Hand Tools: Hammer tacker

Reviewed by:
Scott Gibson, Contributing Editor

Conventional squeeze-type hand staplers are more precise, but a hammer tacker is ideal when speed and ease of operation are more important than exact staple placement. Such uses include securing batt insulation, building felt, housewrap and polyethylene sheeting.

This hammer tacker sets a 5/16", 3/8", or 1/2" staple with a single swing of the arm, which helps explain why Arrow calls the HT50 The Tomahawk. Staples are loaded at the rear of the tool. It takes two strips (170) of type T50 staples.

This is a heavy duty tool that will take a lot of abuse. It was available on line in September 2004 for as little as $42.