pbuckner Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Has anyone building stonefly or tangerine used coppper tacks instead of staples? I know staples are alot faster, probably cheaper and wont be seen anyway, but some things just seem right to me and are worth doing just for the experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I am not aware of anyone using them so I doubt you will get an answer. They could be a problem with the 8 oz fabric? It is such a loose weave the small contact area might end up pulling a hole in the weave. The 11.7 oz that would not be an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirilonde Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Copper carpet tacks have a good size head, but I don't see any advantage. It is a lot easier to staple when one hand is tied up pulling the cloth into place, especially if you are like me and only have 2 of them. The shank of the tack is thicker as well. So when you need a bunch of them close together this presents a greater risk for splitting the gunwale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Excellent points! I was thinking about it requiring two people but decided to skip it. But a stapler and a pair of canvas pliers and you end up with a good tight skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Just to play Devil's advocate, you COULD use an upholstery hammer, which has a slot in the head to start a tack or nail, but I would not use tacks in this case. The staples will be much easier to get flush than tack heads. They can even be countersunk fairly easily. Plus, if you put the staples on a slight angle, the legs are not all in a line, so are less apt to split the wood. Like staggering tacks or rivets slightly on a lapstrake boat. Also, the staples will hold a little better by virtue of grabbing several warps or wefts rather than just point loading one hole, if you will. Dave: I occasionally work on bicycles for money, like today, and my favorite tools are the Third Hand and the Fourth Hand. Both used when adjusting brakes. I used a Fourth Hand today, in fact. They make excellent zip tie clinchers, as well... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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