Cover for the back of snaps??

Casey4545

Casey4545

Joined
Jun 10, 2011
Messages
242
Hello,

Was hoping for a little help finding something. Does anybody know where to get those little plastic inserts that go on the backside of a snap fastener, to prevent scratching. The retainer strap will have a button snap sitting right over brass bolsters, I'm certain the back of the metal snap will scratch if not covered..

I do not want to just glue a piece of leather over the back of the snap. I also cannot use a liner on this part of the sheath as there will be no stitching on this part of the leather. I just cannot find those little plastic "inserts" that can be put on the back of the snap fastener.. Do you guys have any idea what these are called or where I can order them?

Thanks for your time!

-Casey
 
Are you talking about an insert that goes into the base of the male half of the snap?
 
Yes precisely! Just something that will cover it up so the metal doesn't scratch up the handle material.

For the life of me I cannot find this on google or the forums
 
I normally sink the back of the fastener into the leather a bit then put a light coating of contact glue over it, can't say I have ever seen the plastic covers you mentioned.

Richard
 
At the hardware store they sell plastic hole covers. They look like thumbtacks, but the point is not sharp. They come in colors and are sold by screw size (#6,#8,#10, etc.). You could taper the "point" to match your snap base and glue it in place with hot glue.
 
I have used a matching color leather and made a "cinched" cover . To make one, you run a loose few stiches around the outside of a round piece of leather cut slightly larger than the base of the snap a small dab of glue to hold it in place and pull the thread to cinch the leather tight around the base of the snap (think of a tiny leather hair-net). Then you set the snap like normal.
 
Can't say I've ever seen or heard of a plastic cover for the backs of snaps, though the idea is intriguing.

I've always lined my sheaths when necessary, don't think I've ever come across a time when it couldn't be done.

I'm curious what your dilemma looks like, I'm having a time visualizing your problem. Pictures would help us help you. :)
 
thebrain said:
I have used a matching color leather and made a "cinched" cover . To make one, you run a loose few stiches around the outside of a round piece of leather cut slightly larger than the base of the snap a small dab of glue to hold it in place and pull the thread to cinch the leather tight around the base of the snap (think of a tiny leather hair-net). Then you set the snap like normal.
Click to expand...

Your method as described, will alter the effective length of the snap post, and because of the softer leather between the snap and the sheath will cause the snap not to clinch and set as firmly as it should or could, promoting early if not instant failure.

Edited to add: Casey4545, you certainly can line the retention strap and if you use good contact cement it does not need to be stitched. I make all mine using two layers of 2/3 oz cemented flesh to flesh with no stitching and they work perfectly and last the life of the sheath.

Paul
 
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download.jpgdownload2.jpg

Thanks for all the responses guys! Hopefully there are pics attached now (sorry had to use a cell) I should have posted pics to begin with to illustrate the design, I just cut out the leather profile.

Tiguy I am definitely going to look for those screw inserts thing, that just might be the trick for this

Thebrain that is a clever idea

Leatherman and Paul thank you guys for the responses! Paul that is a great idea using two pieces of leather cemented together for a retention strap. I never would have thought of that hah! I'll be sure to save that one.

I suppose I could line these, my thinking was that it would look funny to have a liner around the "collar" of the sheath with this simple design. But it might work out, just a little fancier than I was planning on going. I'll probably give it a shot, it'd be a first for me.

Again thank you all for the help and reply's, much appreciated:)
 
"Your method as described, will alter the effective length of the snap post, and because of the softer leather between the snap and the sheath will cause the snap not to clinch and set as firmly as it should or could, promoting early if not instant failure."
I used the sheath for years with no problems before giving it to a friend (I have heard nothing but good things since). I did make sure the post was the correct length and the snap set correctly, perhaps you are not seeing it correctly in your head as my description may have been lacking. I suggest giving it a try a few different ways and see what you get.
 
I've asked this question before, and I am wanting to line the inside of my next sheath. But on my past sheaths, I have used a small bit of gorilla duct tape to cover the metal. It is by no means a method that I am happy with. It has held up with use and holds well, but I am assuming will not do so long term. As leatherman has mentioned before on the forums, I'd like to think ahead about the longevity when making sheaths. Although duct tape is easily replaceable, and will fix everything. :)
Let me show you a pic of the inside of a Sharpshooters leather sheath for a Bark River knife I own. It does have these plastic caps that go over the button snaps. I tried to get the best view that I could of the inside of the sheath showing the snap, and the outside showing how the plastic button is going into the hole of the snap. I can't find where to buy these things. I will tell you that it takes up some space between the blade and the sheath, so it kind of makes the snap bulge out a bit. But it does not scratch your knife. If anyone knows where to purchase those I'd be interested.
**Edit** I might try to knock out the plastic cover so we can get a better look at it. I will post photos of that if I can do so.
**Edit** Was able to pop the snap out of the button! Added pics.




 
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Whenever your looking for something you don't know the name of, do a Google image search.


here is one for "plastic snap rivet" (for some reason the link doesn't open up by itself, you have to press "enter" after the word "rivet" ):


https://www.google.ca/search?q=plas...mozilla:en-US:official&sa=1&tbm=isch&imgdii=_


The first picture looks a lot like what you want.


Mcmaster-Carr sells some (scroll down to "snap shank"):
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-nylon-rivets/=o264q4



Reading the description, it seems that a well stocked art store would have them in the cardboard aisle to use as pivots.




Hope this helps.
 
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Wow Joe thanks a lot! I never thought about an image search, thanks for pointing that out. I just looked for some on amazon, but may check around at the nearest art store. I never thought about them being rivets, but it makes sense.
If your new here, welcome! And please continue to contribute to the forums.
 
I have used small precut circles of female velcro - they come in the perfect size (black or white available) from walmart . Glue gets soft so I remove with lighter fluid or goo gone orange based stickum stuff. Then use loctite super glue to fix in place never had a problem and it will not mar like the plastic pictured. Hope this helps
 
That nylon snap cover is exactly the one I got a handful from Sharpshooter Systems a while back. He sent me a handful as a favour - and I don't think he was selling any - but nontheless - they work great.

TF
 
Hard to tell from the picture, but they kinda look like the things mentioned from McMaster Carr. Those of you who ordered them from McMaster, what size did you order for Line 24 snaps?
 
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