Setting Rivets?

[james m]

Hi there,

Im having setting rivets properly, i've got the tool that sits on the the top but a lot of the time the top piece dosnt go down squarely and I end up with a rivet that falls apart. is there anything i can do to stop this?

Thanks

James

[PutnamLeather]

Hello James, I was having the same problem for years until I found this site.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/infoandservices/Leathercraft-Videos/Leathercraft-Videos.aspx

Just click on the line 24 link and you'll see how it should be done.

Good luck.

[HellfireJack]

One big problem with using a hand setter is when the post stands too proud of the leather. If too much post is showing it probably wont set right. In that case use a smaller snap. Inversely If you don't have enough of the post showing you'll have a problem setting that as well. In that case skive the leather down around the hole with a safety beveller or a french edger. Speaking of the hole, make sure to use the right size hole for the rivet post. The post should fit snugly with no play. If the hole is too big the post will bend when you try to set it.

Don't try to bash it into place in one shot. Use multiple taps. In the video mentioned above you'll see Hurst hit the setter perpendicular to the anvil on the first one or two strikes and then he'll do many small taps angling the setter around post. You don't really need to do the angled taps. Just make sure the post curls down on itself straight. The setter is designed to do just that as long as it is perpendicular to the anvil face. If you hit it too hard you'll deform either the cap or base which may not effect the snap mechanism but will surely effect the look of the snap itself.