Snap set press

Rick Lowe

Rick Lowe

Joined
Jan 6, 2005
Messages
1,331
The work I'm doing requires me to attach line 24 snaps on each piece and the time it takes to use the hand held set and in the little anvil is driving me crazy (really didn't have that far to get there). I'm sure there is a small press designed to do this quicker and easier, but I haven't found it yet. Thought maybe someone could head me in the right direction.
Thanks!
 
Tandy's leather carry them. Or if you you want to go a cheaper route you can buy harbor fright arbor press drill the holes to fit the shank of the dies. You can get the dies from Tandy's as well cheapest pace I've seen so far.:thumbup:
 
i dont do many so i can not justify purchasing the dedicated one so that`s what i came up with:
DSC01752.jpg

the other side of the ram has the eyelet die
 
Rick, the press pictured below is the same one sold by Tandy today (except for color). They are fairly expensive now, as are the various dies, but the press and dies do a perfect job every time with no bent or mashed posts etc. What you see in the photo handles Line 20 snaps, Line 24 snaps, Large speedy rivets, Small speedy rivets, Glove snaps (Segma snaps) for belts and small items.

I have used it a lot over the years and wouldn't be without it.

Paul
 
Several years ago at a previous job we had a set of dies that slid onto the jaws of a pair of vice grips. They set snaps fast and perfect every time in heavy canvas. Not sure if it would also work for leather. A google search for "snap setter dies for vice grips" should yield some results.
 
Thanks for the info, guys! It's about what I thought, but wanted to hear some input.
Paul, I use small speedy rivets, to and that would be an added bonus. All these can be done with hands and hammer, but speed and finger comfort would mean a lot. By the way, I talked to Sandy M. yesterday and he's doing well. Will visit with him for a couple of days next month.
 
Please correct me if I'm wrong, the only experience I have with leather is getting some freebes that were wrong... But those presses look like arbor presses with a spring to retract them.

IF the action is similar, arbor presses can be had for less.
 
Kinda sorta yes, but the dies are a little different in the shank so a standard arbor press would have to be "fitted" to work. I spent the money not to have to monkey with trying to drill holes straight enough to work. I'm no machinist. Much easier to go ahead and bit the bullet and buy good equipment first and make the time up. :)

At least that is my experience looking at the one from Harbor Freight.
 
I got mine from Amazon (free shipping made it hard to beat). It came with a pre-drilled hole in the arm, that fits my eyelet dyes perfectly (that's the reason I asked. and the base plate looks like it could receive the other half of the die.

But yes I do agree about biting the bullet the first go round.
 
A machinist friend of mine milled out a triangular shaped hole in my arbor press (Harbor Freight cheapie)...the allen screw tightens the tool in place......I use the press for lot's of different things and I can set a snap the old fashioned way in less time that it takes me to set the press up for it.....but if I'm doing several, this works great.
 

Attachments

  • Picture 105.jpg
    Picture 105.jpg
    28.6 KB · Views: 19
theHobbyist said:
I got mine from Amazon (free shipping made it hard to beat). It came with a pre-drilled hole in the arm, that fits my eyelet dyes perfectly (that's the reason I asked. and the base plate looks like it could receive the other half of the die.

But yes I do agree about biting the bullet the first go round.
Click to expand...
Free shipping on a thing that heavy is a great deal! :)

The real expense is in the dies, darn things are expensive. I only have the Line 24 dies.
 
Just wanted to thank everyone for their response. This thread resulted in a guy, who is closing his leather business, contacting me. We got together yesterday in Knoxville and I came home with an almost new press and dies for snaps, rivets, and eyelets. All ready putting it to use!
 
you know what they say...timing is everything!!!
Glad it worked out for you :thumbup:
 
Rick Lowe said:
Just wanted to thank everyone for their response. This thread resulted in a guy, who is closing his leather business, contacting me. We got together yesterday in Knoxville and I came home with an almost new press and dies for snaps, rivets, and eyelets. All ready putting it to use!
Click to expand...
Good to hear! Is that the fellow I messaged you about? If so, very nice! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top