Bulletproof Stapler?

July 11, 2006 3:59 PM

Anyone know of a solid, reliable stapler with a mounting point for a security chain or cable?

We need to provide a stapler for students, but cheap ones break and good ones go missing. I'm looking for a sturdy stapler with a built-in mounting point for some sort of security cable or chain. Bonus points if connecting such a security device also prevents the staples from being removed.

posted by krisjohn to Work & Money (11 answers total)

I have one of these and it is badass. It's metal, so you could easily drill a small hole in the top and run a small chain through it. The bad news is that it takes "high capacity" staples (but I still use it for a few sheets) and it doesn't prevent the staples from being removed. However, it is rugged and will put up with a ton of abuse without wimping out like most staplers. Plus the ability to staple 60 sheets is helpful too.
posted by mullacc at 4:18 PM on July 11, 2006

Ooo! I have the stapler that mullacc links to. I LOVE it, but anytime someone has to borrow it they have to ask me how to use it. How to use a stapler. I would maybe look for something that's a little more straightforward.
posted by Coffeemate at 4:35 PM on July 11, 2006

At the lab I work at we have these metal bracket things with this heavy duty adhesive on one side and a hole that you loop security cables through. These can be attached to anything and supposedly take hundreds of pounds of force to seperate once the adhesive has bonded.

So if you had something like that your search might not be as limited.
posted by asterisk at 4:37 PM on July 11, 2006

The company Tufnut sells a wide variety of inexpensive security cables and anchors. They sell the security plates that asterisk mentioned, both self-adhesive and super-glue varieties.
posted by RichardP at 4:53 PM on July 11, 2006

I use those adhesive security loops for computer equipment but they cost more than a heavy duty stapler. We use a piece of small loop chain and just pop rivet it to the stapler. The other end is screwed to the table. I've only lost one stapler in 5 years using this method.

Mostly you are just trying to keep the honest people honest. Also you want to stop staff from taking the staplers into classes and not returning them. We do the same for 3-hole punches.

I'll check what brand and model of stapler we use tomorrow.
posted by Mitheral at 5:37 PM on July 11, 2006

You want this, and a drill.
posted by flabdablet at 7:02 PM on July 11, 2006

The potential for Office Space related comments is enormous ;)
posted by sprocket87 at 7:46 PM on July 11, 2006

You want a plier stapler, I think.
posted by baylink at 9:44 PM on July 11, 2006

I've dealt with this in Compute Labs before:

Get a heavy electric stapler that nobody's going to think of picking up, and nobody's going to break or try to steal the staples out of.

For locking either:

• If it has an integral cord, lock that to the table or whatever anchor you want. or
• Use a superglue-style lock eyelet + plastic coated braided steel cable. The self-adhesive ones require too much surface area to stick, are too easy to remove, and easily leave a gooey mess on the object once removed.

posted by blasdelf at 11:12 PM on July 11, 2006

Response by poster: As it happens, I own a red Swingline. It doesn't have any existing spots suitable for mounting a cable, and even finding a spot to drill a hole is tricky, but an adheasive bracket might work, thanks for that suggestion.

Those plier staplers look good, but I can't see anywhere that looks like a mounting point for a security cable, and we're already installing a desk in the area, so a normal stapler will be fine.

Thanks for all your help.
posted by krisjohn at 11:33 PM on July 11, 2006

We use a Rapid Classic 2. You can see the chain and pop rivet we use to secure the stapler end. The other end is just a 2" wood screw with washer thru the chain and into the leg of the desk.
posted by Mitheral at 7:28 AM on July 12, 2006