Snap Press Dies

[coolgoob]

I was wondering if the drill press side of a shopsmith can handle doing snap and dies.
My wife need a snap press and noticed that some us drill press's for the dies.

Something along the lines of what you can get here.

http://thesnapstore.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21

What do you think can a shopsmith handle this? I am looking at buying one used.

[robinson46176]

I was wondering if the drill press side of a shopsmith can handle doing snap and dies.
My wife need a snap press and noticed that some us drill press's for the dies.

Something along the lines of what you can get here.

http://thesnapstore.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21

What do you think can a shopsmith handle this? I am looking at buying one used.

I see no reason why you could not adapt it for that purpose. I have numerous such presses in the western boot shop. Some are small like the one in the picture and some have a handle/lever/cam that is about 2' long. I did have a big floor model Stimson press that was foot operated but it was more of a production machine and I just didn't need it. I finally sold it to a fellow I believe in CO. He only wanted the head assembly to keep shipping down so I still have the base. I have another use planned for it.
I think that the drill chuck would probably hold the upper dies fine but you could also use something like the SS 1/4" router chuck and if needed (depending on your die shank size) drill it out to fit. A sturdy block properly drilled would hold the lower half fine. Then again if you have been reading about using drill presses to operate the dies you probably already have a good idea about that part. What you may need to do is add a little support to the table if it is prone to spring too much. I like a support between themain table and an extension table mounted in the right end mounts. Some use a support that goes all of the way to the floor but that can result in the force lifting the end of the SS up off of the floor.
"Somewhere" there is a fairly recent discussion on here about such supports.

There is available in the shoe repair trade a small press commonly called a "universal press" (Not to be confused with the common rivet presses that you usually find in antique shops. Those only do rivets) that comes with a set of basic dies for such things as setting eyelets, press rivets and those lace hooks used on work boots as well as a bunch of other uses. They have sold a zillion of those and they can often be found used at reasonable prices.
Good luck.

[garys]

Why bother with a press?
My Wife and I do leatherwork, and set leather snaps and rivets with the simple cheap snap setter and a small hammer. My Wife also uses the leather snap set when she puts snaps and rivets on the jeans she sews.
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/sear ... 31-00.aspx