Staplers

[Moonhead]

Ok, bear with me while I try and explain exactly what I'm on about! On a stapler, an average sized one that you get in your office, it has a metal plate below where the arm comes down to staple the paper. If you turn the metal plate one way, it staples things normally by tucking the staple into the paper, but if you swizzle it around the other way, it staples it with the ends folded out. What is the purpose of it being able to do that? As I've just tried stapling paper together the "turned out" way, and it doesnt work properly. I hope you understand what I'm on about! Thanks :)

[jenstar]

It's supposed to be easier to remove a staple that's done "outwards".

[andy hughes]

i think it's to be used as half-way between a paper clip and a staple - it will hold papers together, but can be removed without ruining one's manicure.

[molly]

If I've understood you correctly, then you can staple posters to walls with the metal plate turned outwards.

[jenky]

only if you can fit the poster, and the wall in the jaws of the stapler ...?

[smudge]

It can be used like a miniture staple gun, the way you are describing it.

[Gef]

I think molly is correct. You open out the stapler and then you can staple things to pinboards, soft walls etc.

[smudge]

Yes, like a staple gun!

[stevie21]

If molly is correct, then you'd have to do as jenky says and fit them all in the jaws of the stapler - Gef etc is describing using only half of the stapler without the part that forms the main part of the original question.

[paulz]

Moonhead means the metal base plate [usually chrome] that shapes the underside of the staple. As others have saidWhen the ends of the staple are folded inwards, the papers are fixed quite firmly. When the ends are folded outwards, it's a temporary hold, and the staple is easier to remove. Most staplers will allow you to fix things to pin-boards etc if opened out flat

[molly]

Jenky, I am not so thick that I think you can "only if you can fit the poster, and the wall in the jaws of the stapler". As I am sitting here at my pc I have several posters around me fixed to the wall with a stapler (as the others have said.... "like a miniture staple gun") As I said, you turn the metal plate out.

[rinkytink]

Well you learn something new everyday. How did you discover this function on the stapler Moonhead ? Bit bored in the office yesterday ?? :)

[Moonhead]

Rinkytink- I have a genuine enthusiasm for office equipment... Naaa, its called pre-holiday work apathy! :o)

[blythkeith]

Turning the plate around, you'll find that you can hold a thicker wad of paper together than you can with a "folded-in" staple. People like Molly (no offence!) who suggest that turning the plate around will allow you to staple things to walls are just not thinking the question through - Jenky and Steve21 are right about that...

[BenDToy]

Molly and Gef have misunderstood the question. They are referring to opening up the jaws of the stapler, and using only the top part. Moonhead is describing, (quite clearly as it happens) spinning the striker plate around, still using both parts of the stapler as normal ie closing the jaws against each other. I hope this helps (but I suspect it doesn't!) ;-)

[Headtime]

Who put my stapler in Jelly?

[Potatoman]

dont know, put him in custard-y! DB