Great Snap Setting Tool

[TN Mongo]

Occasionally someone orders a badge holder or a knife sheath and they want a snap or snaps.  I explain that snaps aren't period correct, but they insist.  I have always had a problem setting snaps using a Tandy snap setter.  I knew there had to be a better way to do it without spending hundreds of dollars on a specialty press.  I have had a one ton bearing press for a couple of years so I had thought of having a jig made so I could use it to set snaps.

With a little looking on the web, I found that Osborne makes a snap setting set (#230) with a "U" shape piece of steel that holds the anvil (two anvils are included top/bottom) and the punch straight for easy attachment of the snap.  I tried it with my arbor press and they turned out perfectly.  It also worked well using a heavy maul.  

I bought one set for size 24 snaps and one for size 20.  I found them on Ebay.  One set cost $25 and included 25 Osborne nickel plated brass snaps and the other was $21 without the snaps.  If any of the rest of you are tired of "ugly looking" snaps, this is a tool that works.

Take a look at: www.csosborne.com  click leather tools and then either setters or snaps

[Slowhand Bob]

Sounds great, I always tend to be a mad-whacker and bend those tubes every which way.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Cool, TN. That'll help a lot of us.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Sounds good TN, thanks for the heads up pard


   tEN wOLVES 

[ChuckBurrows]

FYI:  Campbell-Bosworth carries the complete line of CS Osborne Tools including the #230 Setter for both #20 and #24 snaps - price is $18.11 each
http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/catalog/index.php/manufacturers_id/17/sort/3a/filter_id/45/page/2

[TN Mongo]

I like Osborne stuff.  That's a lot better price on those setters.  I'm going to have to look at this website for future Osborne tool purchases.

[Springfield Slim]

I used to intall snaps on static dissapator mats at one of my former jobs. We had the best snap setter I have ever seen, looked like a rivet setter. Rolled the edges over on the snaps perfectly every time.  Cost about 150.00 bucks, I think Grainger carries it. I just use a punch and a hammer, never had any real problem using that method. I thought about "liberating' one of the setters when left that job, but just couldn't do it.

[Slowhand Bob]

I know what you mean SS, its hell when everyone is watching you out the door!