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by Peter Brett - July/August 2008
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01444 440188
Credible Cordless Stapling
Lithium Ion technology has changed all that. Lithium Ion batteries are lighter and more powerful with more desirable charge characteristics and without the poisonous after effects of Nickel Cadmium. It has taken some time to overcome some of the problems associated with charging Li-Ion, but now that these have been solved we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of various R and D Departments’ labours.
Arrow is not a company to look lightly on innovation. Many of their products have been in production and in reliable day-to-day use for years, if not decades. They are very “green” in the sense that human powered staplers and nailers need no charging or electricity. They are “built-to-last” and the ready availability of spares means that there is no reason why their working lives couldn’t be extended almost indefinitely. So there must have been a good reason for introducing the CT50K, and now that it is here, is a good enough reason to give it a thorough testing.
The first thing that struck me is that it is completely contemporary looking in design. The two-tone grey ABS body has sleek lines with rubberised grips where needed. Most of its features are what would be expected from a high quality machine. For example the large round easy to read depth-of-drive control is easy to set and is completely unfiddly. Since the tool can drive staples from 1/4 inch to 9/16 inch it is an important feature if neat rows of firmly embedded staples are required.
The large plastic magazine will hold two complete strips of standard Arrow T50 staples with a small side window that indicates when you are down to the last 20 staples. I was slightly intrigued that Arrow has chosen to use standard T50 staples for this machine. Other makers have chosen to modify or change completely the nature of the staples that can be used because they need to accommodate the characteristics of a cordless stapler. Standard staples certainly makes stocking decisions easier for retailers and availability easier for customers.
On the battery side of things, the charger will charge the compact battery in 60 minutes and it is reckoned that over 1500 staples can be driven on one charge. I didn’t have enough staples to test this claim but it seems eminently believable to me from the tests I did do. Fashionably, the battery has a row of small LEDs to show the level of charge in it. Since it is a Li-ion battery, it won’t matter if it is charged up before it is completely out of charge. Also trendily, a small bright light above the staple nose illuminates the workpiece when the trigger is activated. I also liked the easy release mechanism for the battery and the staple magazine. No wrestling or hassle, they both just work smoothly.
Although the machine is and feels quite a lot larger than a standard mains or spring-powered staple in the hand, the weight is quite manageable. It could be used for extended periods without muscle strain.
Standard safety features for staplers apply, for example the stapler will not fire unless the nose is firmly pushed flush with the work surface.
The whole kit comes in a nicely moulded grey custom case with some small space for extra staples provided.
I am never short of tasks in which to try out tools and this was no different. Upholstering the seats of a couple of chairs was the first job. Quarter inch staples into hard birch ply through thickish corduroy proved to be easy to achieve. It worked almost as fast as I could pull the trigger. Specified staple firing rate is forty per minute, but I was never able to get near that having to hold the material edges down etc as I worked. There is a slight delay as the trigger is pulled and then the staple is fired. Recoil is minimal and as is usual with powered staplers, it helps to hold the top of the stapler with the left hand to ensure that the staples are driven home flush.
I also used the stapler to put up some thin ply to cover an area being prepared for display. Again the staple had no trouble thumping 12mm staples through 4mm ply and into softwood battens behind.
Where some users might be disappointed is in the relative compactness of the stapler. Working inside cupboards and confined spaces might be difficult because it is definitely bulkier than corded stapler/nailers. However, compared to some cordless competitors this machine is a sylph.
Arrow has also broken its own mould in the sense that this machine is produced in China. But since we are all used to this phenomenon now, and the quality and finish of the stapler is so self-evident most users would probably not even comment.
Overall the Arrow CT50K proved to be a great little machine to use. It would appeal to upholsterers and other professionals who need a bit of medium duty fixing at hand. It is relatively compact and light and definitely safe and easy to handle. Charging is straightforward and quick and storage is simple since it fits neatly into a smart case.
For retailers it has the virtue of belonging to a range of Arrow staplers/nailers renowned for its no-nonsense day-to-day high quality. Using standard staples makes stocking simpler and avoids confusion about sizes that can arise. For the moment, my sample has been stacked at the end of its shelf ready to be used at the drop of a hat.
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Airstream Communications