Upholstery Nail Buttons

[silliemillie]

Would like to re cover an old footstool but would like to jazz it up a but and have seen some crystal type nail buttons on eBay.

How do you use these? Is it just a matter of pushing them in? (Can't hammer cos they are crystal). And if so, don't they just come out again?

Any tips welcome.

[tonyav]

You could put a folded cloth over them and tap them in with a mallet.

[Mamyalynne]

Advice is so to use a nylon orlrubber hammer to apply them.

[Mamyalynne]

remove 'so'

[tonyav]

http://images.utrechtart.com/products/optionLarge/Utrecht/50899.jpg

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thor-710-Nylon-Hammer-1-Lb/dp/B0001P0YDM

[silliemillie]

Oh thanks guys, I have a rubber mallet. So they won't just pop out again? How do they stay in?

[1ozzy]

They will stay in the timber like all other nails Millie.

If your footstool had nails in it previously either fill the existing holes with a wood filler or place the nails into "clean" timber otherwise they may not grip.

Wood filler should be available in small quantities at any hardware store.

[silliemillie]

Ah I see, thank you 1ozzy, that's really helpful.

[1ozzy]

Hope your project goes well for you Millie.

Furniture repair/restoration is a bit of a hobby for me.

[silliemillie]

It is me too, but so far I have only painted/shabby chic'd stuff but now I want to go further.