Every roll is measured before it shipsMade-to-size cane panels, cut to the 1/4 in
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Small pile of antique brass domed upholstery tacks, a few apart showing their pointed shanks, on a white background

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Chair Seat Repair & Upholstery

Upholstery Tacks, Antique Brass, 7/16 in Domed Head, 100 or 500

Round domed decorative tacks in an antique brass finish, 7/16 in head, for finishing rush, seagrass and upholstered seat edges and for nailhead trim.

Pack100 tacks
$6.99

A row of brass tacks is the traditional finish along the edge of an upholstered seat, and a few in the right places tidy the edge of a rush or seagrass seat. These are round, domed decorative tacks in an antique brass finish, with a 7/16 in head and about 1/2 in long overall. They come in packs of 100 or 500.

Where they go:

  • Along the edge of an upholstered seat, over the fabric where it meets the wood
  • On the edges of rush and seagrass seats, where the weave meets the frame
  • As nailhead trim on headboards, footstools and chair backs

Putting them in:

  • Mark the line first. A strip of masking tape works well: draw the spacing on the tape, tack through the marks, then peel the tape away.
  • Tap each tack in with a small hammer through a scrap of leather or thick cardboard, so the hammer face doesn't mark the antique finish.
  • In hardwood, start a small hole with an awl so the shank goes in straight.
  • Set them head to head for a continuous band, or space them evenly for a lighter look.

If a tack bends, pull it out with pliers and use a fresh one; a straightened tack rarely goes in true. On a curved edge, mark the spacing with a flexible tape measure laid along the curve.

The domes are the part people see, so hold the tack upright for the first light tap, then drive it home through the pad with a few firm ones. Stop when the rim of the head meets the surface; driving harder flattens the fabric or dents the wood around it.

How to choose

Measure the line the tacks will follow, in inches, and decide how close you want them. Set head to head, the 7/16 in heads take about 27 tacks per foot. Spaced one head apart, it is about 14 per foot.

That means a pack of 100 covers a little over 3.5 ft head to head, or a little over 7 ft spaced one head apart: enough for accents on a woven seat, a small footstool, or repairs to an existing row.

Choose the 500 pack for continuous nailhead trim on a headboard, a sofa or a set of chairs. Either way, keep a few spares for the ones that bend.

Questions

How many do I need?

Head to head, about 27 per foot; spaced one head apart, about 14 per foot. Measure your line and add a few spares.

How do I keep a straight row?

Run a strip of masking tape along the line, mark the spacing on it, tack through the marks and peel the tape away.

Will the hammer scratch the finish?

It can. Tap through a scrap of leather or thick cardboard, and stop as soon as the head sits down on the surface.

Can I use them to fix upholstery webbing?

They are made for show, on the finished edge. Fix webbing with plain upholstery tacks or staples, which stay hidden under the padding.

The wood is very hard and they bend. What helps?

Make a starter hole with an awl, hold the tack upright with pliers for the first light tap, then drive it home through the pad.

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