Snaps - Metal Snaps and Where to Buy Them
Michelle Burke
Snaps . . . does the mention of the word make you cringe? Maybe you are like me and you love them! But I have not always loved snaps, for a long time I actually hated them. I hated having the cute baby outfit mostly finished only to fail about half the time I tried to get the snaps installed well. Then I was introduced to a new way to install snaps and that completely changed my mind about snaps – now I LOVE them! Before we go any further, I want you to know that the products I recommend are based on my use and opinion of them, I have not been given anything from the companies that make my favorite products nor do they even know that I wrote this blog series.
A Just the Ticket Luggage Tag with a metal snap from SnapSource.
This week, I am going to talk snaps – the different types available, where to buy them, and how to install them. Toward the end of the week, I will share a free pattern with you that has a snap, so you can try it out. I think once you know more about snaps, you will enjoy installing them as much as I do.
A metal snap from SnapSource on a Kristine ID Wallet.
Today, I am going to introduce metal snaps - where you can purchase these snaps and the tool you will need for installing them. There are two types of snaps available, metal and plastic. Both of these have their advantages and if you get the correct brands and tools, they are both easy to install correctly almost every single time.
When I started using snaps, I bought them from JoAnns. They were just the regular metal, ring snaps that are best installed with a plier kit for installing snaps and grommets. Sounds easy enough, but this is the point where I learned to hate snaps. The pliers did not work as well as I had hoped. It was almost as easy to set a snap wrong as to set it correctly. Looking at the reviews for this product (Dritz Plier Kit for Installing Assorted Snaps) on JoAnns, you will see that I am not the only one who struggles getting the pliers to work well. I do not recommend this product.
The SnapSetter Tool from SnapSource. Image from SnapSource.com
The best metal snaps and tool for installing them are from SnapSource. The SnapSetter Tool by SnapSource is what changed me into a lover of snaps. SnapSource also has a wonderful assortment of snaps available to choose from in a large variety of sizes and colors.
I have used my SnapSetter Tool with SnapSource snaps for several years and it is still going strong. I have the size 16 SnapSetter tool. The size 16 SnapSetter Tool can be used for cap and pearl snaps that are sizes 16, 18, 20 and 24. You will need a SnapSetter Tool Adaptor Base for pearl snaps that are sizes 16 and 18 and cap snaps that are sizes 20 and 24. The SnapSetter Tool is $9.00 and the adaptor (if you decide to purchase it) is only $3.25.
Colorful snaps from SnapSource. Image from SnapSource.com
The snaps range in price depending on size and type (pearl snaps are more expensive), but you can get 10 sets of size 16 cap snaps (the most common size for metal snaps) for $3.75 or 50 sets for $10.30. The only other tools you need are a hammer, a ruler, and a marking pencil or pen.
I am so excited about this week's blog posts about snaps. I hope you come to love snaps as much as I do by the end of this week! Tomorrow, I will discuss plastic snaps and let you know which ones I use and why. Installing metal and plastic snaps will be the topics of Wednesday and Thursday's blog posts. Then on Friday, I will be sharing a free pattern that uses a snap! Make sure to keep up with all the posts this week by signing up for the Uniquely Michelle newsletter below!