Snap Setting

[mdmorgan]

Tired of setting snaps with a hammer, and unable to but a snap press, I thought of something. I chucked my snap setting tool in my drill press, and that worked better, but then I heated the tool with a torch, not red hot or anything, just hot enough to make brass soft. Oh man, it set the snaps as well as anything I have ever seen, and it didn't matter how much post was sticking through the leather, it just rolled right over! When the snap cools off, the metal contracts and makes the tightest snap fit I have ever seen. I just thought I would share my crazy idea with you.

[pete]

Good idea but sounds like a lot of "prep" heating and all.

I have always used (never taught so I didn't know the difference!) a pair of pliers with a 4/5 oz piece of leather glued to the jaws to make them smooth like cantle pliers.

Give them a squeeze until you feel it "give" and you're done. Doesn't even leave a bulge in the cap if the post is too long.

NEVER had one crimp crookedly or poke through the cap or come off.

pete

[mdmorgan]

  On 4/19/2010 at 2:42 PM, pete said:

Good idea but sounds like a lot of "prep" heating and all.

I have always used (never taught so I didn't know the difference!) a pair of pliers with a 4/5 oz piece of leather glued to the jaws to make them smooth like cantle pliers.

Give them a squeeze until you feel it "give" and you're done. Doesn't even leave a bulge in the cap if the post is too long.

NEVER had one crimp crookedly or poke through the cap or come off.

pete

It's not too bad, the tool will get hot enough to do several in 30 seconds and I have the torch handy for thread burning anyway. I will try the pliers though, it sounds faster. Thanks.