How to use an electric stapler safely and clear a jam
Updated: October 2026
You slide a letter into the mouth, the motor starts, and the paper remains trapped instead of coming back neatly clinched. Knowing how to use an electric stapler means following the instructions for that exact mechanism. The documented procedure below is for the Rapesco 626EL, the model here with a manufacturer instruction sheet. Our [electric stapler comparison](/hub/staplers-and-nail-guns/electric-stapler) covers the listings. This page covers loading, normal operation and a safe jam sequence. For Eagle and EcoElectronix, use the manual supplied with your unit and stop where that manual stops.
You slide a letter into the mouth, the motor starts, and the paper remains trapped instead of coming back neatly clinched. Knowing how to use an electric stapler means following the instructions for that exact mechanism.
You slide a letter into the mouth, the motor starts, and the paper remains trapped instead of coming back neatly clinched. Knowing how to use an electric stapler means following the instructions for that exact mechanism. The documented procedure below is for the Rapesco 626EL, the model here with a manufacturer instruction sheet. Our electric stapler comparison covers the listings. This page covers loading, normal operation and a safe jam sequence. For Eagle and EcoElectronix, use the manual supplied with your unit and stop where that manual stops.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Power | Staple code | Magazine | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  EcoElectronix EcoElectronix EX-25, white | Adapter or 6 AA | Not stated | Full strip | 9.0 | about £32.90 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  RAPESCO Rapesco 1452 626EL, powder blue | USB or 4 AA | 26/6 | Half strip | 8.2 | about £25.95 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Eagle Eagle EG-1610BA, black | Adapter or 4 AA | 24/6 and 26/6 | – | 8.2 | about £26.99 | View offer |
On this page
Before you follow anyone's steps
Identify the model number on the base or label before loading it. Rapesco 626EL instructions do not apply to an Eagle EG-1610BA, an EcoElectronix EX-25 or a staple gun. Do not open the housing or push a driver with a pen or screwdriver because another manual suggests it.
Put the stapler on a firm, level surface with the paper mouth facing you. Keep fingers, loose items and children away from the firing area. Check the cable and adapter for visible damage before connecting power, and do not use an adapter that is hot, split or fitted with an unsuitable plug. The Rapesco 626EL uses 26/6 staples. Eagle lists 24/6 and 26/6. The EcoElectronix code is not stated on these amazon.co.uk listings.
Load and fire a Rapesco 626EL
Choose one power route, then load only 26/6, then insert a flat stack within the stated limit.
Choose the power route
Fit four matching AA cells in the orientation shown inside the battery compartment, or connect the supplied USB 2.0 Type-A cable to a suitable mains USB plug. Rapesco recommends a mains USB plug rather than a computer port. Do not mix flat and fresh cells. Stop when the batteries no longer complete a cycle.
Load 26/6 staples
Disconnect USB power, or make sure the machine cannot fire, then press the rear release button to eject the magazine. Place a strip of 26/6 staples into the channel in the orientation shown in the maker's diagram. Slide the magazine back until it clicks. Do not force a strip that sits proud, and do not substitute 24/6 because both codes have a 6 mm leg.
Insert the paper
Reconnect power and place the machine squarely on the desk. Align no more than 15 sheets of 80 gsm and insert the edge into the front mouth. The sensor triggers the cycle. Keep the stack flat and let the motor finish before you withdraw the paper.
Clear a Rapesco 626EL jam
Switch off the power route before touching the magazine. Disconnect the USB cable or remove the batteries, and leave the trapped paper in place. The Rapesco instruction sheet warns against pulling paper out of the mouth, because the mechanism may need to complete its cycle. Forcing it can damage the motor.
Press the rear button to eject the staple magazine. Clear loose or malformed staples without reaching into the firing head. Remove the paper only after the eject sequence has released the pressure. Reload a straight strip of 26/6, click the magazine home, reconnect power and test with two or three clean sheets. More than 15 sheets, paper heavier than 80 gsm, flat batteries, a magazine not fully seated, or damaged staples can stop a complete cycle.
Eagle and EcoElectronix: where the steps stop
The Eagle listing allows an AC adapter or four AA batteries, not both at the same time. Owner reviews mention a reverse button when paper sticks. A review is not a service procedure. Follow the markings and the manual supplied with your unit. Do not push the stapler body into a wall socket.
EcoElectronix listings allow an adapter or six AA cells. These amazon.co.uk listings do not name the staple code, so confirm it before you reload. This page cannot tell you to dismantle that driver or move it by hand. If the problem is the stack size rather than one jam, compare the claims in the best electric stapler UK guide.
When to stop troubleshooting
Stop if the magazine will not eject, the driver stays stuck, or the cable or adapter is damaged. Do not pry the head open or copy a reset from another brand. If the tool is a tacker, these desk steps do not apply.
Common questions
Which way does the paper go into a Rapesco 626EL?
Place the machine flat and insert the paper edge into the front mouth. Keep the stack square and level so the sensor can trigger a straight cycle. The rear control ejects the magazine. It is not the paper entry. Keep fingers away from the concealed firing head.
How do I load 26/6 staples?
Remove power, press the rear magazine-release button and place a straight strip of 26/6 staples into the ejected channel as shown in the Rapesco diagram. Push the magazine back until it clicks. If the strip does not sit correctly, remove it rather than forcing the magazine closed.
Should I connect USB to a computer or a mains plug?
Rapesco's instructions prefer the supplied USB Type-A cable connected to a mains USB plug rather than a computer port. The mains charger is not included, so use a suitable, undamaged UK charger. Alternatively, fit four matching AA batteries with the polarity shown in the compartment.
How do I remove paper from a Rapesco jam?
Disconnect power and do not pull the paper from the front. Eject the magazine first, clear the obstructing staple, then remove the released paper. Reload correctly and test with a small stack. If the magazine or driver will not move through the documented controls, stop and contact the seller.
Why has the stapler stopped seeing the paper?
On a 626EL, check that power is available, all four batteries match and have charge, and the magazine is fully clicked home. Also check that the stack is flat and within 15 sheets of 80 gsm. Do not keep triggering a stalled mechanism or insert tools into the sensor opening.
When should I stop troubleshooting?
Stop when the magazine will not eject, the driver is stuck, electrical parts are damaged or the machine repeatedly misfires after correct loading. Those symptoms need the seller or the manufacturer, not extra force. Keep your order record, because UK remedies for faulty goods can apply independently of a listing warranty.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources on plugs, voltage, staple sizes, and faulty goods, plus the Rapesco 626EL sheet. amazon.co.uk listings checked 16 October 2026. Prices move.
- Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, regulation 27 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, accepting returns and giving refunds (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- AOS staple size guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Leitz stapler buying guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Rapesco 626EL instructions (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Rapesco 626EL product page (retrieved 16 October 2026)