Description
No30 Upholstery Button Nail Backs for Covered Buttons
These No30 upholstery button nail backs are serrated nail fittings designed for making fabric-covered buttons that fix directly into a suitable furniture frame or backing.
Supplied in packs of 1,000, they are available with either a 12mm or 17mm nail and are commonly used for headboards, fixed seating backs and decorative upholstered furniture.
Unlike traditional wire-backed buttons that are pulled into position with twine, a nail-back button is fixed directly into a suitable substrate, making it a practical choice for specific furniture and panel constructions.
Product Specification
- Product type: Upholstery button nail back
- Button size: No30
- Pack quantity: 1,000
- Available nail lengths: 12mm and 17mm
- Nail type: Serrated
- Application: Covered upholstery button production
- Typical uses: Headboards and fixed seating backs
- Use with: Compatible button shell and nail-back spring washer
What Is a Nail Back Upholstery Button?
A nail-back upholstery button combines a decorative fabric-covered button head with a nail fixing at the rear.
Rather than being tied through the upholstery with twine, the nail is driven into a suitable furniture frame or backing to secure the finished button.
This makes nail-back buttons useful for applications including:
- Upholstered headboards
- Bedheads
- Fixed seating backs
- Sofa backs
- Chair backs
- Sofa arms
- Banquette seating
- Decorative upholstery panels
- Furniture restoration
- Replacement covered buttons
The furniture construction must provide a suitable fixing surface for the nail.
Serrated Nail Back for Secure Furniture Fixing
The nail section has a serrated profile designed for mechanical fixing into a suitable backing material.
The serrated nail helps provide grip once installed and makes the fitting suitable for furniture applications where a covered button needs to remain securely positioned.
The final holding performance will depend on the material into which the nail is fixed, so the substrate should always be suitable for accepting the nail.
Choose 12mm or 17mm Nail Length
These No30 button nail backs are available in two lengths.
12mm Nail Back
The 12mm version is suitable where a shorter fixing depth is required.
This may be useful where:
- The backing material is relatively shallow
- A shorter nail is more appropriate to the construction
- The button is being fitted close to the furniture surface
17mm Nail Back
The 17mm version provides additional fixing length for constructions where greater penetration into the backing is required.
This can be useful for:
- Deeper upholstery constructions
- Thicker backing materials
- Applications where the fixing point sits further behind the button face
Choose the nail length according to the complete furniture construction rather than the visible upholstery thickness alone.
Use with Aluminium Button Shells
These nail backs form part of a covered upholstery button assembly.
Use them with compatible Aluminium Button Shells to create the visible fabric-covered button.
A typical nail-back button consists of:
Aluminium button shell → upholstery fabric → nail-back fitting → spring washer
The aluminium shell forms the visible front of the button while the nail-back component provides the fixing into the furniture.
Use with Nail Back Spring Washers
A Nail Back Spring Washer is used as the retaining component when assembling a covered nail-back upholstery button.
The washer helps complete the connection between the covered button and nail-back fitting.
For a complete assembly, use:
- No30 aluminium button shell
- Upholstery fabric
- No30 nail back
- Nail-back spring washer
- Correct button-making equipment
Nail Back Spring Washer Applicator Tool
The Nail Back Spring Washer Applicator Tool is specifically designed to attach the spring washer to the nail back.
The button head sits inside the tool while the nail and washer are fitted into position.
Using the dedicated applicator can help:
- Hold the button securely during assembly
- Position the nail correctly
- Fit the washer more easily
- Improve consistency
- Make assembly easier in restricted working areas
This is particularly useful for workshops making nail-back buttons regularly.
Making Fabric-Covered No30 Nail Back Buttons
A professional covered button requires correctly matched components and button-making equipment.
A typical setup includes:
- No30 aluminium button shell
- Upholstery fabric
- No30 nail back
- Nail-back spring washer
- Size 30 button die
- Fabric cutter
- Button press
- Spring washer applicator
The button shell and covering fabric are first formed into the finished decorative button before the nail-back fixing is completed.
Button Die for No30 Covered Buttons
Use a matching Button Die when producing the covered button.
Livedale’s standard button die range includes size 30 and is designed for use with compatible D-1 and TEP-2 presses.
Using the correct die helps:
- Centre the button components
- Form the fabric neatly around the shell
- Produce a consistent covered button
- Reduce damaged shells
- Improve repeatability in production
Always match the die to the button shell size.
Cutting Fabric for Covered Upholstery Buttons
The upholstery fabric covering the shell should be cut accurately before pressing.
Use a Fabric Cutter to produce consistent fabric circles.
Correct fabric sizing helps reduce:
- Excess material inside the button
- Insufficient fabric around the shell
- Uneven folds
- Poor edge coverage
- Inconsistent finished buttons
Test the selected fabric and button components before beginning a larger production run.
No30 Nail Back Buttons for Headboards
Nail-backed covered buttons are particularly useful for upholstered headboards and bedheads where a decorative button needs to be fixed directly into a suitable backing.
They can be used for:
- Decorative button layouts
- Upholstered headboards
- Bedheads
- Upholstered bed panels
- Feature panels
- Replacement furniture buttons
The covered button can be made in the same fabric as the headboard or in a contrasting material.
Nail Back Buttons for Fixed Seating
No30 nail-back buttons are also suitable for fixed seating constructions where a direct fixing into the furniture backing is required.
Typical applications include:
- Sofa backs
- Chair backs
- Banquette seating
- Restaurant seating
- Contract seating
- Fixed upholstered panels
- Decorative seat-back detailing
The backing material must be suitable for receiving the nail securely.
Installing Covered Nail Back Buttons
Once the nail-back button has been fully assembled, it can be fitted into the prepared furniture backing.
For professional installation, use the Covered Nail Button Application Tool.
The tool is designed to help fix fabric-covered nail buttons without striking the finished button face directly.
This helps reduce the risk of:
- Marking the upholstery fabric
- Distorting the button shell
- Damaging the visible button
- Misaligning the nail during fitting
The application tool is available in No24, No30, No36 and No44 sizes.
Nail Back Buttons or Wire Back Buttons?
Different button backs are suited to different furniture constructions.
Choose nail backs when:
- The button will fix directly into a suitable frame or backing
- A nail fixing is required
- The reverse of the upholstery does not need a tied fixing
- Headboard or fixed seating work is being carried out
Choose Button Wire Backs when:
- Upholstery twine is being used
- The button needs to be pulled through the upholstery
- Traditional deep buttoning is required
- A wire loop fixing is preferred
Nail Back Buttons or Prong Back Buttons?
Button Prong Backs use long metal prongs that pass through the upholstery construction and are secured from the reverse.
Choose nail backs when the button is fixed directly into a suitable furniture backing.
Choose prong backs when:
- The fixing needs to pass through the upholstery
- Rear access is available
- A prong washer can be used
- A through-upholstery mechanical fixing is required
Nail Back Buttons or Hook Back Buttons?
Hook Backs are designed for covered buttons that hook onto a prepared upholstery twine loop.
Choose nail backs for direct fixing into a suitable backing.
Choose hook backs where:
- A prepared twine loop is used
- The button needs to hook into place
- The furniture construction is designed for a hook-style fixing
Nail Back Buttons for Furniture Restoration
No30 nail backs can also be used when replacing damaged or missing nail-backed buttons on existing furniture.
Before replacement, check:
- Original button size
- Nail length
- Button-back type
- Furniture backing material
- Button position
- Covering fabric
- Original fixing depth
Matching the original fixing system where practical helps maintain the furniture’s appearance and construction.
No30 Nail Backs for Trade Upholstery
Packs of 1,000 make these nail-back fittings suitable for:
- Professional upholsterers
- Headboard manufacturers
- Bed manufacturers
- Furniture factories
- Fixed seating manufacturers
- Contract furniture workshops
- Furniture restoration businesses
For matching shells, washers and alternative button-back systems, browse Button Parts.
For presses, dies, fabric cutters and nail-button application tools, browse Buttoning Tools.
Browse Buttoning Parts & Equipment for the wider professional upholstery buttoning range.
Registered trade customers receive preferential pricing. Log in to your account or register for a Livedale trade account.
For help choosing the correct button shell, nail length, washer or application tool, contact Livedale.
