Line 20 Snaps With Setter And Anvil

[Mike516]

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I don't have that particular press, I have the Osborne one. I know of others who have the Tandy press for grommets and they like it.

I just got the dies to do line 20 and 24 snaps with the Osborne press. I am not having a problem with the Tandy snaps with this setup. I had a lot of trouble with them with the hand held setters, they seem to work fine in the press. So I would imagine that you will see a great improvement with your new tool.Let us know how you make out.

Rosiart...thank you I think I'm breathing again lol. I have my first two orders almost done and all I need to do is let the stain dry, finish them with the Resolene I just got and set the snaps. They look great, I'm just nervous about the snaps. Just starting out, it's a bad time to have anything fail on me, like these freakin' snaps.

[rosiart]

Rosiart...thank you I think I'm breathing again lol. I have my first two orders almost done and all I need to do is let the stain dry, finish them with the Resolene I just got and set the snaps. They look great, I'm just nervous about the snaps. Just starting out, it's a bad time to have anything fail on me, like these freakin' snaps.

Breathing is good. lol This is the press I have. https://www.osbornel...gory.php?cid=40 Similar in function to the one you ordered, with a different handle configuration. The one thing I do everytime though, is make sure the cap and socket section I intend on using snaps together before I try and set it. Some of them can be off and I figure checking that before I set the snap saves a ton of aggravation.

[Mike516]

That's an excellent idea.

I also contacted DOT and if the press doesn't solve the issue I'm just going to get all new snaps and the customers are going to have to wait. I'd rather do it right once than have people unhappy. I make small stuff I can offer for free as compensation for waiting.

But hopefully the press solves the problem. I'm trying not to stress over it but it's my own fault for not testing these snaps more before going public with this stuff so it's my own fault.

We'll just have to see what happens.

[Tree Reaper]

I grind many of the posts off so they only stick up about 1/16 " .

If the post is too long they will bend.

This helps hold them for grinding.

[BeltFanDan]

I would advise to get posts too long, and grind as necessary.

Another problem I had with a snap vendor is, that the male button pieces, the centers on the old stock, was at the bottom of the snap, and sat flush with the leather, so my posts were exactly correct, and curled over properly.

New stock, the bottom of the male snap center is about half way in the middle of the snap, so now, a slightly longer post is needed (I use 8/9oz leather). Instead of buying all new snaps, I am just tooling the backside of the snap hole, so the post has a little extra room to clear the other half.

Snaps give me more problems than anything else, but I really don't want to buy a snap press and die kit. Is that hand setting tool from Hobby Lobby better than using the anvil and setter tool?

[Dwight]

Beltfandan, . . . I tried the Tandy tool, . . . never got comfortable with it, . . . it was just to "iffy" for me.

Found the "Hobby Lobby" tool at Walmart some years back ($10 then), . . . bought it, . . . have never looked back.

Here's a pic of two finished snap pieces, . . . and the head of the tool.

May God bless,

Dwight

[BeltFanDan]

Looks great. Gonna pick one up this weekend.

See how there is breaks in the post so it folds over? I have to do that manually with needle nose pliers with Tandy snaps, then I can use the normal anvil and hand tool to finish it off. Such a pain and waste of time.

[Dwight]

Because I am opening my big yap, . . . it'll happen, . . . but I've got holsters all over this country, . . . never have had one come back because of a pulled out snap or a broken snap.

That tool puts them in tight. I just wish the throat was a bit deeper. There are times when I really struggle to get "that" snap done, . . . but I know if I get my tool squeezed on that snap, . . . it ain't comin' loose.

I even used it to put a new male piece on an old WW2 or Korean "across the chest" 1911 holster that the old one had come loose and disappeared.

My customer had that "look" on his face when I told him I would probably have to cut the stitches, . . . put in a new snap, . . . and re-sew it. You should have seen the relief on his face when the old Wally World tool was able to crimp enough of the old post to make it work.

Anyway, . . . best wishes, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight

[Mike516]

Got the snap press today and tore it open like a kid.

It works real nice but I'm still not thrilled with the quality of the snaps.

Will any line 20 die work with all line 20 snaps? It's the head size isn't it?

[Mike516]

I've had this problem for a while too.

I've narrowed it down to the snaps itself. A few years ago Tandy Leather changed the manufacturer for their snaps, and they are not as strong. The posts are not strong enough to withstand the pressure of the anvil and punch, so the post collapses in on itself, and you don't have enough of a curl over on the top.

I now buy my snaps through a few different manufacturers and have had excellent results.

DOT Fasteners is one company, but you have to sign up for an account and I believe there is a $50 minimum order.

Looks like you were 100% right. The setter is better but I still wasn't happy with the way the caps bend after you work the snaps a few times.

I got the samples from DOT last night. There's no comparison. These snaps set perfectly with hand tools (the dies aren't the right size unfortunately). Just placed my order for more, and I think I'll be able to sleep better now.

Edited April 4, 2012 by Mike516