Tool Box Buzz

Milwaukee M12 3/8” Crown Stapler 2447 Review

Milwaukee has come out with their Milwaukee M12 3/8” Crown Stapler, this stapler spans the gap between a hand stapler and a hamper tacker. At $99.00 Milwaukee was able to replace an arduous hand tool, and make it easier to use, faster and still keep it small enough to fit in your tool bags.

The M12 platform was the right place for this tool. It allows the tool to stay small, compact, and portable. This tool was designed for the contractor using a stapler all day as a primary tool, but every contractor can benefit from its durability, and ease of use.

Typical Applications for the M12 Stapler

• Insulation
• Polyethylene vapor barrier
• Thermo-Pan® sheeting for return air ducts
• Cornerbead
• Crafts

Job Site Athletes

As contractors we need to start think like “job site athletes” and do things to reduce injury. Many of the applications we do on our jobs are directly attributed to ergonomic overuse injuries. The risk factors to consider are:

• High Task Repetition.
• Forceful Exertions.
• Repetitive/Sustained Awkward Postures.

Repetitive motion and the force required to operate a hand stapler translates to considerable fatigue and can even cause injury to a user after years of use. The M12 Stapler requires 80% less muscle effort than hand staplers and is up to 35% lighter than the only other cordless competitor, the 18 volt Makita XTS01Z. All of this translates into reduced hand and forearm strain and decreased long term injury.

Compact and Lightweight

At only 3.5 lbs. with battery, 7-1/4” in length, and just over 1-1/2” wide at the nose, the M12 3/8” Crown Stapler allows easy access into corners and tight spaces.

Runtime

The M12 Stapler will fire 1500 staples on a 1.5 Ah battery charge. That equates to an entire carton of staples plus! A simple rule of thumb with this stapler is you can fire approximately 1000 staples for every amp hour.

Capacity and Dry Fire Lockout

The M12 stapler has a capacity of 89 staples, ranging from 1/4” to 9/16” long. This stapler has a dry-fire, lockout feature at 5 staples and easily holds a strip of 79 Arrow T50 staples or a strip of 84 Stanley staples.

Contact or Sequential Fire

The M12 Stapler will operate in either bump fire or sequential fire. Staple leg locating arrows, imprinted on the tool, allow the user to see where the staple legs are leaving the tool, providing increased accuracy. We found it was easier to use the “work piece contact bracket” as a visual guide.

With the bump [contact] fire option you do not have to select a switch. All you do is hold the trigger in, lift the tool and push it back down to depress the “work piece contact bracket.” [nose –safety] For sequential operation you simply press the trigger and release it.

Belt Clip

The M12 Stapler has a belt clip that is different than most M12 tools. Its bigger and wider and very similar to the M18 metal shear tools clip. This clip has more space between the body of the tool and the clip.

We found that this clip easily and quickly attached to both my tool bags belt, as well as the side of my bags.

Power Adjustment Dial

Located on the upper right section of the tool, this adjustment allows you to dial in the depth of staple into the substrate. The adjustment controls the tools adjustment force on the spring, which in turn adjusts the energy in the driver mechanism.

Using the Milwaukee M12 Stapler

We found the tool fast, easy and efficient to use. We used it to staple Kraft face insulation, poly barrier, house wrap and some drywall bead on. On the house wrap we were doing window replacements and were tying in the existing house wrap. For house wrap installing, a hammer tacker would be the faster tool.

I found myself alternating between using the belt hook or just putting the entire stapler into my tool bag pouch. It’s that compact and small.

The M12 stapler front loads, and we did not experience a jamb. We forced a jamb situation and were able to clear it easily with a screwdriver or need nose pliers.

Metal Corner Bead

There’s been some mixed feedback on installing metal corner bead with the M12 3/8” Crown Stapler. A lot of the feedback has been that this tool cannot fasten metal corner bead, however it can be used for metal bead depending on the bead being fastened and how that particular user prefers to fasten their bead.

If a user prefers to fasten their metal bead by putting a stapler directly through the bead an∂ puncturing it then the M12 Stapler, or any T50 style (3/8” flat crown) stapler, is not the idealtool for the application.

There are metal beads that have pre-existing holes on the edges of the bead. It takes some practice but you can fasten one staple leg of the staple in the pre-existing hole and the other into the drywall.

This stapler actually hits a home-run with the TrimTex plastic and metal mesh cornerbead. Most guys in the field are currently using a pneumatic stapler or a Duofast ½” TS5000 crown T50 stapler to do this.

This stapler is NOT intended to use with the metal corner bead that has the triangles or circular hole in the center. In those cases We recommend drywall screws or another method.

Competitive Staplers

Makita 3/8” Crown Stapler

• Bare Tool (XTS01Z) $179
• Kit (XTS01) $449.99

the Makita is the only true pro brand competition to the M12 3/8” Crown Stapler

Arrow Cordless T50 Stapler

• Internal rechargeable 12v battery (T50DCD) $79.97
• Max staple length only ½” Not really a Pro solution.

M12 3/8” Crown Stapler (2447-21) Specification

•  Staple Range (1/4” – 9/16”)
•  Sequential and Contact Actuation
•  Dry Fire Lockout
•  Staple Leg Locating Arrows
•  Power Adjustment Dial
•  Length: 7.25” Weight: 3.5 lbs.
• 5 year warranty

Cost

The M12 stapler will cost

• $99.00 bare tool
• $149.00 kitted

The kit comes with:

•  M12 Crown Stapler
•  1.5ah Battery
•  M12 Charger
•  Contractor Ba

Comparably the Makita’s 18v kit is

• $ 179 bare tool
• $ 499 kitted

Overall Impression

We found the tool fast, easy and efficient to use. It completely and efficiently replaces a hand stapler without losing too much on the size. To me this equates to an efficient tool and one that is worth the investment.

Milwaukee M12 3/8” Crown Stapler Video Review

1 Comment

1. Brian Miller

   February 15, 2018 at 9:42 pm

   I’m a masonry contractor that specialized in stone veneer. I’m considering getting one of these for the felt paper and Airvent that I use under the stone veneer. Would this be something that I should invest in or should I just stick with a tack hammer. My one issue with a tack hammer is that if I don’t hit the felt paper right it tends put a small tear in it. I definitely don’t want that, it’s just another way for water to get in.

   Reply

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