: Interesting, while driving 9/16 staples though 4mm ash, the
: electric way out preformed the manual. I can only imagine it
: will be as good or better than the manual in the softer cedar.
: Good to have both in case I need to make a nice stapler broth
: later on.
+1
After reading Bill's post, I headed for the basement and fired some 9/16 Ceiltile staples through 1/4" WRC into MDF.
The results were the same as I remembered from the last time I used a manual stapler for strip construction.
Two different (older) Arrow manual staplers would not drive the staples flush. (BTW, this can be useful in some spots-easier to pull and hold 'well enough'.)
The one surviving electric stapler here (cheap knockoff 'Powerfast'(?)) drove the staples flush.
There are lots of variables here- form material, thickness of strips (I recall Bill may use 3/16?), brand (and possibly age) of stapler, etc.
So, what works in one shop 'system' may not work in another.
You can vary penetration by using shorter/longer staples, though there's not much leeway till you are not securing the strips.

Most of the electrics I've owned were not very reliable- 'brand name' seemed to be no indicator.
The plastic housing around the 'hammer' area seems to warp/fail in some of them.