RQP Split Rivets

talaananthes · Post by **talaananthes** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:42 pm

I just got a belt buckle from Raymond's Quiet Press that attaches via 2 split rivets.

How do you peen these correctly?

Also, one of the rivets seems to be significantly shorter than the other and isn't really long enough to penetrate the leather of my belt. Is this a casting mistake, and if so, and what's their returns policy like?

I don't know anything about this type of rivet, have never even seen one before.

Johann Lederer · Post by **Johann Lederer** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:38 am

How thick is your belt? If you decided not to return it to Raymond, you could always "skive" the back of the belt to reduce it's thickness.

Skiving is basically scraping or cutting the flesh (rough suede) side of the leather to reduce it's thickness or taper it. It is done several ways, one with a head knife (not recommended unless you have a few years of practice), a skiving plane (easier), safety beveler (easy) or with a belt sander (easiest, but dangerous). You have to be very careful using a belt sander to skive leather. I have used this method, BUT, I made a jig up in wood to hold the leather in place and clamped the belt sande in a vice.

Peening the "winged" split rivets is pretty easy, basically you spread out the wings and strike the center to peen them over (my method). You also need to protect the belt buckle in something soft or the buckle will scratch or worse.

Just my .02 YMMV

talaananthes · Post by **talaananthes** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:02 pm

If it were thick leather, that's probably what I'd do, but it's only 7-8 oz.

Wolf · Post by **Wolf** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 2:24 pm

i usually cut them off flush with the back of the piece. then i drill a hole and use a peening rivet.

Greenshield · Post by **Greenshield** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 2:39 pm

Talaananthes,

I've had similar problems with RPQ. I've been very disapointed with the quality I've seen in the last 2 years. They are very hit an miss with quality I'm afraid and it's a shame because I love Raymonds work.

But thats neither here nor there. Wolf's idea is a fine one and one of the two processes i use when this happens to me. You other option, depending on the buckle and the surface area would be to cut/grind the current rivits off and solder(sp?) one of the Tandy copper rivits to the back and then rivit on that way.

The only other option I see would be to send it back and ask for one with a proper rivit on the back.

GreenShield+

(sorry for the dbl post)

Hjlmr inn Danski · Post by **Hjlmr inn Danski** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:00 pm

Greetings,

I use a standard screwdriver to flatten them out a bit, then hammer them down.

I'm gonna start doing them like Wolf now. Great idea!

Hjlmr inn Danski

Blackstone · Post by **Blackstone** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:27 pm

If the rivets are too short, I'd suggest just dropping Raymond an e-mail. I'm sure it'll get taken care of.