What are the best snaps to get and where? I am planning a trip to home depot tomw and wanted to make sure I was getting the right thing. Do I need a speacial snap tool to attach them? or just a hammer? thanks in advance! :cheers
Printable View
What are the best snaps to get and where? I am planning a trip to home depot tomw and wanted to make sure I was getting the right thing. Do I need a speacial snap tool to attach them? or just a hammer? thanks in advance! :cheers
I use the tandy snaps. Scuff the back of the armor, the back of the snap, and CA glue that thing down. Put a nice bead around the edge after you have it down. Using an accelerator spray helps. place them near the edge at the corners. I have never had any trouble with them staying on. Cruzer does it this way too.
You will need set tools to attach the other half to the vest.
If you want the best, you'll want:
At least four bags of these: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/p...number=1261-03
At least three bags of these: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/p...number=1263-03
One of these: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/p...number=8057-00
One of these: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/p...number=8058-00
One of these: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/p...number=8056-00
A regular steel hammer will work, but will eventually damage your leathercraft tools, so one of these is recommended: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/p...s.asp?dept=204
I use this one: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/p...umber=31822-00
If you have to go more economical, go to Wal-Mart or a well supplied fabric store and get similar stuff.
:thumbsup
wow. nice list :lol
:lolThanks. You beat me to it! I figured that'd be the clearest way to explain what's the best to get.;)
But I forgot 1 bottle of Super T, Special T, and NCF Quick: http://www.caglue.com/products.html
:thumbsup
WOW! Thanks guys. Cruzer, that was a great list there. Thanks so much for the help. I'll let you know how it goes.
I use these snaps for my TK and want to use them for my armor when it arrives.
What is CA glue? It might be available here in Holland, but with a different name.
I was thinking to use hot glue to attach the snaps on the armour. Will that work also?
CA is cyanoacrylate. something like that. It's basically superglue. In my opinion, I don't think hot glue would work.
yeah the hot glue will literally become gooey again in high enough heat and begin to shift on your armor. its a mess.
I just ordered all the stuff from that list from tandys minus the mallet just because of cost. I will probably just pad my hammer with some leather or something. Is there a tutorial for installing the 20/24 snaps made up anywhere? Cruzer? :)
Ummm...I've only posted a pic of how I layed out my snaps. I just recently assembled a pair of BM Jango armor and vest for a member here. What I found very helpful was taking my tailor's measuring tape (the flimsy kind that is about 3-4 feet long) that I bought at Walmart, using it as a guide to trace the outlines of the armor the width of the tape in from the edge. Then, where the lines intersected in each corner, I put a small black dot with the tip of a sharpie. Scratched up the backs of about 30 snaps that have the metal ring in them. Then began applying 2 drops of Super T glue to each dot, placing the line 20 snaps centered on the dots and shooting them with a quick spray of NCF Quick before moving on to the next one. Once I finished placing each snap, I went back with the Special T and encased the side of each snap with a small wall of glue. The Special T is perfect for this because it will not drip. Then shoot it with some NCF Quick and move on to the next snap.
Once you finish placing all of the snaps, I'd recommend marking a center line on the vest with a pencil, and beginning with the neck armor, begin positioning your armor where you'd like it. I usually put the vest on and look in a big mirror, with an up close printed pic of the real vest and armor right next to the mirror so I can reference it by glancing back and forth. Place the neck piece on your vest, get it where you want it, and outline the corners, top, etc. with the pencil. Then, take the armor and rub some Rn'B on the snaps, carefully reposition it back on your vest while looking in the mirror starting with the top and top corner lines you drew with the pencil. Once you get it in place, press down on your vest so the snaps make contact, and when you lift the armor, you should have small little circles where you need to place the other parts of the snaps.
Keep in mind that for all of the upper body armor, you will not use the concaved heads of the snaps because you're glueing the one piece to the armor. On the vest itself, you will use both sides.
Here are a few pics of how the vest turned out and the back of the armor, etc. Hope this helps. :thumbsup
thanks so much man. this will be really helpful. you da man!
Nice and very helpfull.
Thanks
:)
Wow! Nice job bro!:thumbsup
hey all, need some help with the snaps. I have the 20 and 24 snaps from tandy. which go on the back of the armor and which go on the vest? i'm confused cuz they all look the same! arg!
use the smaller snaps for the armor to vest connection. Female portion glued to armor, male portion attached to the vest. Use can use the bigger snaps for your backplate.
ok cool, so small snaps for everything pretty much and just use the big ones for the back. thanks man!
edit: spoke with Cruzer and he mentioned he used the smaller 20 snaps for everything but the shoulders, backplate, knees and boots which he used the 24's.
Now let us see if i can get this baby connected.
this might be the dumbest question of the thread, but when installing the snaps on the flak vest, do I need to use the 20 line setter to punch holes in it or do I use the CA glue like the armor?
I'd use the hole punch.
but definitley make sure you are happy with the placement first :)
You'll need to punch small holes in the vest where the other parts of the snap will go. Did I forget to mention a punch? :doh You might be able to find one at any local craft stores that sell leatherwork tools...or maybe even walmart and a grommet tool in the sewing section. Sorry!
If you hold off till tomorrow, I can post some step by step pics on a vest I need to do, doing just the collar armor to get you started...but I won't have time until tomorrow morning.
haha that's ok. you can't remember everything! I'll look around tomw. If I come up empty i will just order one from tandy or something. Thanks again!
I defiently want to see how you did this, I will wait until the AM!
I'd improvise, and use a nail or something, the hole doesn't need to be that big, just big enough for a post, but I'm impatient.
Yes, that's true...you are impatient!:lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Jango 5204
Seriously though he's right, you can make a hole with anything that'll get the job done. But I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find something in any decent sewing section. You could even use a small metal tube as long as it has somewhat sharp edges. You'll need to make a hole that the snap backing will push through.
nail it is then :)
Here is a couple shots of what I got done so far. Just got the 20's on the armor backs. I'm gonna try and get it all on tomw evening. This CA glue is amazing! strong, fast drying and really neat. Not like working with superglue where all of my fingers are stuck together :/
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4978.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4976.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4977.jpg
Using the measuring tape and intersecting the lines worked great Cruzer, Thanks!
Looks good. You're half way there. Now mark a center line down the front of your vest with a pencil (it will erase easily). Then Put on your vest, and starting with the neck armor, stand in front of a mirror and kind of eyeball where you want the armor to go. At this time hold the armor in place and mark pencil lines around it that will help you line it up later. Now Rub Rn'B on the snaps, and return to the mirror and carefully place the neck armor in place using your pencil lines if you made some. Push down hard so the snaps contact the vest and when you remove the armor, some small circles should remain where you will need to center the snaps. Try not to move the armor once you make contact with the snaps or you'll get a bunch of circles and the exact location needed will not be clear.
Once you have a piece of armor affixed, keep it on for all further armor placements so you can make sure everything looks good together.:thumbsup
Let me know if you have any questions.
This help is coming just at the right time for me, as I'm hoping to be able to attach the armor to the vest and have everything done for Saturday at Comic-Con. So thank you for the detailed pics!
Good news! I got the snaps installed and the armor (mostly) on. I didnt get the center diamond on yet. Thanks again Cruzer for the awesome reference photos!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4982.jpg
This is the fitting. I used masking tape to line things up just cuz i couldnt find a white pencil anywhere lol. I had Tiffany place them on me. Definitely not a one person job.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4983.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4985.jpg
This is me getting impatient with the snaps.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4987.jpg
Tiffany soon takes over the snaps to save my sanity.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4988.jpg
Done with the snaps.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4990.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4991.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4993.jpg
This is the first fitting and the most of my costume that I have had on yet!!! WOO!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4996.jpg
The last pic is a fitting with me holding the bolo belt and ammo belts in the back.
Good news! I got the snaps installed and the armor (mostly) on. I didnt get the center diamond on yet. Thanks again Cruzer for the awesome reference photos!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4982.jpg
This is the fitting. I used masking tape to line things up just cuz i couldnt find a white pencil anywhere lol. I had Tiffany place them on me. Definitely not a one person job.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4983.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4985.jpg
This is me getting impatient with the snaps.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4987.jpg
Tiffany soon takes over the snaps to save my sanity.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4988.jpg
Done with the snaps.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4990.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4991.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4993.jpg
This is the first fitting and the most of my costume that I have had on yet!!! WOO!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...r/DSCF4996.jpg
The last pic is a fitting with me holding the bolo belt and ammo belts in the back.
You did a great job on that armor placement. I'm going to start referring people to you to hire out.;) Well done!:thumbsup
lol, thanks man! Actually you will want to refer them to The Pink Mando cuz she was the one who actually did most of the grunt work on this one ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Cruzer
Hello, how do you atach the back armor??can you publish some images?? thanks.