All About Pocket Knives

How many here use an arbor press, for knife and sheath making. Kydex grommets. What brand?, 1/2 ton or 1 ton. Looking at YouTube videos. Lot's of info and modifications. I have old one that was made in Kalamazoo but maybe less that maybe 1/4 ton. The larger the more throat height. Harbor Freight seems to need a lot of work out of the box. Do you like working with Kydex? used may be okay, maybe a pawn shop. cutting up pondo boards for work surfaces, I/e cutting boards. Thanks, Bob

I use the Harbor Freight 1 ton arbor press. I had zero issues with it out of the box. I use it for stamping leather, setting rivets in leather, for it's designed purpose of small wheel arbor setting, kydex rivet setting etc,

The only "issue" is making sure you have the appropriate rivet set/anvil for what you are trying to press. The wrong anvil/setter will screw the pooch.

I have a small Arbor press, I think I got from Jantz Supply when I first started repairing knives. About all I use it for is for pressing out pins or sometimes pressing them in.
I'm not sure what the capacity is but I have looked at Harbor Freight for I an arbor press that would take a thicker piece of work. Mine would be fine if I created the right template for the bottom I could use it for kydex and leather rivets as well.
I usually set leather rivets with a hammer and anvil.

I bought snaps and the matching tools at my Tandy Leather store. One thing I seen on YouTube is the use of a magnet on the ram, to hold the staking tool. Many do not come pre-drilled for inserting a tool and a set screw. Can be done. The plastic milk jug type cutting boards "pondo" in videos, are easy to cut, hole saw, or band saw to round or square surface for you dipped piece under your leather. I also have a vintage Lionel service station press. Found at an antique show minus the tools. Stopped by Home Depot and bought two types of magnets in the cabinet hardware dept. Bought a used thick cutting board at the church sale for .25 cents. also easy or your cutting tools.

Here is my small arbor press. 4 inch ram. so maybe a half ton or much less. I did not get any attachments with it and it has a reduced post on the end of the ram. Found washers and a nut to slide on it. Magnet on the end to hold them. I can them stick a tool end or a socket on it. cutting board circle when working with leather. I also came up with a home made stitching pony. or leather holder when you are working with two needles.

I bought one of those from Harbor Freight, but haven't put it to any use ...yet