What's Your Favorite Snap Press?

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I came across some birthday and Christmas money and am debating buying a snap press for my holster business... Fortunately, Weaver was closed on Monday - I was trying to make a last minute business purchase on the 2012 calendar year to buy the "Master Tools Little Wonder" press and a set of dies for my directional snaps. I don't recall the prices off hand. I'm sure it's a perfectly good press, but I'm curious if anyone can persuade me to buy something else that might work just as well, but save some money. If the Weaver press is slightly more expensive than the Tandy press, I think I'd still rather buy the Weaver press because it seems like a higher quality tool. But I'd like some feedback from others before I take the plunge and blow my money on a silly snap press.

[Art]

I use a "Little Wonder" for rivets, best machine for that. I use Press-N-Snap for ligne 24 snaps. I have 2, one set up for studs and one for caps. I don't know the price today, but you may be able to get two Press-N-Snaps for the price of a Little Wonder. Having two really saves setup time.

Art

[billymac814]

I just picked up a Pres-n-snap off someone from the forum. It works great so far although I just got it. I ordered the die for the one way snaps but haven't received it yet. There's also a bench mount that is available, I may get that at some point. I've been using either a modified arbor press or just the hand tool and mallet. I've been wanting a pres-n-snap for some time now and kept putting it off. I will say that they are much larger than you can tell from the pictures, its a very beefy tool and worth the price. I can see where having two would be nice if you're doing a ton of snaps but for the average holster maker one should suffice, the dies come out very easily.

They run about 130 bucks new with the dies for line 24 snaps, and the die for the directional snaps is another 30 bucks. Sail rite is where I ordered the dies I needed and they shipped the same day.

I can't speak for the other machine as I haven't used it but it looks fine as well but is more expensive but if you can do rivets on it that may be worth looking into as well.

[Art]

The complete kit is $116 at Rochford Supply. When I bought it (again from Rochford) it was $75. When Sailrite started selling them for $130 everyone raised their prices.

Art

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What is the difference between the line 24 and the directional snap dies? I'm looking at the Rochford site and am not sure which dies to order for the directional snaps.

And to confirm - the dies it comes with are in fact for the line 24 snaps?

[billymac814]

I didn't see the die for the directional snaps on their page. On the Sailright page it specifically says "die for pull the dot fasteners". Its only one die, the rest are the same as the line 24.

Rochford has the dies for the baby snap dies though which Sailright doesn't have.

The pres-n-snap comes with dies for line 24 snaps and dies for a grommet(I don't recall which size).

The tool is cheaper at Rochford so you may be ahead ordering the tool from them and the die from Sailright if Rochford in fact doesn't have the pull the dot die.

[Art]

The die for the Pull the Dot snaps is not included in the press kit, however, you can (if you have any machinist capability) take the provided die and put a flat on one side (use a mill or just put it in a vice and file it off. File enough off so that the stud fits all the way over the die. This modified die can also be used for standard ligne 24 snaps, the filed off portion just accommodates the internal locking part of the snap. The Press n Snap kit contains dies for ligne 24 snaps and #1 plain washer grommets, which are the primary snaps and grommets used in the boating canvas industry.

Art

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Thanks Art - if/when you have time, would you mind posting a photo of your modified die? I can probably handle the task of modding the die, but want to make sure I know what you're talking about before I commit to the purchase. Car trouble popped up, so that might have just eaten all my play money so I'm in no rush to buy.

[billymac814]

Talk about a day late and 32 dollars short. I wish I would have known I could have modified the die, I figured it was just a matter of a flat spot being different but I wasn't sure what exactly the difference was. Oh well.

Also fwiw. I have a very small bench vise that claps on to the bench, I clamped the pres-n-snap in that and it works good as a bench mount. I did put two pieces of leather against the jaws to prevent scratching. It is easier when its clamped down.

[Itch]

We use a Little wonder,and a Heritage foot press..Both are great to have in a shop..