Hand Press
Equipment
The Design Center has a hand press for attaching rivets, snaps, and grommets to leather.
Getting Started: Hand Press
Depending on the type of component you would like to attach to the leather, you will need to fit the right die attachments to the press. There will always be two die pieces for the underside of the press and the bed where you will place your leather.
Below are examples of components that can be attached to your leather pieces:
These components will often come in two pieces that will go on the front and back of the leather. Snaps will also have both stud and socket pieces that will allow the two pieces of leather to be snapped together.
You can see a demonstration of how to attach the dies and use the press in this video:
Frequently Asked Questions
A grommet is a ring or strip inserted into a hole in a thin material like leather. Grommets are usually made of sturdier materials like metal, plastic, or rubber, and they prevent tearing and wear on the leather itself. A small grommet will sometimes be called an eyelet.
Rivets are decorative pieces of metal you can attach to your leather pieces. If you are working with a piece of leather that will be visible from both sides, you will probably want to use a rivet that has a cap. If you are working with a rivet that will not be seen from the other side such as on the side of a bag, you can use a rivet without a cap.
If you are using a material thinner than leather, you may need to use a backing.