Hand press machine for rivets/studs/eyelets

Hey Hana,

If you can't set it up on a workbench permanently, you can do could clamp it when you need to use it. It also works for any other "big machine" you do not have space to permanently fix on a workbench.

That being said, i agree with what Maru, Phil and the rest are saying: use hand tools. Unless you get corporate orders where you have 300 keychains that require rivetting for example, there is really no need for a press.

The noise level can be somewhat controlled. I will take a picture in my workshop this afternoon to show you the setup i use to minimise the noise level. It works wonders.

@hanabarnes Welcome Hana!

Personally I would start with hand tools with a set and a mallet. Presses are nice to have (I have #1 on your list with ram attachments), but I wouldn't sacrifice your work space for occasional use. Mine sees no use at all for setting rivets.

It's really not that hard by hand. You'll probably ruin the first two attempts, then that's it.

While you're here, it would be great if you could introduce yourself in THIS section so that you can tell us a bit about who you are and your journey in leathercraft so far :D

Great to have you join us!

Hi Hana,

I bought a 'Green Hand Press' machine off eBay for about £15 new. The dies cost extra depending on which ones you need but they are all very affordable. The machine is stable enough to be used without fixing it to anything and small enough to put out of the way when not being used. The quality of both the machine and the dies is a bit rough but it worked fine. I used it for about 12 months before upgrading it to a more expensive machine of the same type from https://www.opas.co.uk but if you're just getting started the green eBay one is well worth the money.

Hi Maru!

Thanks for your response! I was thinking something like this:

I assume these are stand alone (I live in a small apartment and don't have a workbench, so I would need to be able to move it back and forth to my table). I wasn't sure what I should be looking for when purchasing one, or if they're all pretty standard and so I don't have to worry (other than the quality of the actual snaps or rivets as opposed to the machine to install them).

I considered a setter that you use with a hammer but I assumed there would be a lot of growing pains so I thought I would just go straight for the hand press.

Thoughts?

Hana

Hey!

are you looking for one of those machines to fix to the workbench? Or just something more simple, to use with your hands?

I use a small set of rivets /studs /eyelets setter (to use with a hammer), it makes its job and it’s not a big investment, to start.

- Maru