BEST LEATHER TO USE

[JerseyFirefighter]

20 hours ago, Mike516 said:

I use veg tan.

Where do you get your chicago screws from if you don't mind me asking?

Either from Ohio Travel Bag or Springfield Leather (tandy brand). Ive learned a really hard lesson in trying to buy etsy or ebay screws in bulk. There is a very noticeable comparison in quality. As much as the hardware gives me sticker shock, I know they will look good, and they will last. Dont cheap out on hardware!

[Mike516]

48 minutes ago, JerseyFirefighter said:

Either from Ohio Travel Bag or Springfield Leather (tandy brand). Ive learned a really hard lesson in trying to buy etsy or ebay screws in bulk. There is a very noticeable comparison in quality. As much as the hardware gives me sticker shock, I know they will look good, and they will last. Dont cheap out on hardware!

Ah ok thanks. I think I'm going to give stainless a shot. Been using copper rivets and they take a little to get used to. But they're strong and don't rust. Stainless won't rust either so a good alternate. Plus extra bonus to stainless is the color goes with silver hardware. The copper may tend to turn off customers a little. Options are always a good thing to have.

 

[JerseyFirefighter]

I use copper rivets for my radio straps. Stainless steel and solid brass with plating is also a good option. They also sell brass rivets and burrs which work well to compliment brass hardware projects. 

[Mike516]

Is the only difference between stainless and regular steel that stainless won't rust? Are they both equally strong?

[JerseyFirefighter]

I believe there are tensile strength differences between the two, however unless you are making life safety equipment you should need not worry of the differences in strength. 

[Mike516]

Ok, thanks. I think I'll look for stainless anyway.

 

[Mike516]

On 3/28/2016 at 7:36 PM, JerseyFirefighter said:

 

Edit: Full disclaimer, I use chicago screws with a dab of blue loctite for all of my buckle and dee ring attachments. A leather failure can be attributed to lack of care. Id rather trade off a few screw slots on the inside than to have the customer blame a potential failure on the fastening of the collar. 

I was looking into Loctite and they say you have to use primer on anything plated. Have you found this to be the case?

[Steveg52]

55 minutes ago, Mike516 said:

I was looking into Loctite and they say you have to use primer on anything plated. Have you found this to be the case?

Loctite sets up in the absence of air and the presence of metal ions. Some metals cause the hardening process to occur faster than others, especially copper. Loctite will setup without the primer, I have never used it for any applications. If you want to speed up the  hardening process, simply rub a piece of copper wire in the female threads of the chicago screw prior to assembling the fastener, the primer is simply as carrier with copper infused into the mix.

[Mike516]

14 minutes ago, Steveg52 said:

Loctite sets up in the absence of air and the presence of metal ions. Some metals cause the hardening process to occur faster than others, especially copper. Loctite will setup without the primer, I have never used it for any applications. If you want to speed up the  hardening process, simply rub a piece of copper wire in the female threads of the chicago screw prior to assembling the fastener, the primer is simply as carrier with copper infused into the mix.

Great info, thank you.

They make a paste that comes in what looks like a chap-stick tube. I think I may try that. Do you use the red or the blue?

 

[Steveg52]

I use the blue for most items. If you use the red version, you may not get the fastener apart without heat. Get the liquid, it works better on small screws, and a small bottle will last forever.