Here's the sizes of 18 gauge 1/4" narrow crown staples in my kit:
1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2".

Here;s the ones I go through most:
1/2", 5/8", 7/8", 1-1/4".

If going through 1/4" ply, such as for cabinet backs, I adjust back the stand off when shooting it. 1/4" veneered ply is "soft" or not dense. If you don't adjust it back, it'll tend to shoot through it. Takes some monkeying to see what'll work best with a particular gun for that.

On your question- I would personally use 5/8". At 5/8" + 1/4" being 7/8", after a little inset, which it will when dealing with 1/4 ply, 7/8" would blow through.... Better to be shy of the surface, especially with melamine.

 

Thanks Mike.

Looks like I'll need 1/2 for the cabinet back and then 1" for the 16mm material as I can only get 20mm or 25mm and I don't think the 20mm will cut it.

How many boxes do you buy at a time? I ask because the supplier I've found is offering nearly half price for quantities of 10 boxes.

 

Hilton, look for the deals. I visited a Rockler store when they were clearing out PC brand 3/4" brads. I bought up two cases to clear their inventory at $.50 a box!

 

Thanks Mike, that's a hectic price!

Here a box of 5000 is about $9.

 

Mike got those on a closeout. I don't get those very often, box of 5000, 1/2" goes about $15 around me.

 

Hilton I usually figure on as much brad or staple going into the frame as the thickness I am going through as a minimum. With 1/4" material I would go min. of 1/2", 5/8 would be better. With 1/2" material I would go min. 1" up to 1 1/4".

 

Hilton I usually figure on as much brad or staple going into the frame as the thickness I am going through as a minimum.

Thanks Charles, good advice.