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A man wears gloves and removes upholstery from a chair using a specialty tool

How Do You Remove a Hog Ring?

Whether your car seats are damaged, your fencing snaps, or you want to recover your furniture, there may come a day when you have to remove hog rings. These stubborn fasteners provide a long-lasting hold, so they can be challenging to remove. The good news is that removing them is possible—you just need the right tool and a little bit of patience.

Removal Steps

A man uses a specialty tool to remove a staple from fabric
  1. Use diagonal pliers or hog ring pliers to grip and twist the hog ring carefully. Unlike standard pliers, diagonal pliers give you the right grip and control.
  2. Squeeze the tool to cut the ring. Or, if you need to reuse the material, use the pliers to bend the hog ring open.
  3. Carefully remove the ring pieces and inspect to ensure there aren’t any remaining fragments in the material that could cause injury.
  4. Repeat until all the hog rings are removed.

That’s it!

Tips

  • Use needle-nose pliers to hold material steady or to remove extra-stubborn hog rings.
  • Always wear gloves and protective gear to prevent injuries.
  • Use a magnet to pick up hard-to-see fragments.
  • Go for hog ring pliers first if you plan to reuse the material. Hog ring pliers are better for unbending hog rings, while diagonal pliers are better for cutting.
  • When possible, work on a stable surface.
  • Don’t rush! It’s a tedious, repetitive job, but rushing can lead to injuries or damaged material.

Find More Resources

King Steel Fasteners is a trusted supplier of hog rings, hog ring tools, and other accessories. You can visit our blog for more resources or browse our inventory to purchase specialty hog ring pliers.