How to install accessories?
For your sewing projects (fabric, leather, imitation leather, etc.) , the installation of accessories is often necessary: eyelets, snap fasteners, rivets, etc.
Each of these accessories must be assembled with a tool and a suitable setting/die set. There are 3 tools for setting a rivet, eyelet or snap fastener on your creations: the striking handle, the manual press pliers and the bench press.
The choice of installation tool must be made according to your use but also your budget.
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THE STRIKING HANDLE: practical for placing accessories anywhere on your creation. It does not require any particular force.
Ease of installation : installation is not very difficult, however you must be comfortable handling the hammer, prior tests are necessary to master the gesture. You must use a heavy hammer of at least 500g in order to install the accessories more easily. Favor wooden mallets which do not damage your tools unlike steel mallets. Note that using a hammer is a source of noise pollution for your neighbors or can prevent children from sleeping.
Quality of installation :
- Requires having the correct striking motion on the accessory with adequate power.
- Possibility of having differences in appearance between several accessories to be placed next to each other.
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THE MANUAL PRESS PLIERS: practical for installing rivets. We do not recommend it for installing snap fasteners because it requires a lot of strength in the wrist.
Ease of installation: using a lever pliers allows you to control the force that you manually apply to the accessory in order to achieve the correct tightening. Be careful, the shape of the pliers does not allow you to place accessories in the center of large pieces of leather. It should also be noted that to place the 12 diameter snap fasteners it is necessary to have a certain amount of strength in your hands. This tool allows you to place the accessories without noise, which can be an advantage when you are doing DIY in the evening at home.
Installation quality: this part provides good controlled tightening when installing your accessories, which allows for optimum installation quality.
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THE BENCH PRESS: perfect for professional installation of your accessories. It will save you a lot of time if you regularly have to install accessories on your creations .
It is a professional and quality tool. The purchase of a bench press should be considered an investment that should be amortized in the long term. There are several sizes of press. The larger it is, the more powerful it will be and therefore suitable for installing large accessories. There are also several shapes. The N3 with its raised base allows accessories to be installed on parts that are already closed. The presses also allow holes to be made by replacing the installation sets with punches adapted to the press and a brass or ertalon anvil called "TAS". Be careful, however, the small presses (2 and 3) will not be able to make large diameter holes (generally greater than 12 mm) but this depends on the firmness and thickness of the leather.
Quality of installation : the bench press has a high pressure force which allows you to install accessories with perfect tightening. The rotating handle which lowers the installation clearance allows you to control the force applied to your accessory. This tool allows you to install your accessories silently and like a professional.
Note : If you have already invested in a PINCH Handle or a Blue Hand Press Pliers before adopting the press and you already have setting sets, there is an adapter that allows you to use the PINCH setting sets on the bench press.
Which press should I choose depending on my usage?
| Use for rivets and eyelets | ||||
| Diameter | Press N2 | Press N3 | Press N4 | Press N5 |
| Up to 12 mm | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| From 13 to 15 mm | ⚠ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| From 16 to 20 mm | ✘ | ⚠ | ✔ | ✔ |
| From 21 to 25 mm | ✘ | ⚠ | ⚠ | ✔ |
| Greater than 26 mm | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ⚠ |
| Use for cookie cutter | |||
| Hole diameter | Press N2 - N3 | Press N4 | Press N5 |
| From 1 to 10 mm | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| From 11 to 15 mm | ⚠ | ✔ | ✔ |
| From 16 to 18 mm | ✘ | ⚠ | ✔ |
| From 19 to 20 mm | ✘ | ⚠ | ⚠ |
| From 21 to 25 mm | ✘ | ✘ | ⚠ |
✔ For all types of leather
⚠ For fine and supple leathers
✘ Not recommended
The above values are given as an indication and may vary upwards or downwards depending on the material of the accessories (brass, iron, stainless steel, aluminum) and the thickness of the leather.
What do the numbers mean for each bench press: N2 - N3 - N4 - N5?
The larger the number, the larger the handle and therefore the more force the press will have. The dimensions of the interior recess will also be larger (easier to go to the center of a large piece). For installing accessories on large thicknesses we advise you to take the N4 press.
What is the difference between the "S" and "N" presses?
The main difference between the "N" and "S" bench presses is the brand, the dimensions (within a few millimeters) are the same as well as the installation clearances. The best sellers are the N3 and N4 presses.
After selecting the installation tool, you must have the appropriate installation clearance for installing your accessory (see the guide to rivets, snap fasteners or eyelets) .
Before installing an accessory, it is also necessary to pierce (at the location where your accessory will be installed) your fabric, leather or imitation leather with a round punch, a geared plier or a bench press (with the appropriate tip) .
How to install a rivet?
On our site we offer 5 sizes of "standard" rivets: size T1 to T6.
There are then 2 types of rivets: single cap rivets (1 head (conical shape) on one side only) and double cap rivets (1 head on each side of the rivet).
Choice of accessory material: you have to pay attention to the material used (under the surface finish). In steel, they are economical but can oxidize after a while and damage your creation. In brass, they are a little more expensive, they will not rust and your creation will keep its shine for a long time. Deco Cuir mainly offers brass accessories.
Single cap rivets are generally used when the foot (lower part of the rivet) is hidden by a lining or another thickness of leather, fabric...
Double cap rivets are typically used when the foot (bottom of the rivet) is visible on both sides of your creation.
How to fix a rivet on your creation?
After making a hole at the location of the rivet on the 2 parts to be assembled, you must use a setting tool and a setting set/die to place a rivet.
We presented the 3 existing installation tools above in the guide: striking handle, manual press pliers and bench press.
If you have a manual press plier or a PLIERS hammer handle kit, here are the appropriate installation sets. Be sure to select the installation set/die according to the size of your rivet (T1 to T6) and its type (single or double cap).
If you already have CLAMP sets and have just purchased a bench press, there are adapters available to use them on your press.
Unlike the striking handle and the manual pliers which have the same installation sets/dies. The bench press has its own installation sets. Be careful to select the installation set/die according to the size of your rivet (T1 to T6) and its type (single or double cap).
Is there a complete kit ?
Discover the exclusive Deco Cuir product for installing rivets! A complete kit with all the single and double cap installation sets (in STAINLESS STEEL), the press adapter and the striking handle with its Ertalon plate.
All the snap fastener sets are also compatible with the blue manual pliers. With the striking handle and the ertalon plate you can also set your snap fasteners with the PLIERS snap fastener sets (sold separately).
How to install a rivet?
How to install a snap button?
On our site we offer several diameters of snap fasteners: 10.5 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm...
There are 2 types of snap fasteners: simple snap fasteners (S-spring)...
...and strong snap fasteners (ring spring) . Strong snap fasteners support more pressure than simple snap fasteners. They are only installed with the bench press or the PRESS striking handle kit.
To install the snap fastener, the foot is assembled with the male part and the head/cap with the female part (see image below).
Choice of accessory material: you have to pay attention to the material used (under the surface finish). In steel, they are economical but can oxidize after a while and damage your creation. In brass, they are a little more expensive, they will not rust and your creation will keep its shine for a long time. Deco Cuir mainly offers brass accessories.
After making a hole at the location of the head (usually the diameter of the hole is larger than that of the foot) and the foot of the snap fastener, you must use a setting tool and a setting set/die to place the parts.
In the introduction to this guide, we presented the 3 existing installation tools : striking handle, manual press pliers and bench press.
If you have a manual press clamp or a PINCE striking handle kit, here are the appropriate installation sets. Be careful to select the installation set/die according to the diameter of the snap fastener. Strong snap fasteners are only installed with the bench press.
3 methods for installing a snap fastener.
How to remove a snap button or rivet?
A badly installed rivet or snap button? Here is the solution to remove them easily without damaging your creation!
You've spent hours creating the perfect piece, but a single misplaced snap or rivet can ruin everything. Don't let these mistakes ruin your leather creations anymore! This striking handle and anvils are specially designed to easily remove snaps and rivets without damaging the leather .
These tools allow you to remove :
- Single and double cap rivets from T2
- The male and female parts of the strong snap fasteners (ring spring)
- The female parts of the snap fasteners spring in an S shape (to remove the male part, you must use cutting pliers).
How to install an eyelet?
The different types of eyelets and their installation tools.
How to install an accessory without a specific tool?
Some accessories can be installed without a specific tool or with a simple screwdriver. This is the case for:
- Magnetic Tops
- Round claw eyelets
- Chicago screws
- Collar buttons
Accessory prices: These accessories are the most expensive because they are made up of more parts and are produced in limited quantities. However, installing accessories without the help of special tools allows you to disassemble them to reuse them on a new piece of leather or to better reinstall them.
Tool price: there is no specific tool to ensure their installation. The use of a screwdriver, a cutter or a hammer may sometimes be necessary.
Ease of installation: these accessories were developed for DIY enthusiasts, their installation is generally easy.
Installation quality: Deco Cuir has selected well-designed accessories for you, they offer satisfactory installation quality.
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