DeWalt Wide Crown Lathing Stapler

I put the DeWalt wide‑crown stapler to work on a small run of exterior lath and a couple of interior furring jobs to see how it handles day‑to‑day site demands. A 1-inch crown stapler is a pretty specific tool, and this one is built for the job: 16‑gauge staples from 1/2 inch up to 2 inches, pneumatic power, and a focus on consistent drive and straightforward handling. Over a few days, I formed a clear picture of where it shines and where it could improve.

Design, balance, and build

At 4.5 pounds, this isn’t the lightest stapler in the category, but the weight is well balanced between the handle and the magazine. The overmolded rubber grip is genuinely helpful during longer sessions—especially when reaching and bracing overhead. The body is compact enough to fit between studs and along corners, with overall dimensions of 17.3 x 10.7 x 4.4 inches. It’s not a “micro” footprint, but it never held me back in typical lath layouts.

Fit and finish are solid. The controls move with positive feedback, and the magazine tolerances feel tight in a good way. The nose gives decent sightlines for positioning the crown exactly where you want it—especially important when attaching metal lath or fabric underlayments where fastener placement matters.

Setup and adjustments

The tool ships with the manual and not much else—don’t expect a case or oil in the box. Magazine capacity is 160 staples, and loading is quick and intuitive. The magazine spring offers enough tension to feed reliably without fighting you when you drop in a stick.

Two adjustments matter most on a wide‑crown stapler: depth and driving power. This model has both:
- An adjustable depth guide that keeps the crown consistently flush without relying entirely on line pressure.
- An adjustable power control valve with roughly 30% range to fine‑tune drive energy for different materials and staple lengths.

In practice, I found the power valve useful for dialing down force when moving from framing lumber to softer pine or sheathing, and for bumping it up when stepping into denser studs or thicker assemblies. The depth guide is accurate once set; however, it’s not a tool‑free change. Mine required a 4 mm hex key to dial in the stop (not included), which is fine if you tend to set it once per job, but inconvenient if you bounce between materials frequently.

Performance on site

I ran 1-inch crown staples in 3/4‑inch and 1‑1/2‑inch legs across a few materials: pine 2x, older fir studs, OSB sheathing, and galvanized metal lath. With the depth set properly and power adjusted to suit, the stapler drove flush and consistent. In pine and OSB, it was almost too easy to overdrive before I tuned the settings; dialing back the power valve and depth stop solved it. On older, denser studs, I bumped the power back up and had no trouble seating staples cleanly.

Cycle‑to‑cycle, the drive feels deliberate rather than snappy, which I prefer in a wide‑crown tool because it reduces the tendency to push the lath or wrap out of position as you move. The nose safety acted predictably, and recoil is minimal—enough to remind you it’s a 16‑gauge tool, but not enough to disrupt your rhythm.

As for jams, the “jam‑free” magazine is more of a design goal than a guarantee. With quality staples, I experienced only two stoppages across a few hundred shots, both with longer staples into a knotty section of a stud. Clearing was quick: pop the latch at the nose, remove the mangled fastener, confirm the driver is free, and go again. That’s normal in my experience with wide‑crown guns—even good ones jam occasionally when you push long legs into tough grain. The key is how easily you can clear it, and this one is straightforward.

One point worth noting: like most pneumatic staplers, it’s sensitive to staple quality. Off‑brand staples with rougher glue lines didn’t feed as smoothly and were more prone to misfeeds. Stick to well‑made, 1‑inch crown, 16‑gauge sticks and you’ll get the best results.

Ergonomics and control

Ergonomics are a strong suit. The grip is comfortable, and the tool balances nicely in the hand, whether you’re running it one‑handed or using the other hand to set and hold lath. The body shape lets you get close to corners and along edges without blocking your sightline. The exhaust isn’t aggressive, and noise is typical for a pneumatic stapler in this class.

I ran it off a small jobsite compressor without issue. Air demand didn’t outpace the compressor during steady work, though you’ll always feel a bit of lag if you try to rapid‑fire staples faster than your airline and tank can keep up. For lath and wrap, where placement matters more than speed, the cadence felt right.

Durability and maintenance

Over the test window, nothing loosened, leaked, or wandered out of adjustment. As with any pneumatic gun, a couple drops of oil at the start of the day are mandatory, and it pays to keep the nose clean of debris and fines from OSB or old framing. The magazine surfaces stayed smooth, and the spring didn’t bind when feeding the last few staples in a stick.

DeWalt’s warranty on this model is straightforward: 3‑year limited warranty, 1‑year free service, and 90‑day satisfaction guarantee. That’s respectable coverage for a tool that’s likely to see occasional jobsite abuse. If you’re buying one for a crew, the 90‑day window is a good time to make sure it plays nicely with the staples you plan to stock and the materials you see most.

Where it could improve

• Depth adjustment: Accuracy is good, but needing a 4 mm hex that isn’t included is a miss. A tool‑free dial would make this a better on‑site tool, especially when swapping between materials and leg lengths.
• Included kit: No case or oil in the box isn’t unusual, but at this price point a small bottle of oil and a hex key would be welcome.
• Tight‑space reach: While compact overall, the front profile isn’t as low as some specialty bodies. In extremely tight corners, you may still need to plan your fastening pattern to reach everything.

Use cases and staple selection

This stapler hits its stride on:
- Metal lath for stucco and stone veneer backers
- Foam board and housewrap where a wide crown distributes load
- Furring strips, underlayment, and light sheathing tasks
- Repair work where wide‑crown staples replace or augment older fasteners

For best results, match staple length to the substrate and consider the path into the wood. Long legs into dense studs can deflect or shear if you hit hard grain at an angle. If you’re seeing bent crowns or sheared legs, shorten the fastener, increase pilot angle control, or step up the power slightly and recheck depth. Good‑quality staples make a noticeable difference in feed reliability and drive consistency.

The bottom line

The DeWalt wide‑crown stapler is a capable, balanced tool with real adjustability where it counts. The adjustable power control and depth guide make it easy to tune for different materials and fastener lengths, and the 160‑staple magazine keeps you working longer between reloads. It’s comfortable in hand, easy to load, and jams are rare with decent staples—and quick to clear when they happen.

I’d recommend it for pros and serious DIYers who need a dedicated 1‑inch crown, 16‑gauge stapler for lath, wrap, and light sheathing tasks. The strengths—consistent drive, practical adjustments, and solid ergonomics—outweigh the drawbacks. Just budget for a hex key, stick with quality staples, and give yourself a short shakedown period to pair your air setup and staple choice to the tool. With that sorted, it’s a reliable performer that earns its spot on the job.