Snap questions

[boscopup]

1) I have a one-layer PUL cover with TouchTape, and I would like to rip out that evil TT and replace it with snaps. Since there is only one layer of PUL, should I just add a scrap of PUL when applying the snaps? I assume that the snaps won't be happy with just one layer of PUL, correct? This is 1mil PUL, btw. It's held up well to the evil TT (that eats all my FOE). Can you tell I am not happy with TT? My other cover already has a cotton print outer, so it's 2 layers and should be ok with snaps being added as is, I think.

Oh, and the snaps will be your regular size 20 KAM snaps.

2) When applying the snaps, do I need to poke holes first, or will the press do the job? I'm using a 1/2 ton arbor press from Harbor Freight. I have not yet tried it out since my dad hasn't given it to me yet. He was hopefully drilling holes for the dies this weekend, but I haven't talked to him since Friday, so don't know if that happened or not. It's a heavy press with lots of power though. IF I need to poke holes first, what do you use to do that? I tried poking a snap cap through one layer of scrap PUL, and I couldn't get any more than the very tip through it by hand.

3) I've read the tutorial at OSDS for how to apply snaps, but if you have any other tips and tricks that I should know about before starting, feel free to bombard me with info!

I'm so excited to start using my "snap press" soon!

[Rachel Flores]

I'm so Happy for you. I got my snap press (thesnapstore.com great people to work with, super fast shipping!!!) last week and it's been so fun. I put snaps on a cover that was made of 2mil pul and a thin piece of woven fabric and it worked just fine. I don't think that you would have to reinforce the area on your pul, but I'm very new to this. You definently dont have to push a hole through with the snap before you use your press. I made another cover with windpro and there is no way, no matter how hard i tried that I would be able to push the snaps through it. I figure that's what the heavy press is for . Have fun snapping!

[boscopup]

Thanks! I used 1mil PUL, so it's not quite as thick as your 2mil, but it doesn't hurt to try it, I suppose. It's not my favorite cover because I really should have widened the butt a tad more for a prefold (it works great over my fitteds made from the same pattern, of course), but since I only have a total of 3 covers now, and have sold off 9 of my 14 original Fuzzi Bunz to pay for diaper making supplies, I gotta use prefolds fairly often until I make more diapers!

[Mickiswing]

The press will do the job of poking holes through the fabric, but I prefer to use an awl to prepoke, mostly so I can get the snaps lined up better.

I didn't reinforce the material on the covers that have an outer print on them. If I was doing just a one layer PUL with snaps, I'd probably put another scrap of PUL for the snaps, but if you poke the snaps through the FOE (which will help eliminate wing curl) you don't need to reinforce right there.

[boscopup]

Thanks! So I guess if the tip is poking through (and thus the snap is lined up), I should be ok with letting the press do it, but if I can't get the tip through all the way, it'd be better to poke it with an awl?

And good tip about the FOE and wing curl. I will try to remember that. I'll probably just place a rectangular strip of PUL across the row of snaps on the front, and try to get the tab snaps into the FOE.

[rnasmomma]

Originally Posted by boscopup

Since there is only one layer of PUL, should I just add a scrap of PUL when applying the snaps?

I use a scrap of microfleece behind the PUL in the snap area. That seems to work well.

[LeosMama]

snap install

There is no neep to use an awl EXCEPT if you want to be perfect with snap placement. We found that it takes a few tries to get placement down unless you are very careful. (mark the fabric with a dot and put the point of the cap on the backside of the fabric so it is pressing on the dot then just lower away )

2 notes on using your drill press..

1) be sure and line up the dies perfectly first and make sure they wont shift
2) make sure the table base is high enough so you have enough drop to tighten the snaps... the arbor should not bottom out when the dies touch.
3) ok more than 2 things.. heheheh
3) we had to support under the drill press table with a block of wood to prevent it from flexing under pressure.
4) last but not least.. the drill press will give more pressure than the standard snap press... if you press to hard on the handle, you will crack the snap..
(when you do this, don't worry, just drill it out ( we use a cordless drill and drill out the smushed post and the snap comes off so you can start again).


Have fun!!

Gary & Lindsay

[LeosMama]

heheheh that was my dh...weird since I don't remember posting to this...

[our3boys]

Originally Posted by LeosMama

heheheh that was my dh...weird since I don't remember posting to this...

Does he come in here and check out the diaper making questions frequently?? Wow!

[LeosMama]

I really don't know if he comes here and reads this forum or not. I don't think he's ever posted before. But he's the one that set up my snap press on the drill press for me, and he's the one that fixes my snaps when I mess them up. And I often consult with him on snap placement, so I suppose he feels a certain expertise.

Of course, I also consult with him on sewing techniques and ideas, and he always has some little trick that I hadn't thought of. He taught me to sew.

Alright, all done bragging about dh.

[our3boys]

Well, you sure did brag him up - he sounds like a great guy. With a great post, too!