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Novus flat clinch stapler: which model fits your filing?

Updated: October 2026

A Novus flat clinch stapler is useful when ordinary curved staple legs make filed packets unnecessarily bulky. In this comparison, only three models state flat clinch: the B 10FC, B 4FC and B 8FC. They range from a £6.26 compact No. 10 tool to a £39.57 lever model, so the right choice depends on packet thickness and how often you staple. This guide separates the mechanism from Novus's percentage claims and from ordinary open or closed anvils. The [main Novus stapler comparison](/hub/staplers-and-nail-guns/novus-stapler) contains all twelve listings if flat clinch is not essential.

A Novus flat clinch stapler is useful when ordinary curved staple legs make filed packets unnecessarily bulky. In this comparison, only three models state flat clinch: the B 10FC, B 4FC and B 8FC.

Our top picks

Novus Novus B 4FC flat clinch stapler

Best overall

Novus Novus B 4FC flat clinch stapler
9.2/10about £22.47
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Novus Novus B 8FC lever stapler

Alternative

Novus Novus B 8FC lever stapler
9.0/10about £39.57
View offer
Novus Novus B 10FC flat clinch stapler

Preis-Tipp

Novus Novus B 10FC flat clinch stapler
8.8/10about £6.26
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What flat clinch is for
  2. 2.The three Novus flat-clinch models
  3. 3.What is not flat clinch
  4. 4.If the legs stay proud

What flat clinch is for

A conventional staple passes through the packet and curls its legs under the bottom sheet. Those rounded legs create a small ridge. Flat clinch aims to fold the legs closer against the paper. Novus says this can provide up to 30% more binder capacity. Treat that as a manufacturer claim, not as an independent measurement or a guaranteed saving in your folder. Flat clinch is not the same as an open or removable anvil. An open setting bends the legs outwards so you can remove the staple more easily. Nor is it the bypass mechanism on a B 40. The Novus stapler buying guide covers those ordinary choices.

The three Novus flat-clinch models

The B 10FC is the small, inexpensive option. Its listing states 20 sheets of 80 gsm paper, a captured price of £6.26 and 4.4 stars from 133 reviews. The limitation is its No. 10 staple family: 24/6 refills do not fit. Review reports on the clinch are mixed. The B 4FC is the middle choice at a captured £22.47. It states up to 50 sheets of standard paper and accepts 24/6, 26/6, 24/8 or 26/8 staples. Its listing shows 4.6 stars from 279 reviews. The listing does not specify 80 g/m² on that capacity line, and reviews often describe results nearer 30 to 40 sheets. The B 8FC states two to 50 sheets and uses the same staple family as the B 4FC. A fold-out lever gives you more mechanical advantage. Novus claims about 70% less force, but that figure is not our measurement. At £39.57 it costs over six times the captured B 10FC price.
Novus Novus B 4FC flat clinch stapler

Testsieger

Novus Novus B 4FC flat clinch stapler
9.2/10about £22.47
View offer

What is not flat clinch

The B 2 colours, Sturdy and B 4 re+new offer ordinary anvil functions rather than stated flat clinch. The B 7A solves an effort and speed problem instead. Its spring-assisted touch handles up to eight sheets and its normal press covers a stated 30, but flat clinch is not stated. See the best Novus stapler picks for that use case. Neither B 40 belongs in the flat-clinch trio. These are stated 100-sheet models using a bypass mechanism. Bypass allows staple legs to pass for different stack thicknesses; it does not flatten them against the paper. Near-100-sheet work is covered in the Novus heavy-duty stapler guide.

If the legs stay proud

Confirm the exact staple series, choose a listed leg length suitable for the packet and keep the paper square on the base. Press vertically through the centre of the cap. Sideways pressure can drive one leg farther than the other. If a B 10FC fails with No. 10 staples, do not try 24/6 as a workaround. If a B 4FC or B 8FC is near its stated maximum, a compatible longer 24/8 or 26/8 staple may be appropriate, but only within the model's instructions. A raised or partly open leg can catch fingers and adjacent pages. If correct staples and a straight press repeatedly produce malformed legs on a modest stack, stop using the tool and contact the retailer.

Common questions

Which Novus models here are flat clinch?
The B 10FC, B 4FC and B 8FC explicitly state flat clinch. The B 10FC is a 20-sheet No. 10 model; the other two state up to 50 sheets and accept listed 24- and 26-series staples.
Is the 30% binder saving a test result?
No. It is Novus's manufacturer claim about flat clinch. Your actual saving depends on paper, packet size, staple choice, binder layout and how consistently the legs form. Use it as an explanation of the intended benefit, not a guaranteed measurement.
Does the B 10FC use the same staples as the B 4FC?
No. The B 10FC uses No. 10 staples. The B 4FC uses 24/6, 26/6, 24/8 or 26/8. Buying by the shared FC name without checking the series can leave you with an unusable refill.
Can a B 2 or Sturdy make flat legs?
Their listings state conventional closed, open or nailing functions, not flat clinch. A reversible anvil does not itself produce the flatter fold claimed for the three FC models.
When is the B 8FC lever worth the price?
It makes most sense when you repeatedly staple substantial packets and value extra leverage. For occasional thin reports, the compact B 10FC costs far less. For a balanced 24/6-compatible office choice, the B 4FC sits between them.
What should I do if the legs do not lie flat?
Verify the staple code and length, reduce the stack, align the paper and press vertically. If the same problem repeats on ordinary paper well below capacity, stop and report the fault rather than forcing the mechanism.

Related pages

How to use a Novus stapler

Novus stapler

Best Novus stapler: top pick and best-value choice

Novus stapler buying guide: choose the right desk model

Novus heavy duty stapler: B 40 models and staple sizes

Sources

Manufacturer pages, the AOS staple guide, and UK product-safety and consumer-rights sources. Prices and star counts are from the amazon.co.uk extracts for these twelve listings, not a live check on 16 October 2026. Prices move.

  1. Novus Dahle B 4FC (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  2. Novus Dahle B 40 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  3. Novus Dahle B 40 re+new (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  4. Novus Dahle B 7A (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  5. AOS staple size guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  6. General Product Safety Regulations 2005, Great Britain (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  7. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  8. Novus stapler FAQ (retrieved 16 October 2026)