# Staple remover poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298 "2011-06-13T06:47:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/21 "2011-06-14T02:11:47Z")
Top of the staple. Probably 93% of the time there’s no tearing. 7% of the time the paper tears, but…if the document was unimportant enough to use a staple rather than a paper clip or binder clip, it’s unimportant enough to tear. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/22 "2011-06-14T02:32:53Z")
Top. I guess I started something there in that thread… Joe ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/23 "2011-06-14T02:34:37Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Depends on the sort of staple remover I’m using. The little jaw type, from the top. The cuticle-pusher type, from the bottom. The what now? Cuticle-pusher? Joe ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/24 "2011-06-14T02:34:59Z")
I use it on the bottom to loosen the bendy bits. Then I turn the paper over and use it on the top to pull the whole staple back through the holes. The paper experiences virtually no tearing this way. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/25 "2011-06-14T04:49:10Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > The what now? Cuticle-pusher? > > Joe [Like this](http://www.marbig.com.au/products/Product.aspx?P=14016431) ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/26 "2011-06-14T05:31:13Z")
I use it first from the bottom to open the legs, then flip the papers over and pull it out from the top. Never tears the paper that way. If I try to open from the top I often have trouble getting the jaws under the staple, or have to bend the paper. After I’ve pulled the staple out I massage the little holes to close them up. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/27 "2011-06-14T12:40:47Z")
My first real job was with AT&T (as a COBOL programmer), starting a long time ago. There was an actual, company approved method of staple removal (and most other things): Start on the bottom, loosen the feet. Flip over, and remove from the top. If you want to dispute the correctness of this method, I’ll sic Ernestine on ya. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/28 "2011-06-14T13:27:26Z")
From the top, that’s why the teeth on the remover get bigger, to bend the staple legs back and pull the staple from the pages. It’s quite brilliant and looks like a vicious little desk monster. ---
**Author:** ![bahia\_hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@bahia\_hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahia_hombre)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/29 "2011-06-14T15:10:38Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > I use it on the bottom to loosen the bendy bits. Then I turn the paper over and use it on the top to pull the whole staple back through the holes. The paper experiences virtually no tearing this way. +1 ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/30 "2011-06-14T15:59:02Z")
This may be a bit off-topic, but I’ve stapled a heck of a lot more papers than I ever have had to unstaple. I taught high school for twenty-six years. Most people use a desk stapler very inefficiently when they’ve got a large amount of papers to staple. They pick the stapler up while using it. It works much faster to leave it on the desk, stick the papers in it, push down, and go to the next set in your stack. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/31 "2011-06-14T17:05:34Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > I use it on the bottom to loosen the bendy bits. Then I turn the paper over and use it on the top to pull the whole staple back through the holes. The paper experiences virtually no tearing this way. Correct. This is the only way to do it to make sure it does not tear. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/32 "2011-06-14T17:48:51Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Depends a bit on how thick the bunch of papers is. For just 2 sheets, doing it from the top will often just tear the staple through the sheets. So for that case use the remover gently & carefully on the bottom first to open the feet, then on the top to pull the opened staple through. > > But for anything above about 5 sheets, just like **sandra\_nz** says. Go for the top & if it doesn’t pull through,then fall back to my first technique. > > I wonder if a lot of the difference of opinion is really a matter of what size stacks people work with. At home it’s probably rare to un-staple more than 3 or 4 sheets. At an office it’s probably rare to un-staple less than 15 or 20 sheets. If your work doesn’t involve un-stapling you’d have a totally different experience base than somebody who’s work does. I think you’re doing it wrong then. After reading this I just put a bunch of staples into a different variety of papers, thick and thin. and then used my staple remover (on the top) and every one of them came out perfectly. If you look at the mechanics of a staple remover there is nothing that could possibly pull the staples through the paper unless you were pulling up on the staple remover. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/33 "2011-06-14T17:54:51Z")
From the top, of course. I’ve never even seen anyone do it from the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/34 "2011-06-14T17:58:38Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I think you’re doing it wrong then. After reading this I just put a bunch of staples into a different variety of papers, thick and thin. and then used my staple remover (on the top) and every one of them came out perfectly. If you look at the mechanics of a staple remover there is nothing that could possibly pull the staples through the paper unless you were pulling up on the staple remover. OK, I take it back. 🙂 (I guess I’ve only been removing small gauge staples) From [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staple_remover): > [@](#): > > Use > > Proper use of the opposing wedge staple remover is debated. The two major methods are described below. > Practical Method > > 1. Simultaneously clip the 2 folded pieces with the 2 corresponding tines of the remover, raising them from the paper. 2. Gently clip the front flat side while pulling the entire staple gingerly out of paper to discard. > Individuals can complete this task with minimal damage having been inflicted upon the previously conjoined pages. > Reverse Method > 2. Forcefully clip the front flat side of the staple, causing the folded tabs on the reverse side to open and pull through the entry holes. This has the undesirable side effect of tearing the paper as the folded taps pull through. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/35 "2011-06-14T17:59:03Z")
I’m beginning to think it depends how many pages there are. In my experience, removing from the top works if there are several pages. But if there are only two, the paper gets torn, and it’d be better to loosen the staple from the bottom, then remove it from the top. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/36 "2011-06-14T18:14:34Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’m beginning to think it depends how many pages there are. In my experience, removing from the top works if there are several pages. But if there are only two, the paper gets torn, and it’d be better to loosen the staple from the bottom, then remove it from the top. I personally just proved that isn’t the case. However I think it could be related to how thick the staples are. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/37 "2011-06-14T18:32:14Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Depends on the sort of staple remover I’m using. The little jaw type, from the top. The cuticle-pusher type, from the bottom. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only person here who had encountered both kinds. I kept saying to myself, “what kind of staple remover are you asking about?” ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/38 "2011-06-14T22:08:03Z")
> [@bahia\_hombre](#): > > +1 +2 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/39 "2011-06-14T22:18:19Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > I use it on the bottom to loosen the bendy bits. Then I turn the paper over and use it on the top to pull the whole staple back through the holes. The paper experiences virtually no tearing this way. That’s my method, too, If I happen to have some squirrel’s teeth. Otherwise, I do it basically the same way with my fingernails. ---
**Author:** ![RoniaBorkason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@RoniaBorkason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoniaBorkason)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298/40 "2011-06-14T23:20:45Z")
I use a [different style](http://www.modernimagingsolutions.com/storefront/Rubbermaid-Inc-Plastic-Casing-Staple-Remover-P1010065798.aspx) - for high-volume staple removal, it is the best I’ve ever used. Second best was an oyster knife. I hate the claw-type, except for use in office-supply sculptures. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staple-remover-poll/585298.md?page=3)