Snap Problems

[longlivealfred]

Hi,

I recently bought myself a snap press, some s-spring snaps and suitable dies but I'm having a few problems I'm hoping you guys are able to give me advice on. When ever I attach a snap I get a flatspot/mark on the cap (I've attached an image that shows it, though I think it's more obvious in real life). I've tried using less pressure but its not really helped, ive tried pre punching holes in the leather but to no joy. Are you guys generally left with a similar mark, is it to be expected? Im using Italian make fimma snaps, brass based with a nickel-plated finish.

Also I've attached a picture of the socket die that's clearly not symmetrical, it's not meant to be like that right? Ive fired off a few emails to the company I bought it from but im just waiting for a reply.

Thanks for your time and help, I appreciate it.

bye

Edited June 7, 2010 by longlivealfred

[longlivealfred]

i've had a go manually setting the snap and i still get the little marks, so maybe its just something i will have to live with. Has anyone found whether steel based caps react differently?

i'm perplexed by it all since when you see snaps on high end luxury items, well they dont have the same problem. hermes etc.

anyways, i appreciate your time, i feel kind of conscious that im all take take take in this relationship at the moment but i hope when i gain a bit more experience ill have something constructive to add.

have fun, bye

[Kevin]

In the past when I've had this problem, it was because the tubular part was too long and I could just trim some off and that would take care of it. It seems to be more crucial lately, so I wonder if they're using a lighter weight metal in the caps or am I just being too impatient or heavy handed?

Kevin

[pete]

Hi,

I recently bought myself a snap press, some s-spring snaps and suitable dies but I'm having a few problems I'm hoping you guys are able to give me advice on. When ever I attach a snap I get a flatspot/mark on the cap (I've attached an image that shows it, though I think it's more obvious in real life). I've tried using less pressure but its not really helped, ive tried pre punching holes in the leather but to no joy. Are you guys generally left with a similar mark, is it to be expected? Im using Italian make fimma snaps, brass based with a nickel-plated finish.

Also I've attached a picture of the socket die that's clearly not symmetrical, it's not meant to be like that right? Ive fired off a few emails to the company I bought it from but im just waiting for a reply.

Thanks for your time and help, I appreciate it.

the post is too long. cut or file it down about 1/32" and you won't have the problem.

pete

bye

[longlivealfred]

hi pete, kevin

thanks alot for your replies, i really appreciate it.

i had a go a few days back trimming the post, though only by 1/64 to 3/64ish with little success. I'll do a few experiments with shortening the post further though this evening or tomorrow and see what happens.

maybe the metal is thinner, i dunno. i have been looking through the different snaps i have a massed and some of the smaller ones are manufactured differently so i might try get some 12mm of that design to see if it helps.

ive come to the conclusion that the die posted above is not manufactured correctly as it makes no sense for it to be off-centre. i also think that the die being off centre is pushing down on the lip of the post rather down the throat of the post helping to cause my problem a little bit.

anyways thanks again you two for your advice, ill post the results of my experiments.

bye

[longlivealfred]

kevin, pete,

ive had a go today trimming the lengths of the posts by a 1/32 to close 3/32 and its helped alot!

the problem still persists (i hope when i get the die replaced it might help a bit) but its a lot less noticeable.

I think im going to do a bit more experimenting to get the spot-on length as its for a item i hope to make a few of.

thanks alot for your help, i really appreciated it, bye

[ramrod]

i've actually thought about starting a thread about this. i've had this problem for a long time. all of the snaps that i set have that mark on the top. i always thought that i was being too heavy handed. i will try to grind down the post a bit and see what happens.

[Southtexas]

I see the pic of your die, but what about the anvil? The only problem I've encountered with snaps like these is when I tried to use a flat anvil instead of the one shaped to fit the cap.

[alb]

I was also going to suggest looking at the anvil. Even if you're using a curved anvil, if it doesn't match the curve of the snap, you'll have that problem.

Ann

c

I see the pic of your die, but what about the anvil? The only problem I've encountered with snaps like these is when I tried to use a flat anvil instead of the one shaped to fit the cap.