Working on one of the boats over the last two weeks, I find that the Dretz-brand snap tool available in fabric stores and at places like Hobby Lobby is just not up to the task of installing real heavy-gauge stainless canvas snaps. I am installing a new bimini and cockpit enclosure on the Monterey cruiser. LOTS of snaps to install... I have gone through two snap tools, two of the Dretz-brand tools you find out there..
I did a lot of internet research and found you either get the Dretz snap tool, which is cheap enough for the hobbyis but bends trying to install stainless, or the Hoover Pres-N-Snap Tool which seems a little pricey for a non-professional.
A little more digging took me to this outfit called Great Lakes Boat Tops. Apparently they are the OEM canvas provider for many boat brands. Not sure why they are called Great Lakes, since they are in Vonore Tennessee next to the SeaRay plant...
Anyway, they make a tool that is a midified Vice-Grip style tool. I received mine today. $49.95 gets what feels like a heck of a lot of tool for the money. I have yet to try it, but I think I am going to like it. The two halves are welded onto the jaws of the vice grip; elegant in its simplicity. I have seen others who had a similar tool, with lots of complaints that the faces of the punch and die did not line up. This tool seems to not have that issue.
Their site on-line features a picture of a tool where the punch and die are mounted on drift pins where they could move around a little. I am not sure if that is a positive or a negative, but I have to assume that with the forces being genetrated the welded on punch and die set are goin to be more robust and consistent since nothing in the tool is put into shear.
Here is a link: http://www.greatlakesboattop.com/installation
See how to order on that page.
Stay tuned. I will report back my findings fater I have installed a few more new snaps, and after having gone back to tighten the ones already installd, but installed too loosely.
Also see the pics below
I did a lot of internet research and found you either get the Dretz snap tool, which is cheap enough for the hobbyis but bends trying to install stainless, or the Hoover Pres-N-Snap Tool which seems a little pricey for a non-professional.
A little more digging took me to this outfit called Great Lakes Boat Tops. Apparently they are the OEM canvas provider for many boat brands. Not sure why they are called Great Lakes, since they are in Vonore Tennessee next to the SeaRay plant...
Anyway, they make a tool that is a midified Vice-Grip style tool. I received mine today. $49.95 gets what feels like a heck of a lot of tool for the money. I have yet to try it, but I think I am going to like it. The two halves are welded onto the jaws of the vice grip; elegant in its simplicity. I have seen others who had a similar tool, with lots of complaints that the faces of the punch and die did not line up. This tool seems to not have that issue.
Their site on-line features a picture of a tool where the punch and die are mounted on drift pins where they could move around a little. I am not sure if that is a positive or a negative, but I have to assume that with the forces being genetrated the welded on punch and die set are goin to be more robust and consistent since nothing in the tool is put into shear.
Here is a link: http://www.greatlakesboattop.com/installation
See how to order on that page.
Stay tuned. I will report back my findings fater I have installed a few more new snaps, and after having gone back to tighten the ones already installd, but installed too loosely.
Also see the pics below
