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Posted

I've been in Harbor Freight a couple times lately... and keep wondering about the hand riveters and wondering if they'd be any use with leather. Rivets seem like a whole can of worms in general to me and I need to research what kind of rivets I'd even need to get but I'm thinking of stuff like copper rivets, etc (like on jeans and boots but on leather in general). Various sizes of rivets would be important - Does anyone know if those hand held riveters at HF would work for this? Until I can get a more professional one any way.

Does Anyone Know Where the Love of God Goes When the Waves Turn Minutes to Hours?

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Posted

Hi Doug..

Do you mean the pop rivet guns? Like this one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-riveter-set-38353.html

I think they can work, depending on the application and as long as you put reinforcing washers on too..

Earlier this year my motorcycle panniers burnt through to the contents, after they started sagging onto my exhaust with all the rain we've had over here.

I made plastic back strengthener panels for them, then glued and also used pop rivets to hold them on.

They've done the trick so far.

I just used some extra wide headed rivets at the plastic side and stainless washers to the rear, so they wouldn't pull through the leather.

The main thing I'll say about using that type of rivet, is that the backside of them is as ugly as someone else's baby, :rofl: IMHO, so make sure that its not on view.. ;)

Regards

Phil

ps. There are also beautiful versions of other people's babies available.. ;)

Being defeated isn't the worst thing in life..giving up, is..

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Posted

I agree with everything Phil said, and will add that you CAN pretty them up a bit.....in a 'modern art' sense of pretty.

Mike DeLoach

Esse Quam Videri (Be rather than Seem)

"Don't learn the tricks of the trade.....Learn the trade."

"Teach what you know......Learn what you don't."

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Posted

FWIW from the grump; I don't much care for pop-rivets at all - - let alone in working with leather. Springfield Leather has old-fashioned rivet sets and copper rivets and burs in a couple of sizes. They end up looking like this. Mike

003a.jpg

NOTE TO SELF: Never try to hold a cat and an operating Dust buster at the same time!!

At my age I find that I can live without sex..........but not without my glasses.

Being old has an advantage.......nobody expects me to do anything in a hurry.

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Posted

Yea I guess the pop-riveter probably isn't the way to go then.. I want it to look nice on both sides. Now, the ones on that Holster look great! What do you use to set them with?

Does Anyone Know Where the Love of God Goes When the Waves Turn Minutes to Hours?

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Posted (edited)

You use the rivet set (a single tool, not a group of things) that you may purchase from Springfield Leather or other suppliers. Just match the size of the set to the size of the rivet. I use #9 sized rivets on the rare occasion I happen to need them. Mike

Edited by katsass

NOTE TO SELF: Never try to hold a cat and an operating Dust buster at the same time!!

At my age I find that I can live without sex..........but not without my glasses.

Being old has an advantage.......nobody expects me to do anything in a hurry.

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Posted

You use the rivet set (a single tool, not a group of things) that you may purchase from Springfield Leather or other suppliers. Just match the size of the set to the size of the rivet. I use #9 sized rivets on the rare occasion I happen to need them. Mike

I'm not finding an individual tool (single item) used for rivets when searching their site with the fraise "rivet set". Maybe you were meaning the "Rivet Setter" which pops up a single item (that you strike with a hammer) but I think even that needs an anvil under it. Regardless... I think what I'm most interested in is the bench mounted hand press type rivet setter http://springfieldleather.com/30137/Press%2CHand/ , of course you can get old used ones on ebay for much cheaper (usually Rex brand etc).. but I'm confused by it. Are extra pieces needed to do a variety of rivet sizes (like various die or whatever) - does anyone know? Springfield's add mentions a die for line 20 snaps but what about the various rivet sizes? And if so, could those pieces still be sourced somewhere?

Does Anyone Know Where the Love of God Goes When the Waves Turn Minutes to Hours?

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Posted

There are multiple sized tubular and ready rivets that press could be used for. It's not for copper rivets I don't think. Rapid rivets and tubular rivets can be pressed. Copper rivets need to be clipped and peened over with a hammer then rounded with the ball socket of the tool below..

For # 9 copper rivets the tool you need is this one.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/8110-00.aspx

You can get it from springfield too I guess. search rivet setter rather than set.

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Posted (edited)

HellfireJack has it right. I don't know why they added the 'er' on the end of rivet 'set' - - it's been called a 'set' for as long as I have known of them, and I have used all sizes of rivets and burrs over the years - - mainly on farm equipment, but now and then on leather. As far as I'm concerned, if you actually NEED a rivet on leather, the copper ones are what you use. Those 'Speedy' rivets, or Rapid rivets have been known to come apart. Mike

Edited by katsass

NOTE TO SELF: Never try to hold a cat and an operating Dust buster at the same time!!

At my age I find that I can live without sex..........but not without my glasses.

Being old has an advantage.......nobody expects me to do anything in a hurry.

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Posted

... As far as I'm concerned, if you actually NEED a rivet on leather, the copper ones are what you use.

I mostly agree but there are some items where "double cap" rivets are esthetically better for finer items. So.. one of these hand presses for double cap rivets and a hammer type "set" for the copper rivet and burr... OR does anyone know for sure if the copper rivet and burr style can or can't be clipped and peened after setting with a hand press? I ask, because I've used the hammer style "sets" on snaps and eyelets/grommets with less than perfect results. Which is a big reason I started looking for a better option.

Does Anyone Know Where the Love of God Goes When the Waves Turn Minutes to Hours?

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