trouble with snaps

H

Hmathews

Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
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Is anyone else having trouble flaring the post on a snap? I have had a flaring tool for years that has worked great with an arbor press. With a new batch of snaps, all it does is mash the post flat and not secure the two pieces together. I don't know if it is my flaring tool or the new snaps that is causing the problem. Any ideas?
 
Harry, it seems like a stretch for the flaring die to go bad all of a sudden, so my first thought would be the new snaps. Are they the same brand as you were previously using? Ordinarily, as you know, using a press is bullet proof. One other thing, (and I apologize for even thinking this) are you sure you had the correct top die in the press?

Paul
 
Thanks for the reply Paul. I am getting older, and my memory never was what it used to be, but the die was the first thing I checked. I had the right one. I wish that was the problem. It sure would be an easy fix.

The snaps came from the same supplier I have been using for years, but who knows who made them. I wish I had some of the older ones to compare with the new ones. I wouldn't have thought that the die would screw up either. I'm thinking the snaps are screwed up.
 
Is it possible that the new snaps you are using have a longer post than the old ones? The post has to be a certain length otherwise once its crimped to a certain point, it will just mash down since it cannot be crimped any further.
 
The post should really start rolling out and back on itself. It is just mashing down with out rolling out at all. It is like the hole in the post is too small and the post is too thin to support the pressure of the die. I have been using them for years with no problems and now every one screws up.:mad:

Any ideas where I can get some good ones. I won't mention where I got the ones I have until I find out what the problem is and give them a chance to make it right.
 
I just got a set of tandy snaps, and after ruining a couple of the top snaps trying to set them I was super frustrated!

Not only were they not rolling (the post) they were bending etc.

On a side note, I got a pack of snaps, and they are bottoms only 1 domed top snap left and like 20 bottom snaps.
 
I personally do not like Tandy's snaps. I have had good luck with snaps purchased from Ohio Travel Bag. The ones they offer are much more sturdy.
 
I just did my first snaps today on my first sheath. Tandy snaps they were. I had to use a dremel cut off wheel to shorten the post as it was too long. Same issue I had with some rivets too. Too short or too long and your hooped.:o
 
I jsut checked out the Ohio Travel Bag. They have a lot of interesting stuff, but I don't care for their web site at all. Not sure how you order anything or find anything either.
 
I got my snaps from Tandy too. I have used them for years with no problems, but this batch seems to be too thin. I have e-mailed them about the problem but haven't heard back yet.
 
Just a point of curiosity...are these faulty Tandy snaps line 20 and line 24 either or both???

Paul
 
Ive had bad luck with both of tandy line 20 and 24 snaps lately, especially the top half, about 3 of 4 have been bunk for me lately. Makes me wonder what has changed...
 
Line 24 are the only ones I have used lately and I would agree that the top half seems to be the one that causes the problems.
 
I have emailed a link to this thread to Jim Koerber at Tandy/LF to alert him to the potential problem. We'll see what the outcome will be.

Paul
 
Quite a while ago, maybe 7 to 8 years, TLF had this same problem, the innards of the caps were too thin causing all sorts of problems and it took a lot of fussing by a lot of people to get something done.

I hope this isnt a repeat situation.
 
Hmathews said:
I jsut checked out the Ohio Travel Bag. They have a lot of interesting stuff, but I don't care for their web site at all. Not sure how you order anything or find anything either.
Click to expand...

Yeah their ordering setup is kinda difficult. You need to make a business account with them(its free), and they will give you access to the ordering page. They will also send you a catalog with your first order to make any future orders easier. Reason I use them is because they've got stuff you just cant find anywhere else.
 
Harry, the finest snaps I have ever used are known as the Durable Dots. They come in steel, brass, and stainless steel. They come in different lengths of the posts and caps as well as various strengths of retention. They even have a snap that will disengage only from one direction. These are the ones known as "pull the dot". There is a factory in Clarkesville, GA that manufactures them, Scovill Industries, which is world wide. You might find retailers through the search function. Sandy
 
Harry and all. Jim Villwock of TLF Customer service responded to my email and he is looking into the problem. Could just be a bad Lot from the Supplier/Manufacturer which could wind up being a huge deal in terms of numbers. I'm sure they buy those in mutli-thousands.

Paul
 
I got a quick reply to my e-mail too Paul. They said that they were taking some of the snaps down to their R&D dept. Then Tandy said that they had the same problem with the caps. I believe that they are serious about the problem and we will hear from them when they come up with a solution. Hope so anyway. They were really quick on the response to the request for information. I was impressed!
 
Good to hear that they are taking it seriously.

My local TLF carries snaps by the case, I buy by the 100's and there's at least ten bags per case and most often they have around two cases of each color with three colors offered. Thats a lot of snaps to work with if they're bad.

I wonder when this started, I have been thinking that my snap setter press was not setting snaps properly and gave up on it, that was months ago.
 
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