help with picking snaps

[rccolt45]

Hi guys,

I am trying to build a IWB holster with belt loops that snap. I am using 8/90z leather for the holster body and 7/8 leather for the holster belt loops.

I have a few pull the dot snaps and the posts don't seem long enough. What length post should I be using.

Also I am trying to hand set them with a simple anvil and setter that I got at tandy and have used on regular none pull the dot snaps but it doesn't seem to be working right with the pull the dot snaps. Do I need a special tool to set the pull the dots?

any help would be much apperciated.

thanks

[Lobo]

Snaps do come in various post lengths. The post length needed can be determined by the thickness of the piece you wish to install the snap on. Leather weights are expressed in ounces, but have a direct correlation to thickness. Each "ounce" is approx. 1/64" thickness. So, 8-oz. leather is 8/64th" or 1/8" thick; 10-oz. leather is 10/64" or 5/16" thick.

Your snap posts will need to be a little longer than the finished thickness of the leather because there must be enough metal to form the attachment when the post is peened down by the snap setter. For 7-8 oz. and 8-9 oz. I have found that a 5/16" post length works well (and this is about the longest post you will find at most suppliers). Posts that are too short simply will not work. Posts that are much tool long can bend easily and fail to peen down properly.

If the finished piece is thicker than I am comfortable with at the point where the snap is required, I either use a skiving tool to reduce thickness, or sometimes reduce thickness quickly and easily by striking that area with ball peen hammer (which compresses that point to permit the snap to be installed).

Setting snaps with the hand tools can be frustrating, but a little practice usually results in satisfactory results. Snap-setting presses are a considerable expense, but worth the investment when you install a lot of snaps.

[ToddB 68]

Snaps do come in various post lengths. The post length needed can be determined by the thickness of the piece you wish to install the snap on. Leather weights are expressed in ounces, but have a direct correlation to thickness. Each "ounce" is approx. 1/64" thickness. So, 8-oz. leather is 8/64th" or 1/8" thick; 10-oz. leather is 10/64" or 5/16" thick.

Your snap posts will need to be a little longer than the finished thickness of the leather because there must be enough metal to form the attachment when the post is peened down by the snap setter. For 7-8 oz. and 8-9 oz. I have found that a 5/16" post length works well (and this is about the longest post you will find at most suppliers). Posts that are too short simply will not work. Posts that are much tool long can bend easily and fail to peen down properly.

If the finished piece is thicker than I am comfortable with at the point where the snap is required, I either use a skiving tool to reduce thickness, or sometimes reduce thickness quickly and easily by striking that area with ball peen hammer (which compresses that point to permit the snap to be installed).

Setting snaps with the hand tools can be frustrating, but a little practice usually results in satisfactory results. Snap-setting presses are a considerable expense, but worth the investment when you install a lot of snaps.

Hi Lobo !

Your above post is "made-to-order" for me at this time. I'm a relative beginner and working on my first serious leather project..........a tool sheath.

The sheath is of my own design and will have a retainer strap to hold the tool handle firmly in place and the retainer strap will have a Zack White line 24 "Buffalo Nickel" snap. The sheath design is composed of only two leather parts , FRONT and BACK. I have these parts cut out and the edges rounded. I just ordered an 8108 Snap-All Tool Setter Set and (2) of the Buffalo Nickel snaps (one extra snap in case I might goof up the first one.......don't expect to, but made good sense to let the shipping charge cover one more light weight item.....heh, heh.).

I have some experience making a couple of things out of leather with rivets, but have never installed a snap using setter and anvil. It appears that when installing a snap I will have one chance and one only to make a good set. If I mess up, the snap parts will need to be removed and most likely destroyed in the process. So I want to get it right the first time !

My brother bought me a side of 12oz. Veg-tanned cowhide as a surprise B-D gift, as I had mentioned wanting to get started in Leatherwork. At the time, he didn't think about choosing the right thickness of leather for a project. Anyway, I could skive away the leather where the snap parts are to be installed, probably down to the range of 9 or 10 ounce leather, but would have to make a decision on the actual thickness that will work best with the post length, not too thin or too thick. Otherwise, after looking at the snap parts, actual post length versus leather thickness, etc., I might decide to try your above suggestion of using a ball-peen hammer.

Can you suggest any tips I could use to improve the odds of success on the first try ? For example, should the post tip protrude a certain amount for proper attachment ? Since I've chosen a snap with an image (Buffalo), I wouldn't want the image to get deformed during the setting operation. For example, if the leather is skived too thin, would this allow the post to hit the "reverse" side of the coin image ?

I've always been creative and skilled with my hands. My approach has always been to make a drawing with details and dimensions for all of my inventions and special projects before beginning work.. So feel confident I can follow instructions and be successful on the first try. I always try to stay one step ahead of "Murphy's Law" by study, planning and asking questions.

Thanks in advance Lobo, for any additional help you can offer.

ToddB68

Edited September 1, 2010 by ToddB68

[Billy P]

I have a special little snap setting tool that I got years ago from a shop in Cleburne Texas. I might have a friend who has a machine shop to see how much trouble it is to make, and if not overly so I'll let you know. I don't want anything out of the deal, just what he charges and shipping. It works on the line 20 and line 24 snaps. One thing that you might try is a trick I learned years ago from a old Tandy manager. Take a french skiving tool and put a corner/edge in the hole for the snap post, and then make a quick circle cut all the way around the hole. It doesn't skive the whole thing just a little around where the thing sits. Good luck and later Billy P

[ToddB 68]

I have a special little snap setting tool that I got years ago from a shop in Cleburne Texas. I might have a friend who has a machine shop to see how much trouble it is to make, and if not overly so I'll let you know. I don't want anything out of the deal, just what he charges and shipping. It works on the line 20 and line 24 snaps. One thing that you might try is a trick I learned years ago from a old Tandy manager. Take a french skiving tool and put a corner/edge in the hole for the snap post, and then make a quick circle cut all the way around the hole. It doesn't skive the whole thing just a little around where the thing sits. Good luck and later Billy P

Hi Billy P

I'm interested in the trick you learned from the Tandy manager. I'm having just a wee bit of trouble visualizing the results of the two-step process. Any chance you could post a couple of photos or sketches ? That would remove any doubt........as they say "one picture is worth a thousand words.".

Examples:

#1..Photo or sketch showing the corner/edge in the hole for the snap post.

#2..Photo or sketch showing the circle cut all the way around the hole.

For my current needs I can't justify the cost of a special little snap setting tool. If I have trouble using a "freehand" setter and anvil , I have other options, i.e. a grommet press and drill press, albeit it may require some tinkering to make the setup with either of these, but I'm usually good at modifying things to make them do what I need.

Thanks for your help !

ToddB68

Edited September 2, 2010 by ToddB68

[Billsotx]

Al Stohlman's "Leathercraft Tools" describes and illustrates this fench edge skiving tool technique and more. The book describes how to use and maintain most, if not all, leather crafting tools. Well worth the $s:

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home/department/Books-Patterns/61960-00.aspx?feature=Product_16

Leathercraft Tools Book

Item #61960-00

The fench skiving tool: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/site+search+results.aspx?sectionpath=3&processor=content&p_keyword=french&x=17&y=6

[ToddB 68]

Al Stohlman's "Leathercraft Tools" describes and illustrates this fench edge skiving tool technique and more. The book describes how to use and maintain most, if not all, leather crafting tools. Well worth the $s:

http://www.tandyleat...ture=Product_16

Leathercraft Tools Book

Item #61960-00

The fench skiving tool: http://www.tandyleat...french&x=17&y=6

Thanks Billsotx !

I'll be adding that book to my library asap,but right now money is tight. Maybe I can find it USED on eBay or Amazon. Zack White has several of Al Stohlman's books listed on their website, but not the Leathercraft Tools book and that seems odd. I'll give them a phone call. I find their prices are usually lower than TLF. When I buy a book for information purposes, the condition isn't that important if I can buy it cheap.

ToddB68

Edited September 3, 2010 by ToddB68

[Billy P]

Thanks Billsotx !

I'll be adding that book to my library asap,but right now money is tight. Maybe I can find it USED on eBay or Amazon. Zack White has several of Al Stohlman's books listed on their website, but not the Leathercraft Tools book and that seems odd. I'll give them a phone call. I find their prices are usually lower than TLF. When I buy a book for information purposes, the condition isn't that important if I can buy it cheap.

ToddB68

Hey Todd, I have the Leathercraft Tools book and maybe I can scan that page and send it. I'll try tomorrow afternoon. Billy P

[ToddB 68]

Hey Todd, I have the Leathercraft Tools book and maybe I can scan that page and send it. I'll try tomorrow afternoon. Billy P

Billy,

Real nice of you to offer, but not necessary, as one of my sons is going to buy the book for me !

He bought me a fancy Espressos/ Cappuccinos coffee maker for my B-D late-May of this year. After struggling through the operating manual, I decided it was too much trouble to make coffee and clean utensils with that machine, so returned it to the store where he bought it and the only option was to credit his charge account. When I mentioned it to him, he asked me what else I would prefer. Time went on and I let it slide. Then a few weeks ago I decided to drag out my leather sheath project and get it finished. I was looking for help on attaching a snap when I ran across this thread and the rest is history ! LOL

Thanks Billy !

ToddB68

[ToddB 68]

Lobo, Billy P and Billsotx

Thanks for the help !

As indicated in my earlier post, my son bought me the Al Stohlman Leathercraft Tools book and I've been reading it almost every day. A great book with wonderful illustrations showing how to use leather tools for various operations, along with accompaning text. This book is jam-packed with information and worth many times over the price ! On page 39 I found the sketch demonstrating how to skive around a snap hole with a French Edger to reduce the leather when it is too thick for the length of the snap post.

Good Luck with your leather projects !

ToddB68

[Billsotx]

If there's a leathercrafter's Bible - that's it ... and then there's Verlane's notes - priceless! Too bad someone can't put them into one cover. I reckon lots of folks miss that gal.

Edited September 24, 2010 by Billsotx

[ToddB 68]

If there's a leathercrafter's Bible - that's it ... and then there's Verlane's notes - priceless! Too bad someone can't put them into one cover. I reckon lots of folks miss that gal.

Billsotx,

Thanks for the book recommendation "verlane's notes". Being a leatherworker newbie, I hadn't heard of Verlane Desgrange yet.

I might like to buy a Leathercraft book that Verlane Desgrange produced alone, or co-authored, depending on what leathercraft subjects it covers. For instance, if it's mostly about saddle making, I am not interested in that.

Does the index of the book you have in mind cover a good range of leathercrafting subjects ? I like to custom - design and make small projects, such as sheaths, belts and other items in that size-category.

Having Google-searched several websites, i.e. AbeBooks, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, using " Verlane's notes " ,

" Verlane Desgrange " and several other search variations I created that included her name, all I could find was King of the Western Saddle: The Sheriden Saddle and the Art of Don King , by several co-authors, including Verlane Desgrange as illustrator , at Barnes & Noble.

I found a website page that gave some history on Verlane and based on her achievements, I assume she was involved with producing many books beyond the one cited ainvolvedbove. So I was surprised that the above book companies didn't have more of a selection.

What is the exact title of the book you had in mind ? Also, do you know who is selling it ?

(Reminder, I wouldn't be interested in a book that focuses mainly on Saddle making, since I don't plan on getting into any long-term projects.)

I appreciate your help !

ToddB68

Edited September 24, 2010 by ToddB68

[Billsotx]

Billsotx,

Thanks for the book recommendation "verlane's notes". Being a leatherworker newbie, I hadn't heard of Verlane Desgrange yet.

I might like to buy a Leathercraft book that Verlane Desgrange produced alone, or co-authored, depending on what leathercraft subjects it covers. For instance, if it's mostly about saddle making, I am not interested in that.

Does the index of the book you have in mind cover a good range of leathercrafting subjects ? I like to custom - design and make small projects, such as sheaths, belts and other items in that size-category.

Having Google-searched several websites, i.e. AbeBooks, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, using " Verlane's notes " ,

" Verlane Desgrange " and several other search variations I created that included her name, all I could find was King of the Western Saddle: The Sheriden Saddle and the Art of Don King , by several co-authors, including Verlane Desgrange as illustrator , at Barnes & Noble.

I found a website page that gave some history on Verlane and based on her achievements, I assume she was involved with producing many books beyond the one cited ainvolvedbove. So I was surprised that the above book companies didn't have more of a selection.

What is the exact title of the book you had in mind ? Also, do you know who is selling it ?

(Reminder, I wouldn't be interested in a book that focuses mainly on Saddle making, since I don't plan on getting into any long-term projects.)

I appreciate your help !

ToddB68

Sorry for the vaqueness. To my knowledge the book doesn't exist. I was just thinking out loud. Right now the Stohlman book remains at the top.