What parts do snaps have?
Snaps consists of four parts that come together to create a closure that can be used as a clothing decoration, bags decoration, or for practical uses like holding a tent down. Some parts of the snap are referred to as male and female.
The four parts of a snap include
- The socket. This is the female part of the snap and will sit inside the clothing or bag. It is round and has a small hole in the centre where another part of the snap, the stud, will sit. It is slightly raised on one side where it attaches to the snap cap
- The snap cap. This is the decorative part of the snap. It sits on the outside of the clothing or bag and looks pretty. It’s usually 4-6mm long, and comes in a range of finishes such as metal, painted, plastic inlay, and pearl. There are countless options for snap cap shapes and coats
- The stud. The male component of the snap is the stud, which sits on the outside of the clothing or bag and is the part that interlocks with the socket to form a strong easy-to-use closure. The stud is usually attached onto clothing or bags using the open prong
- The open prong. The final part of the snap is the open prong that attaches to the socket. The pronged ring has a smooth surface so that the snap is not uncomfortable when the clothing is worn
How do you measure snaps?
Snap sizes are measured in a similar fashion to buttons. They are measured according to their diameter. Most commonly, they are measured in millimeters or inches, but their size can also be measured in lignes (1 lignes = 1 inch) or in a system that uses defined size numbers. There are a number of size charts available online to compare each sizing measurement.
How do I remove a snap?
To remove a snap, the two parts of the stud must be completely separated.
If removing snaps from clothing, the garment or fabric must be pulled tight. Gently place a screwdriver under one side of the snap and twist it slowly back and forth around the rim of the stud. This will start to loosen to fastening, and the two parts of the snap should come apart. Repeat this across the whole length of the snap until it is successfully removed. Discard both parts of the snap at the end.
Can snaps be reused?
Once the snap has been removed, the parts are damaged, and should not be reused. Even if the snaps are carefully removed, it’s likely that one part of the stud will be ruined. Start with brand new snaps when adding fasteners to new clothing or bags.
What types of snaps are there?
Snaps can come in many forms, including the small pearl snaps used for clothing decoration or bags decoration, non-sew snaps, or heavy-duty snaps used for larger items like holding down tents.
All snaps are created using a pressing machine, and they generally fall into two categories – press studs, and rivets studs.
Press studs have two separate parts, and are great for sewing onto clothing as buttons, or onto bags as a secure closure.
Rivets studs are metal or plastic, and require riveting tools to add to the item. These are commonly found on the front and batrousers or jeans near the waistband to give strength to areas of strain like pockets and seams. Companies can stamp their logos onto the snaps.
