Customer Reviews
Good for around the house 
2008-04-21
I would consider this far from a "Heavy Duty Professional" staple gun but it works well enough for the price. The main problem so far as been a tendency for it to jam frequently. My wife has used it for some very light duty upholstery work and really enjoyed it, until she called me to unjam it. I would still recommend the product, just don't set your expectations too high for it.
Don't waste time or money! 
2008-04-20
I tested the stapler with 5 staples when I first received it. A few days later I used it and after only 2 staples it jammed! I could not un-jam the stapler and had to finish the project using my old faithfull manual stapler. And to answer the customer service question here, YES I did use Arrow T50 staples!
jam proof???? 2008-04-11
company motto is this stape gun is jam proof..well i used for the first time...Guess what it jammed ..I mean JAMMED..i WAS NOT GOING TO TALE IT A PART...THEY GIVE YOU A DETAILED INSTUTION'S..ON HOW TO TAKE IT APART..NOT FOR ME...I RETURNED THE JAM ONE FOR A NEW ONE..P.S, I FOUND OUT YOU CAN ONLY PUT A SINGLE STAPLE ROW THAT IS CONNECTED..NEVER USE LIKE THREE SMALLER ROW OF STAPLE'S TOGETHIER...GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR
JAM PROFF STAPLE GUN..
Broke after 200 staples 2008-04-04
I bought this stapler based on the brand. I have had good experiences with Arrow in the past and my current manual stapler is very solid. I have a bunch of stapling to do, installing insulation in my attic. The stapler worked quite well for the first 200 or so staples, but then quit working. It would actuate, but the hammer wouldn't move. Turns out, the part that connects the electric plunger to the hammer broke. Upon inspection, it doesn't look like a particularly good design (I'm a mechanical engineer). Other users don't seem to have the problem, and I was very impressed with the stapler prior to its demise. Perhaps this was an anomaly.
When I called Arrow, I thought they would send out a replacement part and I'd be on my way again fairly quickly. Instead, they told me to contact the seller. I did, and Amazon very quickly sent me an RMA and mailing label. I'm returning the tool and am not going to replace it.
Case Study in Bad Design 2008-02-17
This machine is a case study in bad design. I wonder once again, if tool designers ever actually try using what they sell.
1. The gun jammed very frequently, particularly when new. Some WD40 and wear eventually helped, but I'd still get a jam about every other stick of staples.
2. To clear a jam required a screwdriver, wrench or nutdriver, and often a pliers. You have to remove a small bolt and nut - why they couldn't have just threaded the slide I have no idea. So don't try it up on a ladder or such where you can drop those pieces and lose them.
3. You can't see how many staples are left in the gun. A simple window in the side of the magazine would be great. A real PITA when going working on a ladder, holding something above your head and ... damn, out of staples.
4. To add staples you have to completely remove the slide mechanism from the machine, find someplace to put it, then slide the staples in. Note point above - if there are two many staples left in the machine (which you can't see), you won't be able to close the slide and will have to remove some.
5. It frequently overdrove 3/8" staples when hanging insulation. Punched them right through the paper. No reason or pattern apparent and no adjustment possible.
6. It outright died after hanging only about 300 ft^2 of insulation. Just stopped working. And I was glad to see it go so I could return the carcass and get something better.
I replaced this with the Powershot Pro from Home Depot for about $15 less. It is much better on all of the above counts - well, can't comment on longevity yet, it's done about 300 ft^2 so far also. Only 1 jam in that time - popped the slide with one hand, and it cleared.
Very poor design 2007-11-10
Professional Electric Staple/Brad Nail Gun With Blow Molded Case.
Excellent: very comfortable and easy to use 
2007-10-13
This tool is a must. After using it for one year, I'm never going back to a manual stapler. Not only it requires less effort than the hand powered stapler, but the electric stapler is much more reliable, more accurate accurate and much faster.
The tool is primary a stapler, but it can shoot small brad nails, which is very convenient. However, the short brad nails are only useful for very small projects.
The tool jams from time to time, like any stapler, but the feeding channel is easily disassembled to clear the jam. Jamming has never been an issue, but I don't know whether the jams are more frecuent than with other staplers. The shooting mechanism is made of thick steel, and it looks very robust.
Well designed and powerful 
2007-04-21
Arrow Fastener ETFX 50 Heavy Duty Professional Electric Staple and Nail Gun
I bought this staple gun for my wife to use when installing insulation as part of a whole house renovation. Her hand isn't strong enough to use a manual stapler for very long. It also works well for chair upholstering and similar chores.
Pros:
- It's sufficiently powerful to drive 9/16" staples into hardwood.
- No misfires, jams, double-staples, etc.; after firing many thousands of staples.
- It fires BN1810 nails (5/8" 18 gauge brad nails), but since I own two air-pin-nailers, we didn't try this tool's nailer capability.
- Sufficiently light, well balanced, and a nice handle, to use all day with comfort.
- You can staple to the edge in a corner, since nothing on the tool protrudes beyond the "muzzle".
- The staple magazine and the locking slide is all steel. It works easily every time, and it's intuitive.
- The 10' cord results in no extension cord most of the time.
- A parts list is provided, with reasonable prices.
- The blow-molded case actually works pretty well, and protects the tool when carrying or storing. There's some room for spare staples or nails, but not much.
- Takes 6 sizes of T50 staples (1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 1/2", 9/16", 17/32").
- It's electric with a 100% duty cycle, which means it can used it all day with no breaks. Also, no air-compressor (and hose) is needed.
Cons:
- Although it holds a normal supply of staples, it's so easy to shoot them, they run out quickly. A larger magazine would have been nice.
- The tool will fire if it's empty, which it shouldn't do. However, the staple view port makes it easy to see if the gun's loaded, so to speak.
- If Arrow is so confident in their tools, why only a 90-day warranty?
Other:
- There's some recoil, but it's minor, and as long as the business end of the tool is held firmly against the wood, the staple seats all the way. Another stapler sufficiently heavy to eliminate most recoil wouldn't be as comfortable to use all day. If the tool is held weakly against the wood, the tool recoil might keep the staple from seating (i.e., operator error).
- Arrow rates this tool at 10-amp with a 14-amp surge. "Surge amps" can be misleading for tools like vacuum cleaners or circular saws, since normal running amps is the important number. However, an electric stapler's entire cycle lasts about 1/4 of a second, so surge amperage is the key indicator of power. This thing draws lots of amps; a staple hit a nail head once and tripped a 20 amp circuit breaker.
Summary:
This is a fine electric stapler.
Arrow Fastener ETFX 50 Heavy Duty Professional Electric Staple and Nail Gun 2007-03-23
Good product, I would recommend it.
ETFX 50 - Love/Hate Relationship 
2007-02-12
I'm an avid diy'er and purchased one these at the local home center about one year ago. I have primarily used this for insulation and cathedral ceiling baffles. When it decides to work...there is no finer tool for the job. The trigger pull is awesome and there is absolutely no hand fatigue after hours of use. BUT...lately it only fires when it feels like it. It may shoot five staples perfectly, and then die for the next 20 trigger pulls -- extremely frustrating, especially when standing on a 12' ladder. Unfortunately the warranty is only 90 days; I think for the price they charge it should be at least a year.
Some other notes...
You'll need a decent extension cord (12gauge or better); it doesn't run so well on light-gauge cords -- the staples will not sink flush. I also wish the magazine/clip that holds the staples was longer; it goes empty real quick -- at least it use to...when it fired properly...
Now I'm using the Arrow staple hammer, which I love. It is very fast and holds twice the staples, but it's not nearly as precise as the FX50 and often tears the vapor barrier...
