How to Set Snaps in Leather

Punching Leather and Setting Snaps

Skill LevelBeginner

TechniqueLeather-Working

Time1-3 Hours

Learn how to set snaps in leather or suede to create bracelets and more. author signature

Snap fasteners are an excellent choice for finishing leather or suede designs. They are easy to open and close and give your jewelry a professional touch. It's easy to set snaps in leather or in suede. Follow these instructions to learn how You will need snap fasteners, a snap setter, an anvil and a rotary hole punch.

For this tutorial, we used Tandy Leather tools and a Leather Bracelet.

Step-by-Step Instructions Expand All Steps

Here we have a snap setter and anvil, along with the snap fasteners. There are four pieces to snap fasteners: the stud, the eyelet, the socket and the cap.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 1

Lay a stud on the leather to determine the placement of your snaps. Mark the placement with a pencil.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 2

Adjust the rotary hole punch to the correct size for the snap fasteners you are using. The rotating wheel adjusts to punch six different sized holes.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 3

Place the rotary hole punch on the leather where you marked with your pencil and clamp down on the hole punch.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 4

You will now have a finished hole where your pencil mark was. Repeat steps 2 through 5 on the other end of the bracelet.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 5

From the finished side of the leather, the tube of the snap cap goes through one of the holes you just made and the socket goes over the tube of the cap on the back side of the leather. It is important that you place your cap on the correct side of the leather. Otherwise, your bracelet will fasten with the back side of the leather facing up.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 6

Position the anvil on your work space with the concave side up. Place the leather and snap you are working with on top of the anvil so that the cap rests in the concave. Place the snap setter in the tube of the socket.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 7

While holding the setter straight, hammer the end of it until the tube of the socket meets the cap and it's secure.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 8

Once you are done with step 8, your snap cap should look like this.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 9

From the back side of the leather, the tube of the eyelet goes through the other hole you created. The stud fits over the tube of the eyelet on the finished side of the leather. Again, make sure your stud is on the correct side of the leather so your design fastens properly.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 10

Position the snap setter in the tube of the eyelet and hammer, as you did in step 7 and 8.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 11

The finished snap stud should look like this.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 12

Now you can close your snap fastener

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 13

Your finished project should have the finished side of the leather or suede facing out and the snap fastener should close easily.

Setting Snaps in Leather Step 14

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Nice choice! All or most of the products needed for this project are shown below with quantities. Sometimes we sell out of components and aren’t able to order more from the manufacturer (we know, it is very disappointing to us, too). Use the opportunity to mix up the design and make it yours by substituting similar products or altering the entire color scheme—it’s up to you!

Metal Complex 4oz Ball Pein Hammer with 10-Inch Wood Handle

Code TOOL-0011

$5.19

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