Kwekwe Report post Posted April 19, 2011 Hello folks, just learning and not sure exactly how to set Rivet Back Concho's is there a special tool or can I lay in concave dish and give a wack on the back of the Concho with a soft face hammer? Bought a Few hundred from Tandy as they were nice design and Fairly inexpensive. Thanks for the help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cwickgo9 Report post Posted October 14, 2018 I know this is an old post that no one answered, but im searching for the same answer. The rivets I got have hollow posts but no caps came with them. I've seen others similar that had caps. Is there a way to set them without caps or do I need to sacrifice some caps from some plain rivets and try that? Thanks in advance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted October 14, 2018 I woul think they would need backs. I would lay the concho face down on a poundo or rubber mat and then use a shallow domed setting tool on it. Why didn't they come with backs? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garypl Report post Posted October 14, 2018 All the conches I have bought came with the dome tops and I set them like standard rivets. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rockoboy Report post Posted October 15, 2018 On 14/10/2018 at 9:28 AM, garypl said: All the conches I have bought came with the dome tops and I set them like standard rivets. Gary How do you avoid flattening the concho? I have some that have a bit of a dome effect, and laying them on a hard flat surface, (as I would set a rivet), will flatten and/or destroy the concho. If the surface is softer, I don't think the cap will set properly as a rivet does.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garypl Report post Posted October 15, 2018 1 hour ago, Rockoboy said: How do you avoid flattening the concho? I have some that have a bit of a dome effect, and laying them on a hard flat surface, (as I would set a rivet), will flatten and/or destroy the concho. If the surface is softer, I don't think the cap will set properly as a rivet does.. Brian, I used the concave surface of my rivet setter anvil. This only works with conchos that are fairly smooth. I don’t use conchos very often, but I have also used epoxy on the concho and rivet cap if the concho surface is not smooth enough to hit it hard enough to really set the rivet cap. I have never used conchos that have stones or other really bumpy surfaces. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted October 15, 2018 Similar to a round front concho; I had some fluers-de-lys ornaments to rivet to a belt. I made a block of rubberised polymer clay with a recess in it to take the ornament. I then gently tapped the the rivet head home until it was tight. However I could not get it 100% tight. If I tried I cracked the cast ornament, but this might not happen with a non-cast concho Also; I use a hard rubber mat to set rhinestone rivets without cracking the glass gem. I can get them totally tight. I recommend having a hard rubber mat in your tools armory for these jobs Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rockoboy Report post Posted October 15, 2018 Hmmm thanx @garypl and @fredk. I appreciate your information, but I fear I am still looking for a definitive answer. Maybe I am over-setting (also known as smashing) my rivets. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted October 15, 2018 Its a fine balance on how hard your surface is. The hard rubber surface, about as hard as the side wall of a tyre, is hard enough to allow the rivet to set, but soft enough for the concho, or in my case the rhinestone, to dig in and be supported At first I tapped lightly, several times, checking each time, now I can set the rhinestone in one - mild - whack. Not as heavy as I would do normally when setting a rivet to join two bits of leather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
