How to use a Novus stapler safely and correctly
Updated: October 2026
If a Novus stapler jams on its first packet, stop before pressing harder. The most useful sequence is to identify the loading mechanism, confirm the exact staple series, place the strip the right way up and then set the anvil for the result you want. This guide explains how to use a Novus stapler across the models in our comparison without pretending that every channel opens in the same way. If you are still choosing a model, start with the [main Novus stapler comparison](/hub/staplers-and-nail-guns/novus-stapler); the steps here assume you already have the tool in front of you.
If a Novus stapler jams on its first packet, stop before pressing harder.
If a Novus stapler jams on its first packet, stop before pressing harder. The most useful sequence is to identify the loading mechanism, confirm the exact staple series, place the strip the right way up and then set the anvil for the result you want. This guide explains how to use a Novus stapler across the models in our comparison without pretending that every channel opens in the same way. If you are still choosing a model, start with the main Novus stapler comparison; the steps here assume you already have the tool in front of you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Loading | Staple series | Sheet capacity | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Novus Novus B 7A automatic stapler | Press-button loading | 24/6, 26/6, 24/8 or 26/8 | 8 sheets on the touch. 30 sheets on the standard press. | 9.4 | about £30.64 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Novus Novus B 2 Color ID mint | Top loading | 24/6 or 26/6 | 25 sheets of 80 g/m² | 9.2 | about £10.92 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  Novus Novus B 10FC flat clinch stapler | Not stated | No. 10 | 20 sheets of 80 gsm | 8.8 | about £6.26 | View offer |
On this page
Find the loader on your model
Clear the desk and keep your fingers away from the anvil and driver path. Do not try to open a magazine by levering it with a screwdriver. Identify the model number and look for the intended release before applying force.
The B 4FC, B 7A and B 8FC state press-button loading. Support the stapler on the desk, press the release and allow the channel to move as designed. Insert a compatible strip with the staple crown running along the channel and the two legs pointing down towards the anvil. Close the magazine until it seats.
Both B 2 colours, the Sturdy, standard B 40, B 40 re+new and pink E 15 set state top loading. Open the upper section only through its normal range, place the strip flat in the guide and close it without twisting. Review notes for the B 2 say the spring slider must be pushed back with the strip.
The B 4 re+new has a button at the rear that makes the staple channel move forward. The captured B 10FC and petrol twin-set listings do not specify a loading method, so use the model instructions instead of borrowing a step from another Novus. For help matching the mechanism to your workload, see the Novus stapler buying guide.
Match the staple series and direction
Read the staple code on the tool, its box or the model documentation before opening a refill. No. 10, 24/6, 26/6 and 23/13 are not interchangeable labels. A strip that sits in part of the channel can still be the wrong width, wire or leg length.
The B 10FC and both E 15 twin sets use No. 10 staples. The B 2 colours and Sturdy accept 24/6 or 26/6. The B 4 re+new, B 4FC, B 7A and B 8FC extend that choice to 24/8 and 26/8 for thicker packets. An unnecessarily long leg may not fold neatly.
Novus's manufacturer information specifies 23/6 to 23/13 SUPER for the B 40 pair. The standard B 40 Amazon bullets omit the series, while the B 40 re+new bullet conflicts by starting its range at 26/6. Do not take that conflict as permission to load 26/6. Follow the manufacturer 23-series range, as explained in the Novus heavy-duty stapler guide.
Place the strip with the crown uppermost and both legs pointing towards the base. If the spring follower will not settle behind it, remove the strip and check the code again.
Set the anvil, flat clinch or pin mode
In an ordinary closed setting, grooves turn the legs inward under the packet. An open or removable setting turns them outwards, making the staple easier to take out. Rotate or slide a reversible anvil only through its intended control, with no paper under the driver and your fingers clear.
Flat clinch is a distinct mechanism, not another name for the closed position. In this set, the B 10FC, B 4FC and B 8FC state flat clinch. Novus's figure of up to 30% more binder capacity is a manufacturer claim. The Novus flat-clinch guide explains those three models.
A nailing or pin setting opens the stapler so it can drive a staple into a suitable pinboard. A desk stapler in this position is not a powered nail gun and is not for timber, masonry or site work. The B 40's bypass mechanism describes how the staple legs pass for changing stack thicknesses; it does not promise flat legs.
Clear the first jam, then stop
First remove the paper and release pressure. Check that the staple series is correct, the strip is facing down and the channel is fully closed. Look for one visibly bent staple at the mouth of the magazine. If it is accessible through the normal loading opening, remove it carefully without putting fingers under the driver; do not dismantle the casing.
Reload a short correct strip and test on a small packet of ordinary copier paper. Press vertically through the centre of the cap. B 4FC review notes say an angled press can leave one leg longer than the other. A B 10FC that fails to flatten with correct No. 10 staples has a clinch problem; loading 24/6 will not fix it.
Printed capacities refer to the paper stated in the listing, often 80 g/m². The B 7A's light-touch action is for up to eight sheets; thicker packets require its normal manual press. It does not need a socket.
Stop if the driver, spring, follower or casing has come apart, or if the same fault repeats with the correct strip and a small paper test. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the short-term right to reject is normally 30 days; a listing warranty is separate.
Common questions
Which way do the staples face?
The flat crown runs along the top of the magazine channel and the two legs point down towards the anvil. The strip should sit straight without side pressure. If the follower cannot settle behind it, remove the strip and confirm its series.
How do I open a press-button Novus?
On the B 4FC, B 7A and B 8FC, support the stapler and press the stated magazine release. Control the channel as it opens, load the correct strip and close it until seated. Do not prise it open with another tool.
What is the reversible anvil for?
It changes how the staple legs fold. Closed grooves turn them inward for permanent fastening; open grooves turn them outwards for easier removal. A reversible anvil does not automatically provide flat clinch.
Why are my staple legs uneven?
Check that the packet is square and press vertically rather than at an angle. Confirm that the staple length suits the stack and that you are within the paper capacity. Persistent uneven legs with the correct setup may indicate a clinch fault.
When should I return the stapler?
Return or report it when a spring or driver has detached, the undamaged channel will not close, or repeated jams continue with the specified staples and a small copier-paper packet. Do not rebuild a new mechanism to preserve a warranty claim.
Does the B 7A need a socket?
No. Its quick action is spring-assisted, not electric. The touch function covers up to eight sheets and the standard hand press covers thicker stacks up to the stated 30.
Related pages
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.
- Novus Dahle B 4FC (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Novus Dahle B 40 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Novus Dahle B 40 re+new (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Novus Dahle B 7A (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- AOS staple size guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- General Product Safety Regulations 2005, Great Britain (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Novus stapler FAQ (retrieved 16 October 2026)