What on earth do you call this piece of metal and where can I get one?

September 29, 2009 12:40 PM

At the end of woven straps, makers will put a metal cap to prevent the end from fraying. What is this cap called and where can I buy one?

I have this bag and one of the straps is missing its end cap. I'd like to replace it, but am hampered by two things.

1) I don't know what that little piece of metal is called
2) Since I don't know the name, it's hard to google it and find a place I could buy one.

The replacement doesn't have to be an exact match. I just want to keep the strap from fraying.

posted by iwhitney to sports, hobbies, & recreation (14 comments total)

I believe you are looking for an aglet
posted by Coobeastie at 12:43 PM on September 29

It's called an aglet.
posted by Skot at 12:43 PM on September 29

Aglet seems to be a pretty shoelace-specific term. But googling it did lead me to the word 'chape' which might be more accurate for the piece that I'm trying to replace.

Still no luck on buying these things, though. Looks like I may end up making one.
posted by iwhitney at 12:52 PM on September 29

My local army/navy surplus store carries this, where they are inelegantly called a "tip". I've seen some at Michael's crafts but they weren't usually as wide as you are looking for. Might try calling around to your local sewing and crafts shops too.

In the meantime, you can trim the frayed ends off and seal the fibers together with some elmer's glue. It will start fraying again but maybe not before you can find your replacement hardware.
posted by jamaro at 12:53 PM on September 29

In Vancouver we have a shop called Outdoor Innovations that sells various fabrics with which you could make jackets and tents and backpacks and such, as well as an assortment of buckles and clasps. If you can find a store like that where you live, it will probably have what you need.
posted by PercussivePaul at 12:55 PM on September 29

Also, if you have access to a reasonably good sewing machine, you can fold the end around itself and sew it shut. I have some bags which have this treatment instead of the clasp tips. Do the glue thing first, if you go this route.
posted by jamaro at 12:56 PM on September 29

You might try contacting the Ohio Travel Bag company. They sell all the possible bits and pieces needed to repair bags. On this (PDF) page of their catalog, they seem to call these "strapping end tips".
posted by Houstonian at 1:38 PM on September 29

If you're only worried about it fraying further and wish to make that stop -- usually I just burn the frayed ends off with a lighter. Not a nice-looking solution, I grant you, but it does stop the fraying.
posted by stennieville at 1:40 PM on September 29

Folding it over on itself might make it too thick to fit through the buckles. I would probably have at it with a hot knife (equivalent to burning the frayed ends but cleaner) since I have one. If that failed: duck tape.

I've been told that shoe repair places can fix things like this pretty easily.
posted by chairface at 1:45 PM on September 29

Aglet. Michael's or local arts and crafts store. Failing that, light a candle and let it burn until a pool of molten wax forms. Dip the end of your strap in it and smooth it out before it hardens. Clear nail polish will work, too.
posted by Lynsey at 2:06 PM on September 29

You could also use a ferrule to prevent fraying.
posted by JJ86 at 2:24 PM on September 29

The lighter trick will only work if the straps are nylon or some other plasticy material. The straps in the photo look more like cotton, and will probably just burn, not melt.
posted by Wulfhere at 4:02 PM on September 29

Webbing tips or strap ends; adding metal and crimp to your search may also help.
posted by zepheria at 7:15 PM on September 29

Seconding Ohio Travel Bag - they have everything for making and fixing bags and luggage.
posted by Quietgal at 9:02 PM on September 29