Rivets

In the left corner we have the finest Taiwanese soild (cough cough, hollow) brass nickle plated rivet which comes in a variety of sizes each specific to certain weights of leather.  On the right we have a US made copper rivet used throughout the world when durability is essential.

This Taiwanese rivet fits two layers of 4-5oz. just as it should with about 1/16"-1/8" sticking up over the stack.  If the rivet is larger than that it will not set correctly and will almost immediately fail.

2 solid whacks is all it takes to properly set this rivet; you may also use a die press or arbor press.  Though I don't know why you would go to such lengths for something as inherently cheap as a brass rivet.  There are no machines to set copper rivets only hand tools.

When striking the rivet setting tool it is very important to keep it perpendicular to avoid potentially bending the rivet or making tool marks.  In this example I am using a 1" rivet as opposed to a 1/2" rivet because there is a temporary supply problem at the moment.  Worry not, I save all of my rivet clippings to melt in the forge when there are enough to cast something.

It will take several firm blows to set the burr in place.  Take your time as this will most likely never fail.

With a good pair of side cutters snip the rivet about 3/16" above the leather.

Using the domed portion of the rivet setting tool begin to peen the rivet into place.

5-7 more blows and it is starting to get there.

Using the face of the hammer carefully peen the edges of the rivet all around paying careful attention not to hit the leather and put a tool mark on it.  With practice it becomes second nature.  Expect a lot of tool marks in your first and second years of rivet setting.  Especially when the rivet tool is not perpendicular.  If the surfaces are not flat and you are setting a rivet in an out of the way place tool marks are unavoidable. 

Finish it off with 5-7 blows with the domed rivet setting tool and you have a perfectly set copper rivet that is sure to last generations.  I have personally set over 5,000 copper rivets; when I began there were no tutorials and I learned by trial and error.  Hopefully this guide may be useful to anyone new to leather craft.