Gold Star Snap Press

[cmantz]

I recently purchase the Gold Star heavy duty table press for doing snaps, grommets, etc.  It was a press that has been recommended on this site.  I am curious if anyone else has had issues w/ this press?  I received the first press, along w/ the die set for the line #20 snaps.  When I got them I noticed that the dies do not seem to line up properly..especially the dies for the domed portion of the snap.  I contacted the company and they sent me a new press.  The new press doesn't seem to be much better.  The bottom part of the snaps seems to set fairly decently, but the top portion of the snaps I am having an issue with.  It looks to me like the die that sets the inside ring snap does not line up properly w/ the leg of the snap.  I just tried to set a snap in some 2/3 oz embossed cowhide and I had 4 snaps fail.

I have attached a side view picture of the die set for the domed portion of the snap.  I didn't include the inside ring on the top of the die so that you can see how it does not line up properly.

I am curious if I just got two bad presses or if this is what to expect on a low priced press/die set?
 

Here is a picture of a "good" snap after it is set and you can see it doesn't roll uniformly.

[Sonydaze]

The two dies should be close to lining up to each other.  In your picture, the bottom die appears to be tilted. The part it fits into is painted continuously on the left but has a gap on the right.  I would want another press that they have actually set up and tested.   

[brmax]

Its hard to not see an alignment problem, I suggest a return on card ( . )  and not upon their inspection, with rma in your email today .

Sending them the photos its also a great help to the company and a motivator. This particular tool is all about alignment of dies at its first basic design, in that it is suppose to be in perfect alignment. Clear to me no understanding of the tool they propose to sell 2 of.

Please keep us informed on the credit results, and related. And please post any of the photos with dies purchased, interested.

Sorry for the hassle and crap second shipment of a press. Its clearly a box mover sales outfit not a pro as a second shipment would be unboxed and inspected by a "qualified person" if available and clearly not.

try to have a better day

Floyd

Edited November 8, 2016 by brmax

[cmantz]

This is my second press they have sent...first one was the same as far as that spacing on the bottom.  I have sent pictures to the owner...he tried to tell me it was operator error that I was experiencing.  To me, the alignment part did seem obvious.

He has agreed to send another die for the cap/socket portion of the snap.  We shall see if that is better.  Currently the only way I can get them to set properly is to pull slightly to help compensate for the misalignment.  It took 6 attempts to get one successful snap set.  

I bought this press/die combo on the recommendation of several posts on this site.  I might just have to return this and go w/ the die sets for my Heritage foot press.  

 

And the thing is...if that fitting where the die sets into was actually flush with the press, as one would expect, that would throw my alignment off even further in the wrong direction.

[Sonydaze]

The way your picture looks, to correct the bottom base for the die would move it further out of alignment.  It may well be that the holes in the casting were not properly aligned.... difficult to fix.  I really doubt that a different set of dies will make any difference.

Don't keep a press that is a problem to use. The object of buying a press is to make setting various hardware fast, easy and consistent.  I hope they have not been asking you to pay return shipping.

For manual presses, I prefer kick presses like this  http://www.atlaslevy.com/Foot-PressKick-Press--Snap-Rivet-machine_p_4506.html     If set up properly, they will perfectly set snaps, rivets or whatever consistantly for thousands of times.  This is why they are very commonly used in Asian factories. Used ones can often be found.  There are also double ones that can be setup with the dies for both parts of snaps.

[cmantz]

I completely agree w/ you that it would move the die even more out of line!  That is what I have been trying to explain to him and for him to suggest that it is operator error is laughable.  I don't know how hard it could have been for him to have tested the second press before he sent it.  I am going to let him send me another set of dies and if that doesn't work, I will be asking for a refund.  I have a Weaver Heritage foot press but their die sets are $75 for the line 20 snaps.  

I went w/ the GoldStar due to several people posting about it on this forum.  I should have looked at some of the youtube videos as the comments from some aren't favorable for the company.  I hope he proves me wrong.

[Sonydaze]

Have you tried the Gold Star dies in the Heritage foot press?   Dies are commonly 1/2" or 3/8" or a 3/8" top and 1/2" bottom.   Weaver also sells a die adapter (#65-6180) that changes a 5/16" hole to a 3/8" fpr $14.

[cmantz]

The goldstar dies are threaded.  But I will try to put them in there and see if they line up.  That would tell me if it was the die or the press.

[cmantz]

Update...I was sent a new set of dies and they seem to be better...not great, but better.  It seems like when I tighten up the dies in the press like I am supposed to do, the set screw pushes the die too far.  So we "built up" that side of the die so the screw can't push it over as much.  I just need to make sure when I put the dies in that I have them aligned properly.  Kind of a pain....but it will work for now.  I don't set a lot of snaps.  I should have just got the dies for the Weaver.   

I do like the snaps so will probably order from them...but can't say that I would recommend anyone purchasing this press.  Which is unfortunate as it has a lot of good reviews on this site which is why I bought it.  But they were a couple years ago....apparently something changed since then.

Update...I was sent a new set of dies and they seem to be better...not great, but better.  It seems like when I tighten up the dies in the press like I am supposed to do, the set screw pushes the die too far.  So we "built up" that side of the die so the screw can't push it over as much.  I just need to make sure when I put the dies in that I have them aligned properly.  Kind of a pain....but it will work for now.  I don't set a lot of snaps.  I should have just got the dies for the Weaver.   

I do like the snaps so will probably order from them...but can't say that I would recommend anyone purchasing this press.  Which is unfortunate as it has a lot of good reviews on this site which is why I bought it.  But they were a couple years ago; apparently something changed since then.

[Sonydaze]

I would be looking to return the press and dies.  It should work better than that.  You were quite patient on giving them a chance to make it function properly and they have not succeeded.