1-1/2" Foamboard Staples, 200/box

I looked at both these and pex rails, couldn't justify the cost of the stapler for just one job and installed my system using the pex rails. They were handy for getting even spacing and making quick adjustments in spacing, loop position, etc. But they didn't seem very secure considering that there would be people tramping on them while they were hidden during the concrete pour. Some of the loop ends were high enough off the floor that it looked like a foot could catch them and easily yank them loose. So I took a chance on ordering a 200 box of these staples - that I could use them without the stapler. Worked great. Just hold the staple legs together against the tubing and tap the staple in with a hammer. I put in almost the whole box that way - a couple on each loop end and one anchoring the mid-point between rails for every run. They went in easily, held weld, and there were no surprises during the pour. If I ever do another job like this again, this is exactly how I would do it. You could also use just the staples, and I think they would hold well, but it would be more work to get straight parallel runs with even spacing, and more difficult to make adjustments after the staples had been driven. With the rails you can easily unsnap and move the tubing around to get the layout you want.

I purchased a Malco foam stapler because malco has been my HVAC tool of choice through out my 50 year career. I have never been more disappointed than I am with both the stapler and the staples neither worked very well the stapler would not shoot the staples out straight they would tip out every time the push hmmer engaged with them resulting in repeated jamming I finally attached a small block of wood to guide the staples more correctly in the stapler which helped some but the staples would not stay connected in the feeder magazine resulting in two staples being in the chamber at the same time resulting in a lot of damaged staples. Wasting about 400 staples before the job was finished. A lot of added time messing with a tool and staples that simply did not work tight not to mention the added cost of the waisted staples.