Fasco Model F1B 7C-16 Pneumatic Stapler — Review

© 2012 Peter Free

 

10 May 2012

 

 

Fasco model F1B 7C-16 — recommended for upholstery

 

This Italy-made pneumatic tool works exactly as it should inside its recommended pressure range, 60 to 100 pounds per square inch.  Yesterday, I reupholstered 6 dining room chairs without a jam.

 

The Fasco is easy to load.  It does not care whether one loads complete strips of staples or just segments of a strip.

 

The stapler gets out of the user’s way and does its job without a fuss.

 

 

Fasco’s many pneumatic tools

 

Fasco is a subsidiary of the Beck Fastener Group.  The company manufacturers a series of pneumatic staplers, bradders, pinners, and nailers.

 

You can see the variety of choices and specifications at Fasco America, here.

 

Note

 

Fasco America provides surprisingly complete specifications for each model.  This data includes air consumption (in liters) and pressures (in PSI and bars).  These are listed in “technical sheet” PDFs.

 

To get to this information, go here.  Click on "Light." Then click on “Detail” at the bottom of each model’s dedicated box on the page.  The link will take you to a more detailed page that contains links to technical sheets, instruction manuals, and diagrams.

 

 

What does each model number mean?

 

The last four alpha-numerics in the “F1B 7C-16” model number refer to the staple type (“7C” staples) and length (6 to 16 millimeters).

 

 

Link to a video that demonstrates how to use the Fasco stapler

 

Professional upholsterer, Kris Charlebois — who owns Charlebois Fabrics and DIY Upholstery Supply  with his wife — posted a You Tube instructional video for the stapler, here.

 

It is worth watching.

 

Notice that even someone as experienced as Mr. Charlebois is almost stapled his finger.  Which leads us to the only criticism of the Fasco stapler that some people will have.

 

 

The only significant criticism that some people might have — the safety trigger

 

This Fasco stapler uses a safety trigger immediately adjacent to the unit’s operating trigger.  When depressed, the safety lever simply pivots a block out from under the stapler’s actual trigger, so that the latter can operate.

 

Some people will find this design annoying.  It requires using the index and middle fingers of one hand to operate the gun.  This makes the user’s operating grip slightly awkward, especially for people with large hands or fingers.

 

Fasco probably intended the awkwardness.  It forces users to intend to fire the gun.

 

For those who do not like the safety feature, which would probably be the majority of experienced upholsters, it looks as if one can simply cut the trigger-blocking arm off.

 

 

Poor generic instruction manual

 

The included instruction manual is mostly useless.  It is not specific to the stapler.  And its operation portion lacks illustrations of any kind.

 

A parts and specifications diagram is provided as an insert, but neither serves the instructional purpose that Mr. Charlebois’ video does.

 

 

Recommended without reservations

 

The Fasco F1B 7C-16 works extremely well.  It is a quality tool.