How to Use a Hand Held Snap Tool

Some denim pants use snap buttons for a fastener.

Snap tools are used to apply buttons to clothing such as jeans, coats and shirts. Using a hand held tool is relatively easy, as it isn't much different from using a rivet gun. The most important aspect of using the tool is to load the snap correctly so that your button is positioned in the right direction.

Things You'll Need

• Clothing snaps
• Fabric chalk

Instructions

1. Mark on the clothing where you want the snap to be located with a piece of fabric chalk.

2. Separate the four parts of the button snap. Two of the parts have prongs and fasten to the article of clothing. One of these is the decorative, smooth-domed upper part of the snap, and the other is simply a flat disc with prongs on one side.The other two parts are called the ball and the socket. The socket, which installs on the decorative part of the snap, looks like a washer with two small metal catches inside the center hole. The ball, on the other hand, is a flat piece of metal with a small round protrusion in its center. You will be installing the ball first.

3. Place the non-decorative pronged fastener on the bottom cup of the snap tool's jaws with the prongs facing up, and then align the upper part of the snap tool's jaws with the mark you made on the fabric.

4. Place the ball part of the snap on top of the fabric where you made the mark with the ball facing upward. Align the upper jaw of the snap tool with the ball, and then squeeze the snap tool's jaws together. This will force the two parts of the snap together through the fabric.

5. Apply a small amount of chalk to the tip of the ball, and then press the fabric where the other side of the snap will be installed against this point while aligning the clothing. Think of this as lining up the buttons of a shirt. You want the buttons to line up so that the shirt wears evenly.

6. Load the snap tool with the socket and the other, decorative pronged side so that the decorative side is at the very top of the snap, and the socket is on the bottom so that it can attach to the ball. Align the socket over the mark made by the chalk on the tip of the ball, and then squeeze the handles of the snap tool together to install the snap.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan in advance and mark where each button will go prior to installing them to ensure a mistake-free line of buttons on your clothing.

References

• "The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book"; Joan Wiener; 2008
• "I Wanna Make My Own Clothes"; Clea Hantman; 2006
• "Reconstructing Clothes For Dummies"; Miranda Burns; 2007