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| Titan TTB517STP nailer/stapler loaded with 22mm galvanised staples |
The Titan TTB517-STP Nailer Stapler from Screwfix is listed on their web site as being rated for 25mm, 18 Gauge brad nails and 22mm staples, but in fact it comes marked for sizes 15mm to 32mm and I have used 32mm brads and 15mm and 22mm staples without problem.
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| The machine is marked 15mm through 32mm |
The machine costs just £34.99 inclusive of VAT, plus postage from Screwfix and comes with a two year warranty. If you spend £50 or more at the same time, then postage is free.
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| The Titan nailer/stapler comes with a 2 year warranty |
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| Body colour is grey, controls are a contrasting yellow. |
The firing button is the yellow switch forward on the hand grip, which is comfortable to use.
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| The safety catch for the magazine is easy to open and close |
The nails and or staples are loaded into a spring lock magazine on the bottom of the machine. Before loading make sure the power is turned off. Loading is simple and straightforward. Depress the locking safety catch to release and the magazine pops open. Load the nails or staples making sure the tips are pointing down. Then carefully push the gate shut until the catch locks. The magazine will take the long strips that come in a typical suppliers box
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| Tacwise brads and staples in suppliers boxes |
but it will also take an assortment of broken strips, so if you have the misfortune to drop them, don't worry. I bought Tacwise nails and staples from Amazon, but these had been packed badly and the staples arrived with a burst box and broken strips of staples everywhere!
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| Amazon did not pack these Tacwise staples properly and the box burst in transit |
When using the nailer I always wear safety glasses and ear defenders, as whilst the machine is generally quiet, when you fire in a nail, at that moment, it is very loud indeed and ear protection must be worn.
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| Safety kit when using the nailer includes safety glasses and ear defenders |
In a previous article about making the mitre saw station, I showed the nailer being used to pin 18mm plywood together for glue up and the nailer punches the nails in cleanly below the surface, as long as I keep some top pressure on the machine with my other hand.
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| Using the TTB5175SFP as a nailer with 32mm brads |
For the chicken run that I am building this comprises a number of 4 foot x 3 foot frames, clad with 18 Gauge galvanised mesh and the stapler has been brilliant adding one staple ever two inches. Much easier and quicker than the old method of hammer and staples!
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| Stapling 18Ga galvanised weld mesh onto wooden frames |
I had heard of other low budget nailers that were prone to jamming, but during both nailing and stapling, although the machine has been worked quite hard at times, I have not suffered a jam.
As you can tell I am very pleased with this nailer/stapler, but it does have one rather annoying feature, which I have had to work around.
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| A piece of red insulating tape makes for a good sight mark |
There really is no accurate mark for placing either nail, or staple and to start with I found this rather frustrating and a lot of staples missed their mark! To overcome this problem I attached some red insulating tape to show the nail slot as I look down on the work piece, now I have no problem placing my nails, or staples first time, every time. Why it did not come with something like this, who can say? It is a shame as a simple aiming mark, would have been so easy to apply at point of manufacture.
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| With the corners stapled it is easy to cut the wire ready for the next frame |
In conclusion, I think the TTB5175 STP is a great addition to the workshop and at this price point great value for money.
