I fist used corsage pins: 100 in the box, sold by a quilt store that used to send a truck with orders from California.
I also have a Quiltak gun and use their 2" fasteners for the bottom of the top of the quilt. I found I could get closer to the quilt top edge when using my HQ.
I now have red snappers for the take up roller and the backing roller bars. I also used them for the quilt top but haven't finished the quilt now on the frame. So, not sure if I'll remove them from the quilt top when I get to the bottom of it.
Re: red snappers ... I couldn't put the rods together and had to get help from a fellow quilter's husband [he's an engineer and I knew he wouldn't harm my red snappers.] Also, the first few times using the r.s. will probably require more time and hand pressure. Mine took me a bit of time but at my friend's home her r.s.'s were easier to put on.
I also have the magnet bars from Harbor Freight so I can float my top. Just haven't used them yet.