Staple-free staplers: how they work and which one to choose
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In Japan there is an entire category of stationery called 針なしステープラー (hari nashi sutēpurā), literally “needle-less stapler,” because here a staple is called hari, “needle.” And I confess that the first time I saw one I thought it was a toy. Then I used it on five sheets, lifted them by one corner, and they didn't come apart, and I understood why nobody in the offices here fights with a staple remover.
In this post I'll tell you how it works, how it differs from a pocket stapler like the Max Motick (which does use staples, even if it doesn't look like it), and which one suits you best depending on what you staple.
How does a staple-free stapler hold paper together?
Kokuyo, the Japanese brand behind the Harinax line, makes two types:
- Cut type: makes a small cut in the corner, folds a tab of paper and pushes it through the slot. The sheets lock together, but a tiny hole is left behind.
- Press type (Harinax Press): doesn't cut anything. It squeezes the sheets with metal teeth that interlock the paper fibers. It leaves an embossed mark, like a stamp, and no hole.
The one we carry in the shop is the Harinax Press, in salmon pink. It holds up to 5 sheets of regular paper together. And the best part comes after: if you made a mistake or need to separate them, rub the mark with something hard and smooth (the back of a pen works) and the sheets come apart without tearing.
Since there is no metal, the sheets go straight into the recycling. In Japan, where paper is sorted with a discipline that still surprises me, that matters more than it seems.
And the Max Motick? (spoiler: it does use staples)
The Max Motick solves a different problem: size. It is a bar-shaped stapler, as slim as a thick marker, that fits in your pencil case. It uses No. 10 staples (the small ones), holds 100 staples and staples up to 10 sheets.
Its charm is that the body stays out of the way: it slips into the spine of a notebook or a handmade booklet, where a desktop stapler can't reach. It's the one I would take to class or to the office.
Head to head
| Kokuyo Harinax Press | Max Motick | |
|---|---|---|
| Uses staples? | No | Yes, No. 10 |
| Sheets it holds | Up to 5 | Up to 10 |
| Leaves a hole? | No | Yes, the staple's |
| Can be separated | Yes, by rubbing the mark | With a staple remover |
| Size | Desktop |
Which one is right for you?
- Choose the Harinax Press if you staple only a few sheets at a time (notes, invoices, recipes, the kids' homework), if metal bothers you, or if you recycle.
- Choose the Motick if you need more power (up to 10 sheets), if you make booklets or zines, or if you want something that travels with you.
- Both, if you're the kind of person with one desk at home and another in your backpack. No judgment.
And you, are you more of a stapler or a paper clip person? Tell me in the comments, or message me on Instagram @karitojapan. If you want to see it in action, the video is on my profile.
If you like building your desk with Japanese pieces, take a look at our sets and gifts too.