Arrow Fastener T50 Heavy Duty Staple Gun

The Verdict

Some tools are disposable. You buy them, use them twice, and they end up in a drawer next to three rolls of mismatched tape. The Arrow T50 is not that tool. I’ve seen these things survive basement floods, garage reorganizations, and 15 years of holiday decorations being stapled back into wooden beams. At $20, it’s the rare budget tool that outlasts the projects you bought it for.

What You Actually Get

The box contains the staple gun itself and a small pack of T50 staples to get you started (usually 1,000-count, though Arrow occasionally swaps the included staple count). That’s it. No carrying case, no extra magazine, no gloves. The gun is 9 inches long, weighs 1.4 pounds, and features a chrome-finished steel body with a textured grip. It accepts all T50-series staples ranging from 1/4-inch to 9/16-inch leg lengths — the most common size for upholstery, insulation, and general woodwork.

Performance and Build Quality

The T50’s party trick is its power-to-effort ratio. The heavy-duty spring delivers enough force to sink a 9/16-inch staple flush into pressure-treated lumber — something cheaper guns struggle with. I’ve reupholstered dining chair seats, stapled vapor barrier to studs, and tacked down cable runs along baseboards. It handles all of it without bending staples or leaving them proud of the surface.

The all-steel channel is the reason this gun has survived since 1972. Unlike the plastic-channel competition that cracks after a few thousand cycles, the T50’s metal feed track stays aligned and feeds consistently. The jam-release mechanism on the bottom is a genuine lifesaver — when a staple misfeeds (and it will, eventually), you flip the release, pull out the bent staple, and you’re back to work in under a minute.

One thing buyers consistently mention: the grip. It’s rubberized and contoured, but after 200-plus staples overhead on ceiling insulation, your hand will feel it. The trigger pull is heavy — roughly 15 pounds of resistance — which gives you control but also contributes to fatigue on long jobs.

What Buyers Consistently Praise

With 4,846 ratings at 4.5 stars, the pattern is clear. One reviewer put it simply: “Bought this in 1989, used it for every home project since, and it still works like day one.” Another noted, “I’ve gone through three cheap staple guns from the hardware store. This one outlasted all of them combined.” The reliability story repeats across hundreds of reviews — people who bought it for one project and kept it for decades.

Where It Falls Short

Let’s be honest about the flaws. There’s no staple-level indicator window, so you’ll occasionally run dry mid-staple and stare at the surface wondering why nothing’s happening. You check by pressing the push rod — it’s awkward but workable.

The T50 is also not a finish nailer. If you’re doing fine trim work or attaching delicate moldings, the impact force is too aggressive and can split thin wood. That’s what the Arrow T50-2 (the light-duty version) is for. And the included staples are basic chisel-point — fine for general use, but you’ll want to buy divergent-point staples for hardwood applications to prevent splitting.

Who Should Buy This

Buy it if you’re a homeowner tackling furniture reupholstery, insulation, window screens, or general workshop duties. It’s also ideal for landlords or property managers who need a reliable tool that won’t die mid-job. Skip it if you’re a professional upholsterer doing 8-hour days, or if you need precision fastening for delicate trim work — those jobs warrant a pneumatic or electric option.

FAQ

Q: Can it drive staples into drywall? A: No. The T50 is designed for wood, thin metal, and fabric. Drywall staples require a different tool, and the T50 will just punch through the paper.

Q: Does it work on oak or other hardwoods? A: Yes, but use divergent-point staples and pre-drill for very dense woods. The gun has the power, but standard chisel-point staples can bend on ultra-hard grain.

Q: What’s the maximum staple length? A: 9/16-inch. For anything longer, you need a T50-2 or a pneumatic stapler.

The Verdict

Rating: 4.6/5

The Arrow T50 is the definition of buy-once, cry-never. It’s not flashy, not cordless, not smart. It’s a mechanical tool that does exactly one thing — drive T50 staples — and does it with the kind of durability that’s vanishingly rare at this price point. The lack of a staple indicator and the hand fatigue from the heavy trigger cost it half a star, but for $20, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better value in any hardware store aisle.

Buy it if you want a staple gun that’ll outlive your current house. Skip it if you need precision or ergonomics for professional daily use.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.