Alternative Stapler Usage?

Question

I have allways wondered why you can rotate the plate on the stapler to make it flare the ends of the staple out instead of crimp them inward. The only use i found of was back in school to do this to piss your teacher off. But what is it really for? Billy, In So Cal

Answer 1

The other setting, the one that splays the staple points outward, is for temporarily attaching papers that are intended to be separated again. The attachment is looser, and it's easier to remove the staple without chewing up the corners of the pages.

Before the advent of mechanical staplers, papers were often hooked together with a seamstress's ordinary straight pin-- a thin metal shaft, sharpened at one end and with some sort of stopper at the other. That mysterious alternate setting on a mechanical stapler is a holdover from the straight-pin days. In fact, in the insider lingo of the desk-stapler professional, you're stapling papers if you use the common setting, but you're pinning them if you use the temporary setting. The base plate is called the anvil.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure that there's no real use. It's not like staplers were made to have the plate flipped. People just get bored and find different things to do with everyday objects that will amuse them for a while.

Answer 3

For temporary stapling- it is very east to remove the outward staples.

Answer 4

Actually you have it correct. All staplers come with the additonal "gag" accessory so that they can be used for both business and pleasure.

Answer 5

Wow! I have always wondered why but never had the courage to ask.. Thank you>>>>

Answer 6

It makes it much easier to remove the staple............

Answer 7

One setting is for an "inny" and the other setting is for an "outie"

Answer 8

good question, watch you'll get no answers cuz this one actually requires the brain not Wikipedia! lol