Wallet snap fastener help

[TimRoberts]

Hi All,

I only started leatherwork about 4 weeks ago, so please excuse my lack of knowledge. Im a watchmaker by trade and wanted to learn to make my own watch straps, which has so far been relatively successful. I decided i would like to make my father a wallet for fathers day, and the whole process has been very enjoyable. Ive completed a test piece which i'm currently using but i'm not happy with the closure. Ive used a snap fastener which seems to add a lot of bulk to the wallet, and im really looking for a more elegant solution. Do snap fasteners come in different thicknesses? If so then where is the best place to buy these in the UK? Ideally i would like to hide the female side inside the strap, but the fasteners ive used appear to be too bulky for this. I will try to post photos to illustrate the problem.

[Mablung]

Did you cut those pieces or use a kit? Either way, that looks fabulous. Excellent work! As to the snap, I can’t quite tell how tall it is, but most of your bulk comes from the thickness of the layered card pockets, I wager (my personal wallet looks similar). You may be able to reduce the bulk by skiving the edges, and/or reducing the number of pockets inside, and thus the number of overall layers. To hide the female portion in the snap would likely require a different style of snap altogether (that one looks like a line 20 snap). KAM Snap has been recommended on here and appears to be very low-profile, although I haven’t had occasion to use its products personally. I think @fredk can tell you more. 

Edited June 16 by Mablung

[TimRoberts]

Thanks Mablung, I really appreciate your reply. Yes I designed the wallet in Inkscape and cut everything myself. The inside is 1.2mm buttero, as is the outer cover. I skived T pocket either side. Generally Im ok with the thickness of the wallet, that photo was taken with it full of cards and some cash, although next time I will try and source thinner leather for the inside. It’s mainly the way the strap sits so far above the cover due to the snap. I know nothing about leather hardware so just bought a cheap fastener kit on Amazon. I will try to post more photos showing this better. Thanks for recommending fasteners, I will definitely look into those. 

[TimRoberts]

[TimRoberts]

Sorry for multiple photos but this probably shows the problem best. It’s pretty worn in now as I’ve had it in my back pocket for about a week. 

[fredk]

A KAM snap would do the job

To hide the female part of this regular snap you would need to cut around it, before installing it, on the strap, removing some leather, shortening the post on it then fitting it

[jrdunn]

I don't know about others but I personally don't need a closure(snap or strap) on my wallet.  If it's in my pocket, it's closed.  If I have it out, I've got it opened (looking for money).  JM2C,  Jim

[TimRoberts]

On 6/17/2024 at 5:35 AM, fredk said:

A KAM snap would do the job

To hide the female part of this regular snap you would need to cut around it, before installing it, on the strap, removing some leather, shortening the post on it then fitting it

So sorry for the delay in getting back to you Fred, thanks for your help. Ive googled Kam snaps, are you talking about the metal version? So if i understand you correctly i would punch the hole for the snap (female part), and then skive the leather round the hole so that the cap will sit in a recess? Then i can cover the snap in the second layer of leather therefore hiding the snap. Is that roughly correct? Will the Kam snap be thin enough to accomplish this? The leather im using for the strap is only 1.2mm so i guess i could skive that down to 0.6mm around the hole.

On 6/17/2024 at 3:07 PM, jrdunn said:

I don't know about others but I personally don't need a closure(snap or strap) on my wallet.  If it's in my pocket, it's closed.  If I have it out, I've got it opened (looking for money).  JM2C,  Jim

I understand its personal preference completely and is not needed. I really like a closure on my wallets. It just feels more 'finished' aesthetically to me.

[JDFred]

Have you considered a magnet closure instead of snap?  The only down side is at this point you would have to disassemble the wallet to get the magnets where they go.

[TimRoberts]

12 minutes ago, JDFred said:

Have you considered a magnet closure instead of snap?  The only down side is at this point you would have to disassemble the wallet to get the magnets where they go.

I had considered one, but had read stories of the magnet affecting the cards. Im not sure if this is true or not tho. Ive started making a new wallet so installing a different fastener wouldnt be a problem.

I was doing some googling last night and saw some Cobrax snap fasteners. They look very expensive, but very slim and nicely finished, Do you have any experience of them?

[toxo]

On 6/17/2024 at 3:07 PM, jrdunn said:

I don't know about others but I personally don't need a closure(snap or strap) on my wallet.  If it's in my pocket, it's closed.  If I have it out, I've got it opened (looking for money).  JM2C,  Jim

This.

I designed my bifold wallet to have 11 pockets. I did skive the life out of it so  it's fairly slim. Lives in my back pocket so  no closer. 

[JDFred]

I looked at google (so it has to be true) a magnet can affect the strip on a credit card with long enough exposure; however chips in cards don’t seem to be affected.  You could maybe try cutting two slots it the wallet for the strap to go thru and eliminate the need for hardware. You could put some decorative stitching around the slots to make them look nice.

[chuck123wapati]

I tried that. I like the idea of a closure on wallets. i put a flap over mine instead of a strap to hopefully keep all the dirt and crap out but it didn't help much. Seems a wallet can grow or shrink with the amount of money and or cards stored in it  so a fixed size strap or flap  is just a guess at best lol. Mine  became loose over time and a little funky from living in a pocket, the dirt still gets in, I work and play a lot outside. but it still works as a wallet that has character lol. BTW the theory that a wallet can give you back problems when put in the back pocket is true. I had troubles for years then started putting it in my front pocket and my back problems vanished.

[toxo]

1 hour ago, chuck123wapati said:

 I had troubles for years then started putting it in my front pocket and my back problems vanished.

Not such a problem for those of us without that big wad of money in it. 

[TimRoberts]

I had a practice run of making a fixed strap keeper. It’s getting the slots to look really tidy and finished that I’m struggling with. 

[JDFred]

In your last picture were making a stand alone loop to slide your tab through?  If that is the case it would become bulky. I mocked up what I described earlier forgive the sloppy stitching.

[chuck123wapati]

21 hours ago, toxo said:

Not such a problem for those of us without that big wad of money in it. 

no fears my friend my wallet is empty too now after this last three years.

[Wychplotale]

On 6/16/2024 at 11:13 PM, TimRoberts said:

Sorry for multiple photos but this probably shows the problem best. It’s pretty worn in now as I’ve had it in my back pocket for about a week. 

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I'm a fan of the worn-in look. It has a unique appeal. I know this might not be ideal for you, though.

[DieselTech]

On 6/16/2024 at 7:02 AM, TimRoberts said:

Hi All,

I only started leatherwork about 4 weeks ago, so please excuse my lack of knowledge. Im a watchmaker by trade and wanted to learn to make my own watch straps, which has so far been relatively successful. I decided i would like to make my father a wallet for fathers day, and the whole process has been very enjoyable. Ive completed a test piece which i'm currently using but i'm not happy with the closure. Ive used a snap fastener which seems to add a lot of bulk to the wallet, and im really looking for a more elegant solution. Do snap fasteners come in different thicknesses? If so then where is the best place to buy these in the UK? Ideally i would like to hide the female side inside the strap, but the fasteners ive used appear to be too bulky for this. I will try to post photos to illustrate the problem.

I think this is what you are looking for. They are kinda of pricey. They are made in Italy so hopefully you can find them over there.