I have a chronic disease which has caused all the tendons in my left hand to rupture so I can't do too much with it. The basting gun has been a Godsend for me. I bought it using one of Joann's coupons for 40% or 50% off so it wasn't so bad. I just discovered that WalMart has the tacks for HALF the price of joanns! I've been buying them with coupons, too but since WalMart has the same ones , they're cheaper even with the coupon!So now I get 500 tacks for $1.99! They just went up at Joanns to $4.19! But I do love the gun. Some people say they don't like it because it doesn't hold the quilt tight enough but I have had no problems with it. There's no way I could do 200-300 safety pins! I also found a 'board' with holes in it that you put under the quilt & then you don't have to keep putting your hand under the fabric with each tack. You shoot right thru all layers into the holes & move it as you finish a section. Good luck! :lol: