Upholstery Hand Tools

Tailor’s Shears

• Tailor’s shears are specially made for heavy-duty fabrics and are very sharp down to the tip for cutting precise corners. They are made with forged metal for strength, come in 9, 10 and 12 inch lengths and are designed to reduce hand-fatigue. (Source 6)

Upholstery Stapler

• There are many types of upholstery staplers available, from electric power staplers to manual “hammer tackers.” A power upholstery stapler is a specialized staple gun that is designed for the materials and shapes of furniture. A hammer tacker is a manual hand tool that resembles a hammer. It is loaded with upholstery tacks and the force of hammering the head against a surface releases and pushes the tack into the frame.

Stapler Remover

• A stapler remover is necessary for taking off old upholstery fabric that is stapled to the frame. Some staple removers are designed to also remove tacks.

Diagonal Pliers

• Diagonal pliers are needed to pull out staples if the staple remover lifts but doesn’t entirely remove the staple. This tool is often designed with sharp blades between the handle and the nose for snipping off pieces of staple too small for pulling.

Stretchers

• There are three types of stretchers. First is a “goose neck,” which resembles a small paint roller; at the end of its handle is an oblong-shaped block with teeth that hook into the strapping and stretch it tight. It provides excellent leverage and is the stretcher of choice for many upholsterers. Second, is the “non-goose neck.” This type is made of hardwood. It is 8 inches long by 3 to 4 inches wide and has a slight hourglass shape so the hand can grip the tool around the middle. It has steel teeth at one end to grip the strapping and a corrugated rubber guard at the other end to protect exposed wood. Last is the “jaw stretcher.” It resembles a pair of pliers with a 3 1/2 inch wide jaw that grips fabric or webbing so it can be pulled safely.

Tucking Tool

• A tucking tool is made for putting in headliner and getting into hard-to-reach places. It resembles a cutting knife, with a smooth, plastic or metal blade that is both rigid and flexible, designed to tuck in material without snagging it.

Rubber Mallet

• A heavy-duty rubber mallet is used to install tack strips and ply grips without damaging the wood part of the furniture.