Setters / Anvils
Setter tools commonly used in leather work include rivet setters, snap setters, grommet setters, eyelet setters, and anvils. Keep in mind different sizes of similar hardware require different setters. A good firm surface without any bounce in your worktable is required when setting hardware. Often a mini anvil is used as a good solid base to do your setting on. Keep in mind that you must have the correct height of snap, rivet, grommet, or eyelet for the thickness of your leather. If it is too long, it will bend sideways. If it is too short, it will not crimp enough for a secure setting. Also punch a hole in the leather that allows the part to snugly fit through by choosing the correct diameter size of leather hole punch tool. CS Osborne setters are made in USA and have been making quality leather tools for over 200 years. Besides carrying CS Osborne tools, we stock setting tools from a variety of other manufacturers as well.
Rivets are used regularly to secure leather. Rapid rivets and double cap rivets are the most used rivet types in leather work. Different size rivet setting tools may be required to fit over the different size rivet caps. Put your post through the hole in your leather and put the rivet base on an anvil. Push the cap onto the post. Next place your setter on top of the cap and tap with a mallet to set the rivet. The concave end of the setter allows the cap to keep some of its curvature. If keeping the curvature of the cap is not a concern, you could just place your rivet base on a mini anvil and tap the rivet cap flat with a leather working hammer. instead of using a rivet setter.
Put your tubular rivet through the hole in your leather and then put it upside down so the cap sits on a metal surface like a mini anvil. Put the peening setter tool on top of the tube and tap it with a mallet. Tubular rivets require a tubular rivet setter that crimps the end into a star shape which is good for industrial applications, but the star shaped crimp may be too rough if something will rub against it. The tubular rivet is made of heavier metal than the rapid rivets and double cap rivets.
Copper rivets are the strongest and most industrial looking. Push the copper rivet through the hole in the leather and place the base on a mini anvil. One part of the copper rivet setter pushes the copper washer down over the copper post. The post is then cut to the correct length above the leather with nippers. A concave indent on the end of the copper rivet setting tool is used to mushroom the end of the post over the washer.
Jacket snaps are stocked by us in two sizes which require either a line 20 snap setter for the smaller size caps or a line 24 snap setter for the larger size caps. The snap setters require two parts. The cap or base of the post sit in an anvil. The setter is placed on the other end of the post and crimps it over the socket or stud part of the snap.
The difference between a grommet and an eyelet is that an eyelet is one piece, and a grommet consists of two parts. The size of the eyelet sits in the corresponding size of setting anvil and sticks through the leather. The setter is placed on the end protruding through the leather and is tapped with a mallet to crimp it over the leather. The size of the grommet is placed in the corresponding size of setting anvil. The grommet post sticks through the hole in the leather and a grommet washer is placed over it. The grommet setting tool is placed on the grommet post and tapped with a mallet to crimp the end of the post over the washer. The grommet is stronger than the eyelet since the grommet washer provides more strength to prevent the hole from being torn.
More About Our Setters / Anvils
Setter tools commonly used in leather work include rivet setters, snap setters, grommet setters, eyelet setters, and anvils. Keep in mind different sizes of similar hardware require different setters. A good firm surface without any bounce in your worktable is required when setting hardware. Often a mini anvil is used as a good solid base to do your setting on. Keep in mind that you must have the correct height of snap, rivet, grommet, or eyelet for the thickness of your leather. If it is too long, it will bend sideways. If it is too short, it will not crimp enough for a secure setting. Also punch a hole in the leather that allows the part to snugly fit through by choosing the correct diameter size of leather hole punch tool. CS Osborne setters are made in USA and have been making quality leather tools for over 200 years. Besides carrying CS Osborne tools, we stock setting tools from a variety of other manufacturers as well.
Rivets are used regularly to secure leather. Rapid rivets and double cap rivets are the most used rivet types in leather work. Different size rivet setting tools may be required to fit over the different size rivet caps. Put your post through the hole in your leather and put the rivet base on an anvil. Push the cap onto the post. Next place your setter on top of the cap and tap with a mallet to set the rivet. The concave end of the setter allows the cap to keep some of its curvature. If keeping the curvature of the cap is not a concern, you could just place your rivet base on a mini anvil and tap the rivet cap flat with a leather working hammer. instead of using a rivet setter.
Put your tubular rivet through the hole in your leather and then put it upside down so the cap sits on a metal surface like a mini anvil. Put the peening setter tool on top of the tube and tap it with a mallet. Tubular rivets require a tubular rivet setter that crimps the end into a star shape which is good for industrial applications, but the star shaped crimp may be too rough if something will rub against it. The tubular rivet is made of heavier metal than the rapid rivets and double cap rivets.
Copper rivets are the strongest and most industrial looking. Push the copper rivet through the hole in the leather and place the base on a mini anvil. One part of the copper rivet setter pushes the copper washer down over the copper post. The post is then cut to the correct length above the leather with nippers. A concave indent on the end of the copper rivet setting tool is used to mushroom the end of the post over the washer.
Jacket snaps are stocked by us in two sizes which require either a line 20 snap setter for the smaller size caps or a line 24 snap setter for the larger size caps. The snap setters require two parts. The cap or base of the post sit in an anvil. The setter is placed on the other end of the post and crimps it over the socket or stud part of the snap.
The difference between a grommet and an eyelet is that an eyelet is one piece, and a grommet consists of two parts. The size of the eyelet sits in the corresponding size of setting anvil and sticks through the leather. The setter is placed on the end protruding through the leather and is tapped with a mallet to crimp it over the leather. The size of the grommet is placed in the corresponding size of setting anvil. The grommet post sticks through the hole in the leather and a grommet washer is placed over it. The grommet setting tool is placed on the grommet post and tapped with a mallet to crimp the end of the post over the washer. The grommet is stronger than the eyelet since the grommet washer provides more strength to prevent the hole from being torn.