repairs with copper rivets

Solid copper rivets are easy to use and a great way to make strong repairs to working harness. With a little practice you can even make the repairs look good. as I was working on my second D ring harness I realized I would need to make some repairs to the britchen spider. Leather at a buckle attachment was about to tear through. I used three copper rivets and a short piece of good leather to fix the harness. The only really specialized tool is the one that pushes the copper washer down over the rivet. There is a hole in the end of the tool that just fits over the rivet. You also need a good hole punch which you most likely have already. In order to make sure of a good flat finish on the back the part must be held flat on something solid while the end of the rivet is tapped with the hammer. I tip the hammer in different directions and angles as I tap the end flat, making a nice rounded finish that is pretty smooth with nothing to hook on. The rivets come in different lengths and can repair anything from tugs to bridles. Always test the leather to make sure it is worth fixing. If you cant tell by looking at it, try to brake it by twisting it hard. If it brakes throw it a way, if not fix it. Realize that a solid copper rivet is far better than the hollow rivet that is used on so many purchased parts. The hollow rivet will rot at the end that was split and folded in the machine, and the solid copper rivet will last as long as the leather. Here are a few pictures of putting in solid copper rivets being put in to make a new buckle holder. Some of the pictures are not in focus. Sorry