Has anyone installed their own snaps through their canvas? I want to add straps to my canvas so that I can just roll up my strataglass rather than taking it down and storing it. I got a snap kit that came with the tool to do it, but it didn't have instructions. Do you punch a hole in the canvas first, then pound the snap tool with the snap hardware on the anvil I think it's called with a hammer to get it to set the snap? Any tips on doing this?
Installing Snaps
- Thread starter rich356
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Caution! If the fabric you are using to make the straps has any texture [such as canvas does], that texture will scratch your strataglass when they are rolled up due to vibration. Over time the scratches will become more and more visible. Are you sure you want that? However, if you make the straps out of material which is soft, such as a felt-like material, it will not scratch. I doubt that felt is strong enough though. Maybe the new micro-type material would be a good option.
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I made our straps out of a soft webbing. It will scratch like Flutter said but not too bad, I think it's nylon. You should punch a hole in your material before inserting the snap fixture. Most synthetic materials can be melted as well. We had to do that with the webbing. We have a punch tool but it isn't worth a darn. I heated up a nail, in vice grips, the same size as the snap and melted the hole. Prevents fraying too I guess. The hammer and anvil type are a PITA but short of investing a couple hundred for a special tool, they will work. Take your time and watch your fingers!
No need for hammers and pre-punching the holes. If your snap tool looks like a pair of pliers, it will do the job by itself. You just insert the appropriate snap member into the tool and locate the spot on the canvas where you want the snap. Squeeze the plier tool and it will punch the hole and spread the pin into the other member of the snap kind of like a pop rivet tool. My snap kit came with a tool that looks like a putty knife with an offset blade with a cutout on it to pry snaps open after they are set. You can also use this tool to remove a bad snap.
edit: my snap kit with bothtools was under $50 at a local fabric shop. It's paid for itself a hundred times over between casnvas repairs and draperies we have made for the boat. Snaps are very versatile gizmos with a bit of imagination applied.
additional edit: be sure you use only stainless steel snaps...you'll be doing the job again very soon if you don't
edit: my snap kit with bothtools was under $50 at a local fabric shop. It's paid for itself a hundred times over between casnvas repairs and draperies we have made for the boat. Snaps are very versatile gizmos with a bit of imagination applied.
additional edit: be sure you use only stainless steel snaps...you'll be doing the job again very soon if you don't
Liz - I'm definitely not SURE I want to do it, but I am sure that I don't want to keep taking the canvas down, putting sheets in between each panel, and storing under my forward berth only to put it back up when rain is on the way. I have those snap down carpets on my deck and I hate it when they get wet, but need them for the little one! I wonder if it's really the material the strap is made of that causes the scratches or dirt trapped between the strap and the strataglass that does it. Anyway, the strapping material I got is webbing made from polyester. Seems to work on the panels that alread have it on. I saw a tool that looks like a vice grip, but from what it sounds like it only attaches the dome cap part of the snap not the other "male" part. I may get it anyway though because it sounds like that anvil tool is a pain. I'll have to look at the snaps I bought. I think they're stainless, but I'm not sure of that. Thanks for the help everyone!
Funny you mention Saugatuck rgy because I'm cruising up there the weekend after the 4th. I'll get there about midday on Friday and I'm leaving on Sunday. I already ordered the expensive tool though! Not to change the topic of this thread, but I'll be moored at Tower and they mentioned following the channel to their docks. I assume the channel is marked with red buoys on the right correct?
yes, red should be on teh right. it's not that shallow just don't cut across from tower to seargents or to the red dock. the channel should be 6-8 feet and most of the lake 4-5 its just a few places that you would think should be deep that aren't. if you dont' have the tool by then and want to use mine or you wnat to have a beer let me know. I also have some other strapping and webbing that you may want to use.
Thanks Robert! I may take you up on that beer too because my wife is most likely going to be dancing the night away with friends of her's up there on Friday (and possibly Saturday) night, and I've already opted out of that and will probably be alone on my boat at least one of those nights. Nothing against dancing, but, well I'm not going to get into it here...Anyway, I'll be in slip 153 at Tower.