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Bit Clips |
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Snip them apart at the indented areas as shown, if they are not already separated.
Using a Rosary or Round-Nose Pliers carefully and gently bend one tab under to about 90° away from the decorated side.
Don't use pliers with a squared nose as these will cause too sharp of a bend, and may break the tab off.
Try to start the bend as close to the body of the clip as possible.
Using flat-jawed pliers, place the jaws on either side of the tabs as shown, and very gently squeeze the tabs just a little so that they are at least 90° or a little more from the body of the clip.
A small dab of any glue (Such as Duco Cement) on the grain (top) side of the leather can help hold the leather in place as you work.
Slide the lace in between the upraised tabs, making sure the top grain side of the leather meets the bottom (undecorated) side of the bit clip.
The lace may be skived, or not. Make sure to use an extra-long piece in case you have trouble.
Placing the jaws of the pliers as shown, very gently apply pressure until the tabs on each side start to bend partly over the lace. Go slowly! Too much fast pressure can cause the tabs to break.
With your pliers, very carefully crimp each tab down onto the back side of the lace so that the lace is secured.
If the tabs still stick up a little bit, carefully place the jaws to cover both tabs together and press them both down..
Glue a very thin shim of leather lace (such as what is left over from skiver) or even a thin piece of paper over the tabs on the back side of the clip.
This will help prevent the clip from scratching a model.
With Round-Nose pliers, make a slight downward bend at the end of the clip as shown.
Place your round-nosed pliers right at the place where the long clip extends from the clip's body.
With a finger, gently push on the end of the long tab to form it around the pliers.
Push the clip around till it just about touches the body section.
With the Round-nose pliers, carefully press the body and clip against each other, just behind the bend at the tip of the clip portion itself.
If you can feel any rough or sharp edges along the sides of the clip body, you can gently sand such areas smooth.
Tips & Tricks for Clips
Once the clip is completed, and a liner is glued onto the back to cover the tabs, you shouldn't really need to bend or reshape the clip. The slight "outward bend" at the tip end, should easily allow you to "slip" the bridle ring of a bit shank into place.
To remove a bit, just push upward through the "tight spot" of the clip. Avoid using tools or fingernails to try to pry the clip open or crimp it shut repeatedly.
If you have a little lace extending from the bit clip, you can use your cutters, or a hobby knife to carefully remove the excess lace that extends past the clip.
It helps to plan your project as well. Attach the bit clip to the strap first, and be sure to use an extra-long strap than you'll need for your finished part, so you have plenty of room in case you need to make adjustments. Once your bit clip is in place, attach a bit shank to that so you can hold it up to a model.
Now you will be able to clearly see about where a buckle should go on the other end. If the strap will be used to go around the head as a crown strap, be sure to make it extra long, and don't cut the other end until the bridle is built and ready to be properly fitted.
Oh Noes! My Tabs Broke Off!
Now what?
This can happen (and we are working on improving the design of the clips to help alleviate this). Meanwhile, you can glue the clips on using the same techniques as shown for Glue On Strap Tips.