Description
Upholstery Prong Washers for Covered Button Fixings
These upholstery prong washers are designed for use with prong-backed covered buttons, providing the retaining point required on the reverse of the upholstery.
Once the prongs have passed through the upholstery construction, the washer helps secure the fixing and helps prevent the button pulling back through the material.
Supplied in packs of 1,000, they are suitable for professional upholstery, furniture manufacture, headboard production, restoration and other applications using prong-backed upholstery buttons.
Product Specification
- Product type: Upholstery button prong washer
- Pack quantity: 1,000
- Application: Securing prong-backed upholstery buttons
- Use with: Compatible button prong backs
- Function: Helps prevent the button pulling through the upholstery
- Suitable for: Deep buttoning, headboards, chair backs, sofa backs and upholstered panels
What Is an Upholstery Prong Washer?
A prong washer is fitted on the reverse side of upholstery after the prongs of a covered button have passed through the upholstered construction.
The washer provides a larger retaining surface than the prongs alone and helps keep the finished button securely positioned.
Prong washers may also be searched for as:
- Upholstery button washers
- Prong button washers
- Button retaining washers
- Upholstery button fixing washers
- Deep buttoning washers
- Headboard button washers
- Furniture button washers
- Prong-back button fixings
Why Use a Washer with Prong Buttons?
Prong-backed buttons place tension on the upholstery as the button is pulled into position.
Without a suitable retaining component, the fixing can place concentrated pressure on a relatively small area of the backing material.
A prong washer helps:
- Spread the fixing load
- Support the rear of the upholstery
- Reduce the risk of the button pulling through
- Hold the required button depth
- Create a more secure mechanical fixing
- Improve consistency across repeated buttoning work
This is particularly useful where the button is pulled deeply into foam and upholstery layers.
Use with 65mm Button Prong Backs
These washers are designed to complement Button Prong Backs.
Livedale prong backs use long 65mm prongs and are available in sizes 24, 30 and 36.
The prongs pass through the upholstery construction and the washer is then used at the reverse to secure the fixing.
A typical assembly is:
Covered button → prong back → upholstery layers → prong washer
The washer forms the retaining part of the fixing rather than the decorative face of the button.
Prong Washers for Deep Buttoning
Prong washers are particularly useful in deep-buttoned upholstery, where significant tension may be required to pull the visible button into the foam and fillings.
Typical applications include:
- Deep-buttoned headboards
- Diamond-buttoned furniture
- Sofa backs
- Chair backs
- Upholstered bed panels
- Ottomans
- Footstools
- Decorative wall panels
- Bespoke upholstered furniture
The washer helps hold the button at the required depth once the prongs have been secured at the rear.
Upholstery Prong Washers for Headboards
Headboards are a common application for prong-backed covered buttons.
A prong button can pass through the fabric, wadding, foam and suitable backing construction before being retained at the reverse using the washer.
Prong washers are useful for:
- Deep-buttoned headboards
- Diamond buttoning
- Square button layouts
- Upholstered bed panels
- Decorative headboard detailing
The finished appearance will depend on the button spacing, foam depth, fabric, button size and amount of pull applied during installation.
Prong Washers for Sofa and Chair Backs
Prong-backed buttons can also be used on suitable sofa and chair constructions.
Applications can include:
- Sofa backs
- Armchair backs
- Decorative furniture panels
- Feature upholstery
- Fixed upholstered panels
- Furniture restoration
The rear of the upholstery needs to remain accessible so the prongs and washer can be secured correctly.
Use with Aluminium Button Shells
The visible button can be made using compatible Aluminium Button Shells.
Livedale supplies aluminium shells in sizes 24, 30, 36 and 44, while the matching prong-back range is available in sizes 24, 30 and 36.
For a prong-backed button, match the shell and prong back to the same button size.
A typical covered button consists of:
Aluminium button shell → upholstery fabric → matching prong back
The completed button can then be installed through the upholstery and secured with the prong washer at the reverse.
Making Covered Prong-Back Buttons
Professional covered-button production requires the correct combination of components.
A typical setup includes:
- Aluminium button shell
- Upholstery fabric
- Matching button prong back
- Button die
- Fabric cutter
- Button press
- Prong washer for final installation
Browse Buttoning Tools for suitable presses, dies and fabric cutters.
Button Dies for Prong-Back Buttons
Use a correctly sized Button Die to form the upholstery fabric around the shell and assemble the shell and prong back.
Using the correct button die helps:
- Centre the components
- Form the fabric neatly
- Join the shell and back consistently
- Reduce damaged button parts
- Produce repeatable covered buttons
The die size should match the button shell and prong back being used.
Cutting Fabric for Covered Buttons
Use a Fabric Cutter to prepare consistent fabric circles before producing covered buttons.
Accurate cutting helps reduce:
- Excess material inside the button
- Insufficient fabric around the shell
- Uneven folds
- Poor shell coverage
- Inconsistent finished buttons
Always test the fabric, shell and prong-back combination before beginning a larger production run.
How to Use an Upholstery Prong Washer
After the covered prong button has been made:
- Mark the required button position.
- Pass the prongs through the appropriate upholstery layers.
- Access the prongs from the reverse of the work.
- Position the prong washer over the fixing.
- Secure the prongs cleanly against the washer.
- Check the button depth and alignment.
- Make sure no sharp prong ends remain exposed.
The exact installation method will depend on the furniture construction.
Prong Washers and Button Tension
The amount of tension used during buttoning affects the finished appearance.
More tension creates a deeper button depression, while less tension creates a shallower effect.
Prong washers help maintain the selected fixing depth by supporting the prongs at the rear.
Avoid applying more tension than the upholstery construction can support.
Prong Washers or Nail Back Spring Washers?
Prong washers and nail-back spring washers are designed for different button systems.
Choose prong washers when:
- Using long prong-backed upholstery buttons
- The prongs pass through the upholstery
- The fixing is secured from the reverse
- A washer is required to prevent pull-through
Choose Nail Back Spring Washers when assembling covered nail-back buttons for direct fixing into a suitable furniture backing.
Prong Buttons or Wire Back Buttons?
Prong-backed buttons use a mechanical through-upholstery fixing.
Button Wire Backs use a wire loop that can be secured using suitable upholstery twine.
Choose prong backs when:
- A direct mechanical fixing is required
- The prongs can pass through the upholstery
- Rear access is available
- A washer can secure the fixing
Choose wire backs when:
- Traditional upholstery twine is preferred
- The button will be tied from the rear
- A flexible tied fixing is required
Prong Buttons or Hook Back Buttons?
Hook Backs are designed to hook onto a prepared twine loop.
Prong-backed buttons instead pass directly through the upholstery and are retained mechanically at the rear.
Choose the fixing system according to:
- Furniture construction
- Upholstery depth
- Rear access
- Required button depth
- Original fixing method
Prong Washers for Furniture Restoration
Prong washers can also be used when replacing missing or damaged prong-backed buttons on existing furniture.
Before replacing the original fixing, check:
- Button size
- Existing back type
- Prong condition
- Upholstery depth
- Washer condition
- Button spacing
- Required pull depth
Matching the existing fixing method helps maintain the original furniture construction and finished appearance.
Prong Washers for Professional Upholstery
Packs of 1,000 make these upholstery prong washers suitable for:
- Professional upholsterers
- Headboard manufacturers
- Furniture manufacturers
- Upholstered bed manufacturers
- Contract furniture workshops
- Furniture restoration businesses
- Soft furnishing workrooms
For the matching button fixing, use Button Prong Backs.
For compatible shells and alternative button backs, browse Button Parts.
For dies, cutters and presses, browse Buttoning Tools.
Browse Buttoning Parts & Equipment for the wider range of professional upholstery buttoning components and equipment.
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, back, washer or button-making equipment, contact Livedale.
