Snaps

[MT Nest]

Is there a difference between snaps? I have*"lift the dot" snaps and it seems that after one year they have become dificult*to lift or push anymore. My thumb is really getting sore. I use them to fasten my canvas to the boat. Any ideas out there?

 

[Keith]

Maybe your canvas has shrunken. Can you adjust the framework to loosen it a bit?

 

[capt jerry]

go to the drug store and get a tube of* chap stick for the lips. it works great on the sanps

 

[Giggitoni]

West Marine sells "snap" lube in a tube. Works great.

 

[rwidman]

Giggitoni wrote:
West Marine sells "snap" lube in a tube. Works great.

*

Same here.* Starbrite brand.* It works well on zippers also.

*

 

[MT Nest]

Hey, thanks for all the replys! I'll try them all and see which one works best.
Cheers
Larry

 

[markpierce]

capt jerry wrote:
go to the drug store and get a tube of* chap stick for the lips. it works great on the sanps

*Like the idea of multi-purpose products.* More likely someone carries chap stick in their pocket compared to a special lubricant.

 

[Marin]

Assuming the lift-the-dot hardware is of good quality--- ie, stainless--- it should last for many years. Some of our canvas uses this hardware and we've had the boat 13 years and Lord knows when the canvas was fitted before we bought it. Some of it was pretty old in 1998 and, much to my amazement, it's still holding up.

The only problems we've ever had with lift-the-dot hardware is on our caprail covers, which we leave on during the winter even though we use the boat year-round. Even though we rinse the boat off after a weekend cruise, and even though it rains 24/7/365 up here, corrosion does get a grip on the posts and snaps. While we have never had a lift-the-dot fastener fail to snap or unsnap, it's obvious that their lives have been shortened, particularly on the forward quarter of the boat where they are often drenched in spray.

We use Vaseline to lube the lift-the-dot hardware and the regular snap hardware on the boat.

 

[markpierce]

Marin wrote:

... <a></a>even though it rains 24/7/365 up here

*I've never seen a sunny day in Alaska either.

 

[MT Nest]

There're*all stainless but almost impossible to snap some of them on. I don't care what I try they just won't snap on! If some of the suggestions don't work I may just relace them.

 

[rwidman]

markpierce wrote:capt jerry wrote:
go to the drug store and get a tube of* chap stick for the lips. it works great on the sanps

*Like the idea of multi-purpose products.* More likely someone carries chap stick in their pocket compared to a special lubricant.

But do you want to use it on your lips after using it on the snaps?

*

 

[WayneM]

I use WD40 works like a champ.

 

[RickB]

Yeah, but it tastes awful.

 

[dwhatty]

charles wrote:
I used VASELINE for decades on mine. Big glob on female snap.
Just another way to fix it.

*Charles! Love the straight line.

 

[sbu22]

Recently had some new flybridge cushions made. When I received them, the fabricator was careful to caution me against trying to "yank" the snaps. He advised using a thin blade (screwdriver), initially, to assist until they "wore in"a bit. Also, he applied silicon lube to each before the initial install and advised me to renew occasionally. Apparently, back in the day, when brass snaps were used, the snaps would wear in over time to a point where they held securely but little force was required to undo them. Not so (or maybe as much) with the SS. The silicon lube has not stained the fabric.