spot setting

[Justino Caballo]

Hello All,

         I wanted to ask if there is anyone on the forum that could exlain to me the proper way to set spots. is there an established method, special tools, an easy way to make a jig? Anything will help, all i am doing is wasting spots.

[cowboy316]

JC
well tandy actually has a spot setter tool set for like 30 buck but i cant afford it right now so what i do is with the leather just a little damn so the prongs of the spot make a mark as to where you want it the use a  finish nail or sewing awl to punch your hole then just flatten out the prongs on the back and to make it easier to hole the spot for marking take one of the long copper riveets and solder it to the top of a spot you can spare so you have a little handel
    just my $.02 worth
      Cowboy316

[Little Al]

THis is the spot setter mentioned...well worth the money.  You sI do the setting on a rubber mat then fold the prongs in by hand with a flat punch...then set them with the same punch.

[Justino Caballo]

thanks fellers. i guess ill try and pick up that setter tool and play with it some. do i still need to use my awl to make holes or can the setter be used to push the spot in?

[cowboy316]

JC
if ya get that setter it will do the whole job at one time its a slick tool to have i used one once and swore ill have one some day but who knows LOL


      Cowboy316

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Justino

        The link below will show you the tools I use, not cheap but I feel worth the money, it holds your spot for easy placement when I run into leather that doesn't want be penetrated, I use a narrow blade Exacto knife to make my holes first, after marking the distance between the prongs, either with the prongs them selves or wing dividers set at the same width as the prongs, Standard Rivet also make longer pronged spots, and barbed pronged spots to for thick leather, where you just punch the spot in and it will stay there.  Hope this helps

                                                           tEN wOLVES 


                            http://www.standardrivet.com/machines-tools/tools/82-hand-held-tool-for-setting-round-head-spots.php

[Justino Caballo]

heck yes ten wolves! i need one of those. a great excuse to buy tools!

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

                Pard once you use this tool for setting your spots, you won't want anything else, and I fine Standard Rivets a great place to buy spots, there brass are solid brass not plated, and there prices are low, and you can buy the amount you want make sure you need enough things to order to off set the cost of shipping or it won't be worth your while, they get 16.00 for shipping.

      Justino, I also use this punch, you can set it for different widths, but make sure you buy the extra blades, they can break, this punch works best on the larger spots, because of the size of the hole, the smaller spots seem to push in with no problem, you just need to be careful as to how you set the spot in the tool, just have a little bit of the prong showing and keep the tool straight when you tap them in.  http://www.standardrivet.com/machines-tools/tools/80-hand-held-tool-with-blades.php


                                                          tEN wOLVES 

[ChuckBurrows]

What TW said - the Standard Rivet tools aren't perfect (I've got some ideas and am working with a tool maker so maybe one of these days...) but are much better than the Tandy ones - voice of experience I guess since I set 5-6,000 of the dad blamed things by hand every year......

[Springfield Slim]

I personally haven't had much luck with the spot setters as the prongs are just not that strong and tend to bend.I made me a tool with two projections that mark the holes and then I finish them with an awl. Bend over the prongs with a tack hammer.