Pictures of dies for snap press needed

[Patrice Lemée]

Found a old press that is missing the dies. Press needs a lot of love to bring it back to life but that's part of the fun. I am missing the dies though so I need to make some. I am having a hard time figuring out with online pics what they look like or more precisely which one goes where and does what. Sorry, I am slow.
Any of you guys have pictures of them that would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Pics coming when I have it done.

 

[sheathmaker]

Pat, this photo will give you an overview and we can shoot some more specific close ups as needed if these are in fact what you are looking for.

This shows my press and dies for ligne 20 snaps and I also have the dies for ligne 24 snaps. Also shown are dies for double cap (or single cap) rivets in small, med, and large and for glove snaps.

Paul

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks Paul, that is perfect, exactly what I was looking for. Should be more than enough for me to figure out the shapes and sizes I need to turn on the lathe. Also shows that some parts are made out of plastic, I guess as not to mar the fittings.
Really appreciate you taking the time to take the pic. Thanks again my friend.

 

[Kiah]

Patrice, you might check out the pictures of the "Master" ones KnifeKits sells as well. Complete newbie there so don't know the advantages/disadvantages of that style, but they're more similar to a handheld setter and anvil.

Paul (or anyone), I'm getting a bit into snaps for some things. Got the KnifeKits dies in Yesterday and some Tandy ones on the way (deal I couldn't pass up). Any advantage in your opinion in saving my pennies for a press like you're using over using them with the modified arbor press I already use for eyelet dies?

 

[sheathmaker]

Kiah, The big difference might just be in the speed of the set up and then one stroke vs several with the jack. I have used my set up for years and it would be and is my choice even over the much more expensive foot operated offerings.

Paul

 

[Kiah]

Thanks, Paul.

Looking at 'em for now. The press I have is just a swing type, not a ratcheting one, so just the one stroke. Main issue with it at the moment seems to be controlling the pressure. I may rig up a return spring a depth stop on it and see how that goes.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks for the link Kiah but I think the type Paul posted would work best for my press.

 

[Kiah]

Thanks for the link Kiah but I think the type Paul posted would work best for my press.

:thumbup: Got in the Tandy ones Today and they're definitely a different animal.

Paul, would you mind doing me a small favor (or anyone with the Tandy press)? I may be able to pick one up relatively cheaply, but am curious if it'll also fit my MKS eyelet dies. The shanks are the same at 3/8", but they're a bit tall. Would you (or anyone) mind measuring the distance between the bottom of the ram and base not including dies when you happen to be around it? May pick it up anyway since I got the snap dies for a song, but fitting my eyelet dies would be a big push.

 

[sheathmaker]

With the ram handle adjustment screw all the way down (neutral) the space between the face of the ram and the floor is 2 7/8". This would be the absolute max space available. My press is one of the older blue ones but I assume the newer red presses would be about the same for that measurement.

Paul

 

[Kiah]

Thanks, Paul. That should be plenty of room. Went ahead and bought it (it's blue). Came out pretty good I figure even if I do decide to stick to the arbor press for eyelets.

 

[Kiah]

On a side note to the general public, I did plan on making a depth stop for my arbor press, but then happened across the "Panapress Posi-stop" that PanaVice makes for their small arbor presses and got it Today. It'll fit any 3/4"x3/4" square ram (what's on my 1/2 ton, too small for my 1 ton). Not the most heavy duty thing in the world, but cheap and works well for anyone looking for a depth stop.

 

[leatherman]

I might have to try those other dies. I have the red press and its just not working well, I've had more snap failures with it than my hand setting. I just dont know if its the press or the dies. Frustrating to say the least. The only advice I've ever been given was offer to buy or sell for me, yea that helps huh

Kiah, if that blue press works with your new dies, then that might answer my question. Please let me know.

 

[Kiah]

I might have to try those other dies. I have the red press and its just not working well, I've had more snap failures with it than my hand setting. I just dont know if its the press or the dies. Frustrating to say the least. The only advice I've ever been given was offer to buy or sell for me, yea that helps huh

Kiah, if that blue press works with your new dies, then that might answer my question. Please let me know.

Spent a while researching and as far as I can tell it's the same press, just with a different paint color. Apparently they were painted green at one point as well.

Easy enough to figure out whether it's your dies. PM inbound.

ETA: OK, email inbound. BFC apparently thinks my PMs are a bit too wordy to send Tonight.

 

[Kiah]

With the ram handle adjustment screw all the way down (neutral) the space between the face of the ram and the floor is 2 7/8". This would be the absolute max space available. My press is one of the older blue ones but I assume the newer red presses would be about the same for that measurement.

Paul

Got it in and works perfect. Eyelet dies fit just fine, but will probably stick to the arbor press for eyelets as it's a lot faster in use (which could just be muscle memory). All set for snaps and the like though. :thumbup:

Thanks again.

 

[leatherman]

Spent a while researching and as far as I can tell it's the same press, just with a different paint color. Apparently they were painted green at one point as well.

Easy enough to figure out whether it's your dies. PM inbound.

ETA: OK, email inbound. BFC apparently thinks my PMs are a bit too wordy to send Tonight.

So far so good! Looks like I have either a bad press or bad dies. Off to the seller to have it checked out. Glad I kept it and didn't just sell it off. I never want to pass on defective stuff, bad karma.

 

[sonil]

:thumbup: Got in the Tandy ones Today and they're definitely a different animal.

Paul, would you mind doing me a small favor (or anyone with the Tandy press)? I may be able to pick one up relatively cheaply, but am curious if it'll also fit my MKS eyelet dies. The shanks are the same at 3/8", but they're a bit tall. Would you (or anyone) mind measuring the distance between the bottom of the ram and base not including dies when you happen to be around it? May pick it up anyway since I got the snap dies for a song, but fitting my eyelet dies would be a big push.

if you cut a little bit of the shank of the die, it won`t be a problem...i have the USA knifemaker dies and on the one that fits in the arbor plate, i did cut it down a bit so i can rotate the base plate freely ...

 

[Kiah]

if you cut a little bit of the shank of the die, it won`t be a problem...i have the USA knifemaker dies and on the one that fits in the arbor plate, i did cut it down a bit so i can rotate the base plate freely ...

Already tried 'em out. They fit nice and flush. They also fit perfectly in my arbor press plate. Wonder if they changed the shank length at some point or our plate thicknesses are just different?

 

[sonil]

Already tried 'em out. They fit nice and flush. They also fit perfectly in my arbor press plate. Wonder if they changed the shank length at some point or our plate thicknesses are just different?

i had it sit lower in the plate (the whole shank and part of the body ) for a reason that i don`t remember anymore, and it was extending below the plate so i just cut it (shank)down a bit

 

[Patrice Lemée]

A little update.

Here is a pic of the press I was thinking of making dies for and of something else I found while cleaning tools I have from my Dad.

Is funny cause as you can see, the dies look very much like the ones Paul posted. I am pretty sure that this was used exactly for this.

And the most amazing part, beside me finding this at the same time I wanted to make a snap press, is the age of this tool:

A few other marking for people who like me love old tools.

Gonna give this a try with the snaps I have and go from there. Might still make some when I have time for the other press in the first picture which was used for break pads I believe.

 

[Kiah]

Let us know how it goes. My guess though is that those dies are for some sort of grommet or hollow rivet or something of that sort. The ones on the left look very much like my eyelet dies.

For snaps (at least the ones you're probably thinking of), the post portion on the setter part of the dies (2nd and fourth from left to right) should be a lot shorter (just nubs) and the anvils should be solid. Those look like they're made to pass through something. The long post you see on Paul's dies is for the stud post to sit on and is actually spring loaded and retracts into the die as the stud is set as it has to move out of the way of the other die.