Description
Covered Nail Button Application Tool for Upholstery
This covered nail button application tool is designed for fitting fabric-covered nail-back buttons into suitable furniture frames without striking the finished button face directly.
Available in No24, No30, No36 and No44 sizes, the tool provides upholsterers and furniture manufacturers with a controlled way to install decorative covered nail buttons on applications such as headboards, bedheads, sofa arms and fixed upholstered furniture.
Using the correct-size tool helps protect the covered button while allowing installation force to be applied more accurately.
Product Specification
- Product type: Covered nail button application tool
- Available sizes: No24, No30, No36 and No44
- Application: Installing fabric-covered nail-back upholstery buttons
- Typical uses: Bedheads, headboards, sofa arms and fixed furniture
- Suitable for: Professional upholstery, furniture manufacture and restoration
- Function: Helps fit nail buttons without direct impact on the covered button face
What Is a Covered Nail Button Application Tool?
A covered nail button application tool is a specialist upholstery tool used when fixing fabric-covered nail-back buttons into suitable furniture frames.
Instead of striking the finished decorative button directly, the application tool supports the installation process and helps transmit the fitting force more safely and accurately.
This is particularly useful when the visible button has been covered in:
- Upholstery fabric
- Leather
- Vinyl
- Decorative furniture fabric
- Matching headboard material
Directly striking a covered button can damage the finished surface or distort the button shell.
Why Use a Nail Button Application Tool?
A purpose-made upholstery nail button tool can help:
- Protect the covered button face
- Reduce direct impact on the upholstery fabric
- Reduce the risk of marking the finished button
- Help keep the nail aligned during installation
- Improve fitting consistency
- Speed up repeated button installation
- Produce a more professional finished appearance
This makes the tool particularly useful for production work where multiple nail-back buttons need to be fitted accurately.
Available Nail Button Tool Sizes
The application tool is available in four sizes.
No24 Covered Nail Button Tool
The No24 tool is designed for compatible No24 covered nail buttons.
It is suitable where a smaller decorative upholstery button is being used.
No30 Covered Nail Button Tool
The No30 tool matches No30 covered nail buttons.
Livedale supplies No30 Button Nail Back Nails in 12mm and 17mm lengths for applications including headboards and fixed seating backs.
No36 Covered Nail Button Tool
The No36 tool is designed for larger No36 covered upholstery buttons.
This button size provides a more prominent decorative detail on headboards, furniture panels and other buttoned upholstery.
No44 Covered Nail Button Tool
The No44 version is intended for large No44 covered buttons where the button forms a substantial feature within the upholstery design.
Always match the application tool to the finished button size.
Nail Button Application Tool for Headboards
Covered nail-back buttons are commonly used on upholstered headboards and bedheads.
The nail fixing allows the finished fabric-covered button to be secured directly into a suitable backing or frame.
The application tool is useful for:
- Upholstered headboards
- Bedheads
- Bed panels
- Decorative button layouts
- Feature upholstery panels
- Replacement headboard buttons
Because the visible button has already been covered, avoiding direct impact helps protect the finished fabric surface during installation.
Nail Button Tool for Sofa Arms
Covered nail buttons can also be used on suitable sofa arms and other upholstered furniture components where a direct nail fixing is required.
Potential applications include:
- Sofa arms
- Chair arms
- Fixed furniture backs
- Decorative furniture panels
- Banquette seating
- Upholstered frames
- Furniture restoration
The furniture structure must provide a suitable material into which the nail-back fixing can be installed securely.
How to Use a Covered Nail Button Application Tool
Select the Correct Tool Size
Choose No24, No30, No36 or No44 to match the finished covered button.
Using the correct size helps support the button correctly during installation.
Prepare the Covered Nail Button
Make sure the covered nail button has been fully assembled before installation.
For a typical nail-back button this may include:
- Aluminium button shell
- Covering fabric
- Nail-back fitting
- Nail-back spring washer
Check that the covering material is secure and the nail is correctly aligned.
Mark the Button Position
Mark the required fixing position accurately before installation.
For repeated button layouts, check:
- Button spacing
- Alignment
- Distance from furniture edges
- Relationship to neighbouring buttons
- Position of the internal furniture frame
Position the Button
Place the nail point against the required fixing position.
Keep the button square to the surface so the nail enters the backing correctly.
Fit the Application Tool
Position the correctly sized application tool over the covered button.
The tool allows the button to be driven into position without striking the decorative button surface directly.
Install the Button
Apply controlled force through the application tool until the button reaches the required position.
Check that:
- The button remains aligned
- The fabric has not been trapped or damaged
- The nail has entered the furniture correctly
- The button sits at the intended depth
- The decorative face remains undamaged
Covered Nail Button Tool or Spring Washer Applicator?
These two tools perform different jobs within the nail-back button system.
The Nail Back Spring Washer Applicator Tool is used during button assembly.
It helps attach the spring washer to the nail back.
The covered nail button application tool is used afterwards to install the completed nail-back button into the furniture.
The workflow is:
Make covered button → assemble nail back and spring washer → position finished button → install with covered nail button application tool
Nail Back Spring Washer Applicator Tool
The Nail Back Spring Washer Applicator Tool holds the covered button while the nail and spring washer are fitted.
It is particularly useful when assembling nail-back buttons in awkward or restricted working conditions.
Use the spring washer applicator for button assembly and this covered nail button application tool for final installation into the furniture.
Use with Nail Back Spring Washers
Nail Back Spring Washers form part of the nail-back button assembly.
The spring washer helps retain the nail-back component within the completed covered button.
A typical No30 nail-back button system includes:
Aluminium button shell → upholstery fabric → No30 nail back → nail-back spring washer
The completed button can then be installed with the appropriate No30 covered nail button application tool.
Use with No30 Button Nail Back Nails
Livedale No30 Button Nail Back Nails are serrated nail-back fittings available in 12mm and 17mm lengths.
They are commonly used for:
- Headboards
- Fixed seating backs
- Upholstered panels
- Furniture buttoning
When working with these No30 nail backs, select the No30 version of the covered nail button application tool.
Use with Aluminium Button Shells
Fabric-covered nail buttons can be produced using compatible Aluminium Button Shells.
Livedale supplies aluminium shells in No24, No30, No36 and No44 sizes.
This corresponds with the four sizes available for the covered nail button application tool.
Matching the shell, button-making die and application tool by button size helps maintain consistency throughout the job.
Making Fabric-Covered Nail Buttons
Before a nail button can be installed, the visible covered button needs to be produced.
The button-making process can include:
- Select the correct aluminium button shell.
- Cut the upholstery fabric to size.
- Position the fabric over the shell.
- Form the covered button using the correct button die and press.
- Fit the nail-back component.
- Attach the spring washer.
- Install the completed button using the covered nail button application tool.
Browse Buttoning Tools for compatible dies, cutters, presses and application tools.
Button Dies for Covered Nail Buttons
Use a correctly sized Button Die when making standard fabric-covered buttons.
The button die helps:
- Form the fabric neatly around the shell
- Centre the button components
- Produce a consistent finished shape
- Reduce damaged shells
- Improve repeatability
For leather, vinyl or heavier covering materials, use the specialist Button Die for Leather, Vinyl & Thick Fabric.
Covered Nail Buttons in Leather and Vinyl
Nail-back buttons can also be covered in suitable leather, vinyl and heavier upholstery materials.
These materials can be more vulnerable to visible marking if the finished button is struck directly.
Using the correct nail button application tool helps reduce direct impact on the decorative surface.
When making buttons from heavier materials, select the correct die and test the complete button assembly before starting production.
Nail Back Buttons or Wire Back Buttons?
Nail-back and wire-back buttons use very different fixing systems.
Choose a nail-back button when:
- The button is fixed directly into a suitable furniture frame or backing
- A nail fixing is appropriate
- Headboards, bedheads or fixed upholstery are being buttoned
- A through-twine fixing is unnecessary
Choose Button Wire Backs when:
- Traditional buttoning twine is being used
- The button needs to be pulled through the upholstery
- Deep buttoning requires a tied fixing
- A wire loop is preferred
Nail Back Buttons or Prong Back Buttons?
Button Prong Backs use long metal prongs that pass through the upholstery and are retained from behind.
Nail-back buttons instead drive directly into a suitable furniture backing.
Choose the fixing system according to:
- Furniture construction
- Rear access
- Upholstery depth
- Required button position
- Existing button system
- Suitable fixing substrate
Nail Button Application Tool for Furniture Restoration
The application tool is useful when replacing covered nail buttons on existing furniture.
Before installing replacement buttons, check:
- Existing button size
- Nail-back type
- Nail length
- Original fixing position
- Furniture backing condition
- Covering material
- Button alignment
Select the tool size that matches the replacement button.
Covered Nail Button Tools for Production Work
The application tool is particularly useful for workshops fitting multiple covered nail buttons.
Typical users include:
- Professional upholsterers
- Headboard manufacturers
- Bed manufacturers
- Furniture manufacturers
- Fixed seating manufacturers
- Contract upholstery workshops
- Furniture restoration businesses
Using a purpose-made application tool can improve speed and consistency while helping protect the finished button surface.
Complete Your Nail-Back Buttoning Setup
For No30 nail-back work, combine the application tool with No30 Button Nail Back Nails, Nail Back Spring Washers and compatible Aluminium Button Shells.
Use the Nail Back Spring Washer Applicator Tool when assembling the washer onto the nail back.
Browse Buttoning Tools for presses, dies, fabric cutters and specialist button-fitting tools.
Browse Button Parts for button shells, backs, washers and related upholstery button components.
Registered trade customers receive preferential pricing. Log in to your account or register for a Livedale trade account.
For help choosing the correct button size, nail-back component or application tool, contact Livedale.
