It's nice to see others utilize this useful tool too!! I got one at Harbor Freight on sale for $27 USD and had one of the tooling guys at my day job drill the ram for me to fit the various setting tools you outlined here. A real time, money, and arm saver all around.
Ian, I completed the modification of my 1 ton arbor press today. Here is what I did. 3/8th hole in the arbor - about 1.25 inches deep. I cut about 1.5 inches off my Tandy hand tools for setting buttons with a hack saw. I then used a steel bushing 1/4 inner diameter and 3/8th outer diameter. This allowed me to make a collar for the hand tools to fit the hole I drilled in the arbor ram. I needed to turn down the tool a about 25 thousands to fit the bushing then I pressed it on to the hand tool until it became seated on the knurling of the tool. I then turned down the bushing about 50 thousands to fit the arbor. I did both of these by chucking it up in my drill press and using a file. The modification was very simple and really allows me to have consistent setting of rivets, eyelets, and my stamps. In short - I think this modification could be done with a file, a 3/8th drill bit, and accurate drill press, and a hand caliper. Thanks again.
+HonestDoubter Thank you for sharing your process for modifying your arbor press, especially the "In short". Those tools I have handy. Thanks again for your ideas for modifying the Tandy tools, and the steel bushing adapter!
If only all instructional videos on youtube were as good as this. don't get me wrong I have a lot of respect for all those people who take the time to upload instructional videos but every now and then you come across someone who has nice, steady camera work and explains things in a systematic and articulate manner that makes the videos a pleasure to watch. I salute you. Send my regards to satan when he pops in for a trim next.
Great video. I have a 1 ton arbor press. With your excellent ideas for different procedures it will be much more useful. I will certainly make these modifications to make the processes easier and more efficient.
Hi Ian, I've just taken delivery of a 1000 Kg press bought via a well known auction site. The press came from Germany, £39.90 including delivery and the bonus is the ram is already drilled with a 10mm centred hole and a locking screw already in place. Chuffed to say the least
Ian, I watched this vid a while ago and was inspired to do the same thing! Luckily, I have a machine shop 1 block away, so we collaborated on the drilling specifics and I must say that it's been a great project!!! I use it way more than I use the Tandy press, and if I come up with another application, it's down to the machine shop. They really like to work on "odd" projects, and are very skilled and charge reasonable $$'s. Always looking forward to receiving your videos, I'll be sending you another donation soon! I think that anyone who benefits from your knowledge and expertise should do the same! It's a shame that so many people are afraid to pony-up when they benefit from the knowledge of others. Hope you are well...take care and God Bless!!!
I just got an Arbor press today for 25USD. It's a 1-ton so I'm excited to use it for these exact same applications. I will have to find someone to drill the hole in the ram for me.
This was great. Thanks Ian. I'm at the first point of frustration with bent/failed snaps. The tandy press is prohibitively expensive and I was hoping that someone would have a good fix or solution for this. Great idea.
Ian... we call those eyelets too. To us a rivet is solid on one side. I have an arbor press like this I took off the piece on the bottom and have a piece of 1/4" steel plate sitting there. I use mine mostly for pressing in my maker's mark. But someday I'll modify mine for pressing rivets and snaps.
Yep, I did exactly the same thing and it works great. I found a 1 ton arbor press at Harbor Freight for $32. I already had the Tandy setting tools since I had been hammering them. I had the ram drilled at a machine shop and I was in business.
Thank you for this fabulous video! You have done a thorough job of both explaining the concepts of modifying the arbor press for whatever use you desire (Kydex, rivet setting, snap setting, and leather stamping), and providing clear examples. I purchased a Harbor Freight (yeah, some of you are cringing) 1 ton arbor press with these applications in mind. On my own, I didn't get past the concept stage. For gauging the diameter of the hole drilled into the ram (and base), I am understanding that those diameters are based on whatever application you are using it for the most (I am not planning to work with Kydex, so I would plan on the diameter used for leather punches), and taking that average diameter and using that for the ram hole. If your other uses necessitate a smaller diameter (punch), then you would calculate what you would need for the adapter. Did your friend use a piece of brass tubing that had vertical cuts that allowed for compression onto the smaller piece? It looked like a piece of brass tubing in the video.Was the process of figuring that the Tandy dies would work in your press done by the Tandy dies you already had, or did you get the measurements from Tandy? I would think they would keep that information 'close to the chest'.I really enjoyed this video, and I want to thank you in advance for your answer.
I never would have thought that there were so many uses for that press! Great video, very informative! Your channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Keep up the great work!
top job mate, i was just going to buy a press and set of bits, now i'm off to the workshop to drill out the arbour press i've already got, if I ever see you i'll buy you a beer. thanks.
Bloody brilliant! I've held off buying the Tandy press for years because of the price points you brought up in your video... Thankyou sir, for the great video and even better advice!
+GrizzWorks I do have the hand press now and I haven't used the arbor press for snaps etc. for years. I would highly recommend getting the proper hand press if you can afford it.
+Ian Atkinson If the money isn't available, would you still recommend the arbor press as a good solution, or would you have any new suggestions in hindsight?
+Max Makes The arbor press is still better than hand setting in terms of being able to apply even, perpendicular pressure which leads to less wonky snaps and rivets, it doesn't come close to the hand press in terms of doing a proper job though I don't think.
good for you mate you sound like a decent guy sharing is caring I'm thinking of learning leather work so if the other people are like your good self my journey will be a whole lot easier thanks again bro
I use an arbor press (1 ton) on my clicker knives to cut and punch moccasin parts. Just glue a piece of plastic cutting board to the base of the arbor rack.
Absolutely love your videos! Thank you for sharing allnof your ideas, suggestions and sources. I've been in the business professionally for years, but your videos will certainly help me grow the business more. Cheers!
Could you attach an adjustable chuck to the ram? Like those small leather working presses. So it’s easier to use and you don’t need to customised the tools to fit.
I always struggled with setting snaps with a hammer and was about to buy a special and expensive tool at Tandy. I had an harbor press modified to use metal stamps. It works perfectly "as is". Don't know why I never thought about it myself ;) but it is going to change my life for the better... thanks so much for the great tip!!!!!
Just purchased my 1 ton arbor ($30) and had 2 holes drilled in either end of the press ($50) - 1 for the larger handled tools and the other for the smaller handled tools. Works great, though you can't press too hard or you break the snaps. Thanks for the information Ian.
Hi, re kydex hardware. I think 1/4 inch rivets and dies from Knife kits will work with both 1.5 & 2mm kydex. Just haveing a play with this as like yourself I really prefer leather. Many thanks for all your vids. Cheers.
Another great mod you can do to these small arbor presses is to grind away the first two teeth on the ram which allows you ratchet the handle into a more comfortable position to get good leverage,search youtube arbor press modifications to see how it works,also bin the grub screw for a more friendly wing nut or knurled knob
you can glue a small round magnet in that hole you drilled in the press to hold your rivet pieces up and when you remove them they will pull right out, I got mine at Harbor Freight along with my arbor press.
Hey everyone. I have read a lot of the comments posted here but to my knowledge, no one has said anything about the function of the tools handle mechanism. The Arbor Press pulls towards the user while the Tandy style pulls to the side. In my mind the Arbor Press should be a lot more comfortable/ user friendly, considering the precision need for the placment of snaps and rivits. But, maybe im wrong and it just comes down to the style of tool you learn on.
Great video as usual. Congrats! Do you think it's a good idea to glue a strong round magnet inside the whole in the ram? it might make changing tool heads easier.
this is really helpful! i was wondering why how stamps are just shallow and why some are deep. this answers it. i'm just wondering though, can Arbor Press do foiling?
very nice I was about to go out and buy one of these presses for a different project... I think I will be do these modifications afterwards for my leatherwork
Agreed... Americans call those eyelets = rivets. But you're right they are eyelets. You also could magnetise that arbor ram to hold dies that don't need to be used with a set screw.
There is a Leather worker name gordi he speaks different like you. He put a magnet on the end of his ram so he didn't have to throw out the whole. It looks like it works great
My arbor press has a magnet somewhere in the ram. You might be able to add one close enough to hold the dies. Just a though to save on moving the set screw. Maybe just stick a hard drive rare earth to the side of the ram.
0:45 I'm in the USA... Nope that is an eyelet!! If the supplier you are buying those from are calling them rivets.. they are mistaken!!! haha We would also call those grommets, but I would use eyelet as grommets are either rubber or larger versions.
Great video dude. I'm modifying my press too. Harbor Freight here in the US has a 1 ton for less than 40 dollars. What is the dimension for the sleeve for the Tandy die adaptation. I know the snap setter is 10.5 mm as you stated. Again.. great video...
Very informative as usual, Just once observation though - a few times the item you were trying to show were out of camera shot, or barely visible. Any chance that could be taken into account in future? Still, great video.
bearing in mind the video is *nine years old*, yes it gets taken into account as much as possible these days given a lack of space and the fact that I have to film everything myself without being able to see the camera.
+Oregon Bushcraft arbor presses come without holes in so they would only fit if you happen to have drilled the exact size required in them for the Tandy dies which on mine wasn't the case.
+Oregon Bushcraft I have knifekits dies for kydex eyelets and the shaft on them is bigger than the shaft on all the Tandy dies so I don't see how they would fit properly in the knifekits press unless they've changed the dies since I got them.
+Ian Atkinson I think my knifekits.com press is 2 years old and I have almost the complete collection of Tandy dies to go with it. No modification was needed.
+Oregon Bushcraft I also have knifekits.com eyelet and snap dies and had fit them in the Tandy press prior to buying the Tandy dies to make sure they fit.
After over 12 years nothin changes :D Tandy press is a waste of money and you can buy a 'tandy like' press for about 50 GBP with shipping from Polad but arbor press still makes a better work :D leatherworking technologies are still in 20th century xD Greets :)
I just bought one of these and I recommend this mod... ruclips.net/video/L3sRMtAkyzw/видео.html rather than packing your item up you can adjust the arm for optimum angle...
It's nice to see others utilize this useful tool too!! I got one at Harbor Freight on sale for $27 USD and had one of the tooling guys at my day job drill the ram for me to fit the various setting tools you outlined here. A real time, money, and arm saver all around.
I need to keep checking arbor freight for that deal. The cheapest I heard was 60 after a $10 coupon
Ian,
I completed the modification of my 1 ton arbor press today. Here is what I did. 3/8th hole in the arbor - about 1.25 inches deep. I cut about 1.5 inches off my Tandy hand tools for setting buttons with a hack saw. I then used a steel bushing 1/4 inner diameter and 3/8th outer diameter. This allowed me to make a collar for the hand tools to fit the hole I drilled in the arbor ram.
I needed to turn down the tool a about 25 thousands to fit the bushing then I pressed it on to the hand tool until it became seated on the knurling of the tool. I then turned down the bushing about 50 thousands to fit the arbor. I did both of these by chucking it up in my drill press and using a file. The modification was very simple and really allows me to have consistent setting of rivets, eyelets, and my stamps.
In short - I think this modification could be done with a file, a 3/8th drill bit, and accurate drill press, and a hand caliper.
Thanks again.
+HonestDoubter Thank you for sharing your process for modifying your arbor press, especially the "In short". Those tools I have handy. Thanks again for your ideas for modifying the Tandy tools, and the steel bushing adapter!
+SaucyTreasures you are most welcome. One correction to my comment. I said steel bushing and meant brass. Much easier. Good luck.
If only all instructional videos on youtube were as good as this. don't get me wrong I have a lot of respect for all those people who take the time to upload instructional videos but every now and then you come across someone who has nice, steady camera work and explains things in a systematic and articulate manner that makes the videos a pleasure to watch. I salute you. Send my regards to satan when he pops in for a trim next.
Great video. I have a 1 ton arbor press. With your excellent ideas for different procedures it will be much more useful. I will certainly make these modifications to make the processes easier and more efficient.
Hi Ian, I've just taken delivery of a 1000 Kg press bought via a well known auction site.
The press came from Germany, £39.90 including delivery and the bonus is the ram is already drilled with a 10mm centred hole and a locking screw already in place.
Chuffed to say the least
You bought the one from wabeco? :D
Ian, I watched this vid a while ago and was inspired to do the same thing! Luckily, I have a machine shop 1 block away, so we collaborated on the drilling specifics and I must say that it's been a great project!!! I use it way more than I use the Tandy press, and if I come up with another application, it's down to the machine shop. They really like to work on "odd" projects, and are very skilled and charge reasonable $$'s. Always looking forward to receiving your videos, I'll be sending you another donation soon! I think that anyone who benefits from your knowledge and expertise should do the same! It's a shame that so many people are afraid to pony-up when they benefit from the knowledge of others. Hope you are well...take care and God Bless!!!
thanks Ron, much appreciated! Glad you got your press sorted out, finding someone to drill it out seems to be the hard part.
Ian, You're a hero! Thanks for all of this, and for maintaing honest, quality leatherwork in the world.....
I just got an Arbor press today for 25USD. It's a 1-ton so I'm excited to use it for these exact same applications. I will have to find someone to drill the hole in the ram for me.
Ian, thanks for your videos. I appreciate the time it takes for you to do these for us.
This was great. Thanks Ian. I'm at the first point of frustration with bent/failed snaps. The tandy press is prohibitively expensive and I was hoping that someone would have a good fix or solution for this. Great idea.
Ian... we call those eyelets too. To us a rivet is solid on one side. I have an arbor press like this I took off the piece on the bottom and have a piece of 1/4" steel plate sitting there. I use mine mostly for pressing in my maker's mark. But someday I'll modify mine for pressing rivets and snaps.
Yep, I did exactly the same thing and it works great. I found a 1 ton arbor press at Harbor Freight for $32. I already had the Tandy setting tools since I had been hammering them. I had the ram drilled at a machine shop and I was in business.
Great vid on how to cost effectively hack the Arbor press for leather work. Well done sir👍👏
I would like to thank you for making these videos!
Thank you for this fabulous video! You have done a thorough job of both explaining the concepts of modifying the arbor press for whatever use you desire (Kydex, rivet setting, snap setting, and leather stamping), and providing clear examples. I purchased a Harbor Freight (yeah, some of you are cringing) 1 ton arbor press with these applications in mind. On my own, I didn't get past the concept stage. For gauging the diameter of the hole drilled into the ram (and base), I am understanding that those diameters are based on whatever application you are using it for the most (I am not planning to work with Kydex, so I would plan on the diameter used for leather punches), and taking that average diameter and using that for the ram hole. If your other uses necessitate a smaller diameter (punch), then you would calculate what you would need for the adapter. Did your friend use a piece of brass tubing that had vertical cuts that allowed for compression onto the smaller piece? It looked like a piece of brass tubing in the video.Was the process of figuring that the Tandy dies would work in your press done by the Tandy dies you already had, or did you get the measurements from Tandy? I would think they would keep that information 'close to the chest'.I really enjoyed this video, and I want to thank you in advance for your answer.
I never would have thought that there were so many uses for that press! Great video, very informative! Your channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Keep up the great work!
Man you did a great job modifying it , i dont do leather work but think about it and i like what you did here , work smarter not harder 👍👍👍👍
I have this same arbor press. Drilling it out to accept the different dies is a great idea. Looks like I'll be modifying mine. Thanks.
top job mate, i was just going to buy a press and set of bits, now i'm off to the workshop to drill out the arbour press i've already got, if I ever see you i'll buy you a beer. thanks.
Bloody brilliant! I've held off buying the Tandy press for years because of the price points you brought up in your video... Thankyou sir, for the great video and even better advice!
+GrizzWorks I do have the hand press now and I haven't used the arbor press for snaps etc. for years. I would highly recommend getting the proper hand press if you can afford it.
+Ian Atkinson If the money isn't available, would you still recommend the arbor press as a good solution, or would you have any new suggestions in hindsight?
+Max Makes The arbor press is still better than hand setting in terms of being able to apply even, perpendicular pressure which leads to less wonky snaps and rivets, it doesn't come close to the hand press in terms of doing a proper job though I don't think.
Gotcha, thanks for your input!
good for you mate you sound like a decent guy sharing is caring I'm thinking of learning leather work so if the other people are like your good self my journey will be a whole lot easier thanks again bro
I use an arbor press (1 ton) on my clicker knives to cut and punch moccasin parts. Just glue a piece of plastic cutting board to the base of the arbor rack.
Brilliant work as all of your videos
this is one of the best leather working channel I have ever seen
just Awesome work
I bought a drill press JUST for using as a press, and occasionally drill...great videos!
I remember you using a hammer before, glad you got the arbor press...and I greatly enjoy watching your videos.
@Microglia1 not at all no! My family has been in Yorkshire since at least the 1500s :) The owl is the logo of the City of Leeds where I live.
I call those eyelets and I'm American. Rivets are the solid metal buttons, to me at least. Excellent video.
Absolutely love your videos! Thank you for sharing allnof your ideas, suggestions and sources. I've been in the business professionally for years, but your videos will certainly help me grow the business more. Cheers!
Could you attach an adjustable chuck to the ram? Like those small leather working presses. So it’s easier to use and you don’t need to customised the tools to fit.
Great info on using the Arbor Press for Leather work. thanks.
Excellent video and information! Thanks for sharing. All your videos are top notch!
thanks ian, have an very old one ,
but the axminster looks great.
think I am ordering one
Yes I use it all the time!
I always struggled with setting snaps with a hammer and was about to buy a special and expensive tool at Tandy. I had an harbor press modified to use metal stamps. It works perfectly "as is". Don't know why I never thought about it myself ;) but it is going to change my life for the better... thanks so much for the great tip!!!!!
Just purchased my 1 ton arbor ($30) and had 2 holes drilled in either end of the press ($50) - 1 for the larger handled tools and the other for the smaller handled tools. Works great, though you can't press too hard or you break the snaps.
Thanks for the information Ian.
Hi, re kydex hardware. I think 1/4 inch rivets and dies from Knife kits will work with both 1.5 & 2mm kydex. Just haveing a play with this as like yourself I really prefer leather. Many thanks for all your vids. Cheers.
Another great mod you can do to these small arbor presses is to grind away the first two teeth on the ram which allows you ratchet the handle into a more comfortable position to get good leverage,search youtube arbor press modifications to see how it works,also bin the grub screw for a more friendly wing nut or knurled knob
lol pls ignore i found the vid!! fantastic channel, very informative and concise!
you can glue a small round magnet in that hole you drilled in the press to hold your rivet pieces up and when you remove them they will pull right out, I got mine at Harbor Freight along with my arbor press.
Hey everyone. I have read a lot of the comments posted here but to my knowledge, no one has said anything about the function of the tools handle mechanism. The Arbor Press pulls towards the user while the Tandy style pulls to the side. In my mind the Arbor Press should be a lot more comfortable/ user friendly, considering the precision need for the placment of snaps and rivits. But, maybe im wrong and it just comes down to the style of tool you learn on.
Black river laser sell a converter so you can use the Tandy press forwards if you would prefer
Great video as usual. Congrats!
Do you think it's a good idea to glue a strong round magnet inside the whole in the ram? it might make changing tool heads easier.
Excellent video thanks a lot, Axminster have a great range of tools and this would be very useful, I might just order one now !!
Brilliant Video Totaly full of infomation and exsplained Greatly... well done!
this is really helpful! i was wondering why how stamps are just shallow and why some are deep. this answers it. i'm just wondering though, can Arbor Press do foiling?
Nice instructional demo. Good information. Thanks.
Great ideas
I'm thinking of fitting a keyless chuck in one,holds up to 13mm diameter,thats if height isn't an issue...£5 off ebay.
very nice I was about to go out and buy one of these presses for a different project... I think I will be do these modifications afterwards for my leatherwork
Agreed... Americans call those eyelets = rivets. But you're right they are eyelets.
You also could magnetise that arbor ram to hold dies that don't need to be used with a set screw.
Great mods--helpful for use new guys. Thanks.
There is a Leather worker name gordi he speaks different like you. He put a magnet on the end of his ram so he didn't have to throw out the whole. It looks like it works great
Thanks for this info, saved us a ton of money
My arbor press has a magnet somewhere in the ram. You might be able to add one close enough to hold the dies. Just a though to save on moving the set screw. Maybe just stick a hard drive rare earth to the side of the ram.
My dad is from Leeds, you know where the Who played live at Leeds
Thanks 🙏
@HINESTROZA1 - Harbor Freight has1/2T Arbor Presses for 32USD. I got my 1T Arbor Press on Craigslist.
Thank you for the video!! Love your stuff!
0:45 I'm in the USA... Nope that is an eyelet!! If the supplier you are buying those from are calling them rivets.. they are mistaken!!! haha We would also call those grommets, but I would use eyelet as grommets are either rubber or larger versions.
Great idea!!
Great video dude. I'm modifying my press too. Harbor Freight here in the US has a 1 ton for less than 40 dollars. What is the dimension for the sleeve for the Tandy die adaptation. I know the snap setter is 10.5 mm as you stated. Again.. great video...
i use drill chuck for more option
Great video!
great vid and tutorial as usual, just a quick question where is the best place to get a stamp? thanks
Nice video. So is a 1/2 ton enough or just spend about 25% more for the 1 ton. Thanks cb
Great videos!
Thx for the tip !
That was really helpful and money-saving, thanks.
Brilliant! Thanks!! G
Brilliant!
Very informative as usual, Just once observation though - a few times the item you were trying to show were out of camera shot, or barely visible. Any chance that could be taken into account in future? Still, great video.
bearing in mind the video is *nine years old*, yes it gets taken into account as much as possible these days given a lack of space and the fact that I have to film everything myself without being able to see the camera.
@@Leodis.Leather Point taken,,,,!
Ian,
What is the diameter of the hole on the bolster plate? 10 or 14 mm?
thanks for this vid
yeah.. .they are an eyelet to me too.
I want to ask you...is that press 1 ton or 2 ton capacity?
can the arbor press be bought in the US, or does it have to be shipped from the UK?
any way to stamp kydex with this press or just leather???
@ArmySyko : Howdy Im also in the US and I cant find a cheap 25 usd arbor press! may I ask where did you get it ?
I'm assuming at some point you've figured out that the Tandy dies will fit in the arbor press?
+Oregon Bushcraft arbor presses come without holes in so they would only fit if you happen to have drilled the exact size required in them for the Tandy dies which on mine wasn't the case.
+Ian Atkinson Sorry, meant to say that the Tandy dies fit in the knifekits.com press. I was kind of assuming you made your press to mimic it.
+Oregon Bushcraft I have knifekits dies for kydex eyelets and the shaft on them is bigger than the shaft on all the Tandy dies so I don't see how they would fit properly in the knifekits press unless they've changed the dies since I got them.
+Ian Atkinson I think my knifekits.com press is 2 years old and I have almost the complete collection of Tandy dies to go with it. No modification was needed.
+Oregon Bushcraft I also have knifekits.com eyelet and snap dies and had fit them in the Tandy press prior to buying the Tandy dies to make sure they fit.
hi ian where can i get the arbor press mate and the collor for the dies cheers peter.
After over 12 years nothin changes :D Tandy press is a waste of money and you can buy a 'tandy like' press for about 50 GBP with shipping from Polad but arbor press still makes a better work :D leatherworking technologies are still in 20th century xD
Greets :)
Haw much are the preses second hand in the uk.
Instead of all that work making an adapter, you can just buy a magnet, attach it to the shaft of the arbor press, and then attach the rivet tap.
Did you fabricate that logo stamp?
where did u get the stamp made???
Is this a 0.5-ton Arbor Press?
1T
Will a 0.5-ton Arbor press suffice for riveting and stamping leather? Or Would I get more value buying a 1-ton arbor press?
I'd get a 1T one
Thank you!
@satansbarber i know thats why i said i found it lol
In the US Harbor Freight has something similar.
t.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html
I just bought one of these and I recommend this mod... ruclips.net/video/L3sRMtAkyzw/видео.html rather than packing your item up you can adjust the arm for optimum angle...
The Tandy press looks just like Ebay item 170752407889.
Ian, Can you send me your email? Ta Claire