Canvas Cover Repair

[Mike K]

Hi All, Happy Summer !
I just bought a new canvas cover for my boat, and as you know,
the snaps must be fitted to the existing snaps.
My question is the tool I'll need to install the snaps.
The cheap tools look like junk, and professional grade "vise grip style"
goes for about $150 !
Any advise on what to buy or avoid?
Thanks,
Mike

[cwag911]

See if you can rent one from a dealer. I've used the good one and can't speak about the cheap one. I do believe it cheaper on Ebay.

[Captain Tony]

Hey Mike:
I've used the hammer, die & anvil type in the past and prefer the vise grip type for a low buck investment.
I asked myself how many times I would need to do that many snaps; and that convinced me not to invest in the $150 type pro tool.

[Mike K]

Carl, good idea! I never think about tool rental.
And like Tony, I have die and anvil that I got with a kit from Seasense, but to do 30 or so snap
would take forever.
Thanks guys.

[cwag911]

Mike, these are very reasonable. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-Setter-...dWjYUR&vxp=mtr

[rickdb1]

I like that tool Carl. I always used the punch type if I had just a few to do. What a pain though..

[Mike K]

I think I'll go with Carl's idea.
Good for the DIY guy.
Thanks guys.

[Mike K]

I ordered the pliers yesterday, and they shipped same day !!!

[Captain Tony]

Hey Mike K:

When you get the setting tool, try one snap to practice on just a scrap piece of canvas or cloth in order to get the correct setting.
You'll find that the vise grips work just like ordinary ones with a screw adjustment in one leg to set the pressure.

If you have it too tight when compressing the snap post, you will find the topside head of the snap gets flattened.
This does not look good on the boat if a bunch of the snaps are concave.

Just a suggestion. It happens.

[Mike K]

Thanks Tony,
Good to know !
Never would have thought of that.