Thumb Tacks Key Terms

Thumb tacks key terms to help businesses display information

By Heidi Crossman

Thumb tacks are proudly displayed on walls and tack boards in schools and businesses. Tacks are made of a sharp pin attached to a flat head for ease of pushing the pin into something. Thumb tacks are used to secure items in place. This is not to be confused with sticky tack, which also holds things to a background but is not a pin. Instead, sticky tack is a sticky, putty-like, reusable adhesive.

Thumb tacks are also known as pushpins and drawing-pins in other countries. Because of differences in size and type of thumb tacks, there are some thumb tacks key terms that will make you more familiar with this handy office supply.

Fabric-covered tacks

Fabric-covered tacks are decorative thumb tacks. The head of the tack is wrapped with fabric of various colors and styles to create a unique and beautiful decorative tool.
Try: Check out How About Orange for an image and information on fabric-covered thumb tacks.

Magnetic thumb tacks

Magnetic thumb tacks work the same as pin thumb tacks, securely hanging an item. The magnetic thumb tack uses magnets to hold your important documents and precious photographs so that they are not riddled with pin holes. These tools preserve the integrity of the material you are hanging.
Try: Look at the information on the apartment therapy website to learn more about magnetic thumb tacks.

Map pin

A map pin is a type of push pin with a special numbered, colored or flagged head. These pins are helpful when used on maps to pin point various locations.
Try: Learn about map pins and how they are used at McCarthy's Geographics.

Nickel plating

Thumb tacks are often plated or covered with nickel. One of the benefits of this is to prevent the pin from rusting. The pins are also plated to assist with the durability of the metal because of the forceful work the pin is subject to upon repeatedly entering a hard wall or board.
Try: See GreenLightOffice.com for examples of thumb tacks that are nickel plated. Products Finishing Magazine explores the need to nickel plate certain items and information on how the process is undertaken.

Push Pin

A push pin is a type of thumb tack but instead of a flat head, the push pin has a long head that is easier to hold and push.
Try: Discover information on push pins and examples at Keysan.

Tackboard

Often made of vinyl, fabric or cork, a tackboard is an amenable surface to hang items using thumb tacks.
Try: See Displays2go for a definition of tackboard and some different board types. Learn about some of the other features of tackboards at Ergo In Demand.

Thumb Tacks Key Terms