What are some common causes of wood splitting 16 gauge wide crown staples?

Here are some common causes of wood splitting with 16 gauge wide crown staples:

Using too long of a staple for the thickness of the wood

The legs of the staple need to be shorter than the thickness of the material to avoid puncturing through.

Driving staples too close to the edge of a board

Edges need at least 3/8″ distance to avoid splitting along the wood grain.

Hitting knots in the wood

The dense irregular grain around knots can cause splitting if staples are driven near them. Avoid areas with knots.

Using staples on dense hardwoods

Hardwoods like oak are more prone to splitting than softwoods. Consider pre-drilling holes before stapling.

Moisture content

Wood that is too wet (above 15% moisture content) will split more easily when stapled. Allow wet wood to fully dry first.

Driving staples at too steep of an angle

Use a staple gun perpendicular to the wood, rather than at an angle, to prevent tearing along the grain.

Poor grain orientation

Stapling across the wood grain is more likely to cause splitting than with the grain. Orient staples with the wood grain.

Using too much pressure

Let the staple gun do the work. Excessive pressure is unnecessary and risks splitting.

Damaged or misaligned staple gun – Problems with the stapler itself can lead to uneven staple driving and splitting. Inspect for issues.