Cube Mark One Run

[thelurch]

Right, got all my materials for making my WIR, have just taken delivery of 2 rolls of 900mm wide 1"x 1" squared 16g wire mesh.

 

I need advice on staples etc to attach to frames.

 

What staples are best to use? I've seen different size U shape nail/staples and I've also seen an electric nail gun which takes staples, a Stanley 550 to be precise.

 

How are people doing it? With a hammer and standard U nails or with a gun?

I'm not going to have access to a trade nail gun so it will be the one above or similar if I go that route.

 

I am tempted to buy the electric gun but the staples are traditional shape staples in different depths but I don't want to buy it and find it's not up to the job, ie I have a fear that it would fire a staple in so far but might need an extra tap with a hammer to fully bang in, thus making the gun pointless!

 

And also what's the best distance apart for the staples? I appreciate the more the better but it would be good to get a rough idea on number required.

 

What are peoples experiences?

 

EDIT:

 

Sorry forgot the other question! I have some 6" profile pvc roofing and I understand that you screw through the "hiils" instead of the "dips" and its best to get the packs with screws and a rubber grommet for the screw to go through and then a rubber cap to pop on top to seal.

 

Has anyone found just the rubber bits for sale on their own? as all I have found is packs made by ariel plastics which is designed for a 3" profile so the supplied screws would not be long enough.

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[sjp]

I use type 90 or 91 narrow crown staples I've got an air stapler did try ordenary square staples when I'd run out of the others but didn't think they were going to hold right

as for the big six sheets yes you fix through the hill you'll need to find a rooflight supplier if you want just the washers

this is the type I'd use but I've got access to them

http://www.selfdrillingscrew.co.uk/carbon_steel/fibre_cement_timber1.htm

the only other option is to buy longer screws to replace the ones that come with the cups and caps

[thelurch]

thanks for that, have looked into an electric nail gun that will fire "91" staples and found a tacwise 191EL for around the £50 mark. Although I didnt want to spend out on an electric nail gun, I can see loads of things that this would be very useful for after building the WIR.

 

What length of staples did you find the best?

[Lewis]

Just to say, you could always hire one if you only needed it for a few days

[thelurch]

there is that too! but now I have the idea of getting a new power toy.. I mean tool! to play with and I could use it for an awful lot of jobs after.

[Redwing]

I just used a heavy duty staple gun from Homebase and the staples that come with it, that seemed to do the job and the stables go in tightly if you put the tip on the wood with the stapler at a 45 degree angle, the staples then go through the wood grains diagonally giving a tighter grip

 

I didnt need to hammer the staples in, they went in to the wood no problems

 

there is a definite knack to using a staple gun, it took me a couple of panels to get it right

 

My run has been up a year, no rusty staples as yet but I do check it every month or so

 

I stapled every second or third square on the bottom half and every three or four on the top half

[sjp]

thanks for that, have looked into an electric nail gun that will fire "91" staples and found a tacwise 191EL for around the £50 mark. Although I didnt want to spend out on an electric nail gun, I can see loads of things that this would be very useful for after building the WIR.

 

What length of staples did you find the best?

I used 16mm

I was going to buy the 191EL but as I'd allready got air nailers I went with the air stapler

[thelurch]

Thanks all for the very useful replies, this is a very friendly and helpful forum

 

After a couple of hours of research based on the info given here I've found that wicks do a pack of 100 of just the sealing washers for covering screws in the PVC sheeting.

 

Looks like I will buy the tacwise 191EL as they sell it at Argos for £50 and I have £50 vouchers . I looked into hiring one but was looking at about £30 for a weekend.

 

Just got to get going on the run now