ain't got no duct tape eh?

[Chako]

I once had something very similar happen to me with an old stapler. It took me several trips to the hardware store. I got so fed up with the sheer comedy of the situation, I bought an Arrow ET 501 Heavy Duty electric stapler and a few different staples. Now no more issues.

[Swiss Guy]

Hopefully threatening to maim and beat someone to death on the Internet doesn't become the next mistake. 

Yeah,  I've been in that situation too, dragging my girlfriend to the hardware store and back several times swearing to her that it isn't my fault while she just says,  "Uh huh..."

[dks]

...once again I thought Grant had bought a ring....

[Josh613]

Yeah I've been there too! A stapler is something I use so less I don't even own one!

[PTRSAK]

once upon a time I had a good commercial quality stapler. Wasn't a big one, but it could drive 3/8 staples flush into 1/4 masonite/hardboard.
It lived in my range bag as I mainly used it for putting up targets.
I went to use it one day and it felt wrong... some smurfer had swapped it out with a $2 shop Made in China POS.

I mean stealing it would have been bad enough, but leaving their hunk of junk in its place was just plain insulting.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Hopefully threatening to maim and beat someone to death on the Internet doesn't become the next mistake. 

Yeah,  I've been in that situation too, dragging my girlfriend to the hardware store and back several times swearing to her that it isn't my fault while she just says,  "Uh huh..."

If you think that threat was bad, you should hear what I think of whomever decided to include that flimsy, ineffective piece of crap jack in Jeeps.  I believe the term "fatal, exploding smurf cancer" may have been used.

But then I feel people need to be held accountable for their actions.and if someone deserves to have their goodies nailed to a wall, who am I to argue?   

[radioactive_Man]

But what happened with the wire? Did you ever buy a good stapler and complete the job? You didn't finish the story! 

[Oxford_Guy]

Sometimes I cheap out, and usually I regret it.  You'd think I would learn my lesson, but the Scottish is strong with this one.   

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

But what happened with the wire? Did you ever buy a good stapler and complete the job? You didn't finish the story! 

Nothing yet.  I'm out shopping now and will probably buy a new stapler that comes with staples.   

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I didn't buy a new stapler or staples yesterday. I bought one today, identical to my old, broken one for $17.  I should have just gotten it in the first place.  It comes with a pile of staples and I never met a staple or a brad that wouldn't fire out of it, at least until I broke it.

It served me well for years, as I am sure the new one will.

And, just to rub salt in it, the staples that came with it are a variety, and many of them will fit the Stanley.   

Def

[David]

Now you have a stapler for each hand. Double the fun.     

[Noa Isumi]

Stories like this and my wife's random urges to re-upholster things are how I ended up with 2 electric, 1 air and 5 manual staplers hanging around.

Though in all honesty one of the manuals lives in my range bag for hanging targets. This was after years of going out with friends and no one would remember staples or thumbtacks, so we would have to scrounge and re-use ones left in the target stands.

[Grant Lamontagne]

It never hurts to have a backup.  Or 5. 

Having one in a range bag is a good idea.

Def

[Poncho65]

Now you have a stapler for each hand. Double the fun.     

 

[Poncho65]

I too have cheaped out like this on occassion Usually only finding out it won't work or is the wrong thing after the store has closed for the day or weekend

Live and learn I guess

[pfrsantos]

(...)
If I may digress for a moment..... who the hell came up with the brilliant idea of matching all of the numbers together then using them on a completely different type of staple?  If I find that jackass, I am going to beat him to death with the stapler after having used it to nail his goodies to the wall so he can't get away.

(...)

HOW?! The goddam thing don't work, right?!
 

[pfrsantos]

Ok, try to ignore I'm say this...

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Completely OOC, I know...

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Can't you return the stappler gun/stapples? Isn't there a period after you buy something that you may return it and get your money back (or at least a credit with the same amount)? It's the law over here. You can return anything just 'cause you changed your mind in a few days after the purchase (not sure how many, less than a week, I think) or for a longer period (15 days?!...) if the item you buy doesn't work as expected, even if it is working properly.

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yes, I can return the stapler and staples, but the staples are going to be useful with the replacement gun and stores here often have a very undermanned returns desk.  You can wait in line for a fair bit of time, and frankly, my time is worth more than the $10 stapler, which I actually like- or at least I would if I could get the right staples to put into it.

My old stapler, and the new version of it I got will fire anything that you can fit into it, so the purchase of extra staples is more just stocking up than a loss.

The real loss here was my time and excessive amounts of gas that were taken up by multiple trips.

Oh yeah, and there's a new chapter to this story.  I got the extension cord placed where I wanted it, stapled it into place and realized..... it isn't a grounded cable, which means I can't plug the microwave into it anyway.

 

Def

[AimlessWanderer]

 


Sorry mate, but....


 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Sorry mate, but....


 

I'm glad it is at least worth a laugh. 

Def

[cody6268]

My grandfather's had his trusty old T50 for 40 years and it's still going strong. I've got one of Arrow's short lived small office (baby blue and cream) staplers, and as soon as I find the hard to find staples for it, it's going into service.  My grandfather used that one when he worked an office job at the dye plant in which he worked in the late sixties.

I don't cheap out--I'm better off buying a used quality tool than I am a crappy new bargain bin tool for the same price.  Under $10 gives you a bunch of options from quality USA makers for a ton of tools.