By Jim Watt, The Owner, Northwest Tarp & Canvas, Bellingham, Washington 2016
So, you’re thinking about buying some snaps. You go to Ebay, Etsy or Amazon and you see all different kinds and types. What kind do I need you ask yourself? Nickel Brass, Stainless Steel, different color snaps… and how do I install them? Do I need a special tool? What are names of the parts? What if I need them them to go through thick fabrics or webbing?
If you’ve ever asked those questions or have wondered about them at some point then you have come to the right place. From snaps to turn buttons to the tools for setting all those metal buttons and snaps in the fabric, garment and boat canvas industry were here to help.
We are Northwest Tarp & Canvas. We are based at 703 West Holly Street Bellingham, Washington 98225 and we sell all of that stuff and much, much more. If at any point you feel like you would like to contact us give us a call at 360 656 6550.
When selecting snaps you’ll want to know the names of the parts. It will make your search that much easier and in some respects more fun. Behold the snap parts breakdown below:
First is the Cap. The Cap is the “button”, or top, part of the snap that most of us are familiar with. Its the part you press down on to join the two snaps parts together on your jacket, or your boat canvas or your whatever… You get the idea. The Cap has a post that extends out and comes in a variety of lengths. The standard length post is 3/16″ of an inch. We also have them in the longer 1/4″ for thicker fabrics as well 5/32″ for the really long post.
Second is the Socket, also referred to as the female part of the snap. The post on the Cap and inside portion of the Socket press together to form the Cap & Socket. *Here’s a tip when selecting snaps. Always buy the ones that have either DOT or Fasnap stamped on the inside of the socket. Why? Because it guarantees you are buying a quality snap. DOT snaps are manufactured by the Dot Scoville Corporation. They have been around since 1802. They know what they are doing. Fasnap Corporation was founded in 1981. They also know their stuff very well. The rest of the snaps on the market are made elsewhere and are not manufactured to quality standards. They will rust, corrode, break and leave ugly marks all over your project. Do not buy them. You’ve taken the time to read this blog. Adhere to the sage wisdom offered.
Third is the Stud. The Stud, also referred to as the Male portion of the snap is what fits into the Socket. The Stud is almost always the same size at 3/8″ of an inch across the top of the stud. That said, there are many different types. Most have a flange around the bottom of the Stud but they are also made without the flange and they are called (are you ready for this) Flangeless Studs. Other Studs have Philipps head screws built into the Stud and those screws vary in length from 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″ and even 1″ in length. Each length determines the amount of grabbing power you will get with every screw.
Fourth is the Eyelet. The Eyelet is the base of the snap and once pressed together with the Stud complete the bottom half of the two part snap assembly. You may see the Eyelet sometimes referred to as the Post. This where things can get confusing. Why? Because as you will recall from the previous explanation the Cap has a post of varying lengths. That’s why. I’ll leave it at that to avoid further confusion. The Eyelet also comes in a variety of lengths with the standard length being 1/4″. Longer versions are available in 11/32″ and 3/8″ of an inch.
But wait! There’s more! Just when you think you have learned everything there is to know about snaps there is indeed more to know. Snaps are available in different types of metals as well as variety of coatings. There are even locking snaps that only open in one direction.
Some of the most common types of snaps are Nickel Plated Brass and Stainless Steel. Both achieve the same effect of creating a snap fastener on something but their applicability is different. Both are referred to as Line 24 Snaps. Click SNAPS to be greeted with a variety of different snap types on our website.
There is one difference and those are the Line 20 Baby Snaps that we just happen to have listed on Ebay. You can click the link to see them. They are mostly used on children’s clothing and Honda Goldwing Motorcycle faring snaps. Some people utilize them for other things too and I can’t think of a single one of those things at the moment but perhaps you can.
Lets start with the humble Nickel Plated Brass Snap. Why plate them with Nickel? What’s the deal there? Without getting into metallurgy (the branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification) and going beyond the scope of snaps the nickel plating process help ensure the longevity of the snap fastener. Snaps are available in just the Brass finish. You can see some of them that we offer on Ebay here: Brass Snaps They are just as durable with or without the nickel plating but they will last longer with the plating and some people think they look better that way. Also something to do with electrical resistance. Draw your own conclusion.
Next is the heftier Stainless Steel Snap. Stainless Steel Snaps hold tighter than Nickel Brass Snaps and are more resistant to acids, corrosion, wear and tear and salt water environment’s which make them preferable for use on boats, boat covers and associated equipment.
More to come… 
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