A friend of mine known here as *Ace Trapper* turned me on to an electric staple gun last week. We were talking on the phone discussing the time factor in coon put ups. Through out discussion we discovered that we were close in time on fleshing, but he was smoking me at boarding. He explained my need for an electric staple gun and how it would shave 2 plus minutes off my boarding time. I received my new electric staple gun from him last Friday and on the first night I picked up almost three minutes per coon in boarding by the end of the night. If a man is putting up a few coons, pins will work fine as I have used them now for three years and I put up a lot of coons. This year alone I have put up close to 400 as I process coons for other trappers. I don’t know how in the world I ever made it pushing those pins. My goal has always been 10 coons a night after work and maybe 15 on a good night. Last Saturday evening I boarded 25 coons. Now if I can find an easier way to flesh then. LOL. If you are boarding a lot of coons every year, I would highly recommend investing in an electric staple gun. *Ace Trapper* can hook you up with a nice Stanley gun and tell you what staples you will need to use. I called him the first night and told him “I loved him” for make my job so much easier. I sure wish I would have known about that Stanley when I made that fleshing video earlier this year. I may make another one next year and show how I use the gun to board coons. That electric staple gun is best thing since, well, since the MB-550 came out or Paul made Purrrfect. I wrote once about the mechanization of trapping in modern times and I know for sure now, I am getting mechanized in the business. I can not tell you enough how much simpler this has made boarding a coon. I know it will also work on beaver. I have not done one yet, but I can see where it will work. Thank so much Todd. Ace is the place for the helpful hardware man.

I keep wearing the dang staple guns out. Went thru 2 this year. Somebody was telling me about using an air staple gun with a pan cake compressor.
The electric gun I have now is all metal construction in the loading and shooting area. The only problem I had with it is, the dang spot welds came loose on the staple guide.
Let me know how long your electric gun last. Staple gun is the only way to board coons.
Now then, what have you got to pull the staples with? I use a pair of dikes that I ground off one side so the cutters lay flat enough to get under the hide and pop the staples out.
Takes about 2 minutes or less to pur the staples in and about the same amt. of time to pull them.

Don, Todd hooked me up with 17/32" CT staples and I don't drive them in all the way. I use catfish skinning plier to put them. The head is sticking out enough to grab and I just pull them out. I will find out how fast it is tomorrow night when I start pulling them off the boards.

Have you priced your staples yet? I use t-50 staples that are 3/8 long and also use t-50 that are 1/2 in long. I can buy the t-50 staple for about 11 bucks for 5000 if I buy the 3/8 in length. Can't find the 1/2 in in 5000 boxes and if I remember correct they are about 2.80 for a box of 1200. I like the 1/2 in. better because they are easier to grab onto, but the 3/8 or cheaper and I got thru loads of staples each year.

I would NOT put up fur using boards with out a stapler. I tend to go threw them as well Don.

I'm a stapler as well, but I took a flat screwdriver and cut a slot in the end of it. I then bent the end on a 45 degree angle about an inch from the end. It prys out the staples easy. I've been using the manual stapler, but been considering the electric ones.

manual stapler

Ouch my hands hurt just from reading that !!

I have had to go to occupational therapy for my hands getting bad from using a knife so much during the fur season. I couldn't imagine using a manual stapler.

I use a cordless Arrow stapler. First year using it. Eliminates the cord in the way. Don't know how they last, but I put up a little over 400 coon, a few beaver and otter with it. I like the 9/16 staples. Leaves plenty sticking up to get a hold of and speeds up taking them off the boards.

I have used all three types of staplers.(Manual,Cordless,and electric)Electric seems to work best for me.

And I have tried all the lengths of staples.But I have to agree with Clay,the 9/16"work best.They leave just a little more sticking up so you can get them back out.

Anyone use the electric stapler on beaver? If so, how does it work for ya.

Tony......I'm still waiting on them fur shed pics you promised!!! Can't believe I ain't even gona get to lay my hands on all them hides before you ship them off Saturday.

I have been using electric staplers on beaver and coon for the last eight years. It was introduced to me by Phil Patchkins from Canada it has saved me countless hours in the shed. I use stanley or arrow guns 9/16 round head staples. There is extra expence using staples over nails but for me the time saved is worth it.

1/2 inch staples. tilt the stapler on a 45 degree angle. found the real long needle nose pliers with the curved tips work best for removing them.

The 2 electrics that I tried kept jamming and I ended up going to a manual. Any tips on what I was doing wrong with the electrics?

Also, Are you guys pleating the tails and the skirts on your coons? Seems like it would be easy to miss some of the staples(in the pleats)when pulling them off the boards??

I use an electric stapler on beaver. It works great! I have used the stapler on coon too, but I still like seeing the pins on coon. If I have alot of coon to board, I will staple them, otherwise I still use pins.

what do you use to remove the staples out of the beaver boards?

what do you use to remove the staples out of the beaver boards?

A cheaper fur comb use it like a crowbar. The staple rake looks nice but cost is around $50.

90% of the time its the hammer hanging up. Clean and lube it and your back in action.

how much faster do you think it is than pulling nails?

Not faster than pulling nails but faster to tack them out with staples vs hammering nails. In the end a stapler is faster for me.

nails chew up a board much faster than staples as well.