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Can Anyone Help With Hand Press Snap Die Problems?

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I just recently purchased the Craftool Hand Press (#3990-00) & Line 24 Die set because I'm setting enough line 24 snaps now to justify the expense (plus they are on sale!). I prefer the Dot Durable snaps because they are a better snap. I thought this would make life a little easier but nooooo! I ran into the following 2 issues:

1) The die set that compresses the stud and post has a 'compressor nub' or whatever you want to call it (the part of the die that actually compresses the post) that is too short. The end of the die is bottoming out on the flange of the stud and no matter how hard you want to try pressing the stud is so loose that it rattles when you shake it. :wtf: I tried several thicknesses of leather thinking that may be it but it wasn't. Also tried the Tandy/LF snap as well as the Dot Durable to no avail. Of course I can fix it by using the hand setter and a hammer but that is what I was trying to avoid having to do in the first place. This is definitely a defect but I was wondering if anybody else has had that particular problem? If there's a bad one out there it will find it's way to my door somehow.

2) I found out today that the Dot Durable caps (I use the black ones) are too big for the concave anvil part of the die set. When I set a cap I almost ruined the piece I was working on trying to get it to come back out! Once I finally got it out I measured the OD of the Dot cap with my dial calipers and found that they measure .602". The die anvil ID measured .598"! Bummer - that's worse than a press fit. That's like trying to fit 5 quarts in a gallon container...not good. The Tandy/LF caps measure .592 so there's enough leeway there. Does this mean I either have to use the inferior Tandy/LF snaps or maybe try to rework the die to make it big enough (I hope it's not hardened steel - just thought of that) or maybe I just got a bad set (who me?) or what? Sure there's a couple of things I can do to jerry rig the setup to make it work but I shouldn't have to I don't think at the price they charge for these dies. The dealer I bought it from would be glad to exchange it but I'm thinking it will probably be the same story. Anybody else run across this issue? Maybe they made the dies this way on purpose so you almost have to buy the Tandy/Lf snaps? Wish I had kept my metal lathe now, dang!

It seems that quality is rapidly becoming a thing of the past... :rip_1:

Thanks,

Richard

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I don't do a lot of hand setting of snaps anymore because of our volume, but back before I got the air operated machine, I was using an arbor press from Harbor Freight that I modified to hold 3/8" diameter stems.

I buy my snaps and setting tools from Ohio Travel Bag and never have a problem so long as we use the right buttons and eyelets.

The dies are on page 20 of their catalog... numbers T-1401 Button, T-1410 Socket, T-1412 Stud and T-1407 Eyelet

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Thanks for the advice Sharpshooter but I since I already have a bunch of the Dot Durable snaps I would prefer to use them since they were rather costly - at least for now. BTW - have you compared the quality of the line 24 snaps between those 2 suppliers by any chance?

Thanks,

Richard

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Thanks for the advice Sharpshooter but I since I already have a bunch of the Dot Durable snaps I would prefer to use them since they were rather costly - at least for now. BTW - have you compared the quality of the line 24 snaps between those 2 suppliers by any chance?

Thanks,

Richard

The quality of the Tandy vs OTB snaps is like night and day - way better from OTB. It's too bad that so much of Tandy's stuff is the lowest grade available. It would be nice to be able to pick stuff up locally rather than waiting for an order to come in. Their double cap rivets are another example.

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Hi Richard,

I use the Press-n-Snap for that application, seems to set everyone's stuff. I have 2, one for studs and one for caps, you can get by with one, changing dies. They cost $103 now, I bought them for $80 years ago. Here is a link. Here is the cheapest.

Dot also makes the Snapmaster which is twice as much (or more) but you can get more dies for it for the lift the dots and twist lock type snaps.

Art

Thanks for the advice Sharpshooter but I since I already have a bunch of the Dot Durable snaps I would prefer to use them since they were rather costly - at least for now. BTW - have you compared the quality of the line 24 snaps between those 2 suppliers by any chance?

Thanks,

Richard

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Art,

Thanks for the info. I am thinking I would like to just keep the hand press since it was on sale for a good price but will probably have to buy different dies for it if I can find some that will work with the Dot Durable snap. I guess there's not that many people who have tried using those snaps with the Tandy/LF die set since no one has posted replying to that particular question...

Ian,

Have you compared the quality of the Dot Durable snaps to the OTB snaps?

Thanks,

Richard

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