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Nails · Trade series (upholstery tacks) · Application guide

What Are Upholstery Tacks Used For?

Typical applications, the industries that specify upholstery tacks, and how to choose the right size, material and finish for the joint.

Upholstery Tacks are used for securing fabric, padding or visible trim to a wood frame with a matched tack head and length. They are manufactured to Trade series (upholstery tacks), and selection is driven by the nominal diameter, the fit and tolerance the assembly requires, and the service environment.

Primary duty
Securing fabric, padding or visible trim to a wood frame with a matched tack head and length
Governing standard
Trade series (upholstery tacks)
Category
Nails

Application notes are general engineering guidance. Verify the property class and any approval requirement against your own design calculation.

What Are Upholstery Tacks Used For? application image

Upholstery Tacks (Trade series (upholstery tacks)) are specified where the joint requires securing fabric, padding or visible trim to a wood frame with a matched tack head and length. The sections below cover the typical end-uses by industry, the size and material decisions for each, assembly practice, and the applications this fastener type is not suited to.

Typical Applications for Upholstery Tacks

The most common settings where these are specified:

  • Furniture upholstery: Steel and copper tacks secure fabric, padding and trim to a wood frame.
  • Restoration work: Trade sizes provide a direct replacement for exposed upholstery tacks.
  • Decorative trim: Head diameter sets the visible finish on the fabric edge.
  • Cabinet and seat work: Length is selected from the fabric and backing stack.

How to Specify Upholstery Tacks for Your Application

  • Size: Match the size to the mating part — see the dimension table below for each option.
  • Material: Choose the material and finish for the service environment — plated steel for general use, stainless for corrosion resistance.
  • Environment: For damp, coastal or chemical exposure prefer A4/316 stainless or a suitable coating; indoors, plated steel or A2 is usually sufficient.
  • Standard: This product is supplied to Trade series (upholstery tacks). Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions between suppliers.

Where Upholstery Tacks Are Not the Right Choice

Not for joints needing later removal or high withdrawal resistance — a screw holds far better in tension.

Technical Drawing

Customize the parameters below — every spec field is editable, and the drawing redraws to match the values you choose. Changing the size will snap the other fields to that size's standard values; you can then override any individual value.

Sends the selected values to the quote form below.

Request a Quote

The form below follows the current technical drawing configuration. Change the drawing values above and the request details update automatically.

Request a Quotation

Specification
Business Information

Dimensions & Specifications (Trade series (upholstery tacks))

MaterialTrade sizeLength (in)Head diameter (in)
steel33/83/16
steel61/23/16
steel89/163/16
steel105/81/4
steel143/41/4
copper61/21/4
copper105/81/4
copper143/41/4
Inside the plant

Manufactured in our own plant

This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided.

  1. Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine
    01

    Cold heading

    Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail.

    Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift.

  2. Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads
    02

    Thread rolling

    Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch.

    Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g.

  3. Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment
    03

    Heat treatment

    Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it.

    Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1.

  4. Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket
    04

    Surface treatment

    Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list.

    Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which industries use Upholstery Tacks?

They are commonly specified in furniture upholstery, restoration work and decorative trim, among other sectors.

How do I choose the right size of Upholstery Tacks?

Match the size to the mating part using the dimension table on this page.

Do Upholstery Tacks hold as well as screws?

Nails resist shear well and drive fast, but screws hold far better in withdrawal (tension). Use screws where the joint is loaded in pull-out or may need removal.

Are Upholstery Tacks made to a recognized standard?

Yes — they are manufactured to Trade series (upholstery tacks), so dimensions are interchangeable between suppliers when you quote the standard on your order.

Can I get a quote for Upholstery Tacks in the size and material I need?

Yes. Use the technical drawing and quote form on this page to set the size and options, then send the exact configuration to our team for pricing and lead time.