My sofa had seen better days but in these Dickensian times it seemed politic to re-cover it rather than buy a brand new one. First I attempted to do the job with my sturdy old green-enamelled Rexel office stapler, a noble survivor of an era when such devices were made entirely of steel. The Universal, tough as it is, was not quite equal to a task that it had not been designed to perform. My sofa was duly placed against a wall to conceal the material hanging down beneath it until such time as I could tidy it up with an adequate tool.

The Ryobi 18v One Plus Stapler is that tool. It's comfortable to hold, well balanced and not too heavy. There is no cable to snag or drag. It has a depth-adjustment knob and claims a top speed of 40 shots a minute. Its easy-to-load magazine holds 84 6-14mm staples. It makes a satisfying electronic whizzing sound as the trigger is squeezed and the charge builds: there is a momentary delay and then the staple bangs into the wood with a rewarding “thunk”. Do not get the business end anywhere near your thumb.

The battery charges up in just over an hour, and although neither it nor the charger are included in the price they work with the 23 other power tools in the One Plus range. At £55 this lightweight stapler may seem an expensive one-trick pony but without it you may find the going heavy.

Hero's verdict: Four stars

Ryobi 18v CST-180M Stapler costs £54.99

ryobipower.co.uk , 01628 894400

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