Customer support
FAQ
I haven't purchased yet
Shipping costs depend on the chosen carrier, order weight, number of packages, and delivery country. That is why shipping makes up a larger share of the price on a very small order. You will see the exact amount in your cart for each carrier before completing your order.
Indicative prices can be found on the Delivery Methods page.
You will see the estimated delivery date:
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on each product page on the website,
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in the cart when selecting the carrier.
This is an average calculated from actual deliveries to your country with the given carrier. After we hand your shipment over to the carrier, you will receive an email with a tracking link so you can check the current delivery date.
For some countries, we cannot calculate the delivery date (insufficient data) – in that case, it will not be displayed. After dispatch, you can always see the current status in the shipment tracking.
Yes, if we offer express service to your country. You will see availability, price and speed in the cart when selecting the carrier – express options will appear alongside standard delivery methods.
For express orders, choose payment by card or PayPal. With bank transfer we wait for the funds to arrive, so you would defeat the purpose of choosing express delivery.
For pet hardware, we always state the inner clearance in millimeters. If you have webbing that is 20 mm wide, choose 20 mm hardware.
The size is also part of the product code – you'll find it after the slash (e.g., 4520/20 NP).
The final price depends exclusively on the quantity ordered, not on whether you are purchasing as a consumer, retailer, or manufacturer. The larger the volume, the better the price.
For details, see Do you offer any discounts?
Yes, two options:
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10% discount for a full carton. For each product, you can see prices for three package sizes: basic package (10 pcs), bundle, and carton. If you order a quantity corresponding to a full carton, the discount is applied automatically.
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Volume discounts. With higher total turnover, you receive an additional discount. The rules can be found on the Payment Methods and Discounts page.
We do not offer any other discounts or discount coupons. The exception is a complaint: instead of a replacement or refund, you can choose a coupon or credit for your next purchase worth the value of the goods complained about.
Yes, we are happy to send samples. You can request them in two ways:
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With an order: write the sample codes in the order note. We add the samples to your order and charge the highest unit price listed for each product.
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Separately: create an order on our website with the products you want to try, but do not pay for it. Send the order number to customer support. We will change the quantity to 1 piece and send you new payment details. Once we receive your payment, we ship the samples right away.
We send the same sample once, or twice at most. Samples are meant for testing and product development, not as a regular supply.
For destinations outside the EU, we always enclose an invoice for customs clearance with the samples.
Yes, for shipments outside the EU customs territory. As the recipient you are also the importer – your country may apply import duty, VAT and carrier fees.
Estimate in the cart. Before you complete the order we show the approximate amount of duty and taxes. The final amount is set by the customs authority in your country and may differ due to the exchange rate or a reassessment of the rate. Import VAT and duty are usually calculated from the value of the goods including shipping.
Two payment modes:
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DAP – the default for most countries. The carrier or customs collects duty and taxes on delivery; we don't charge them in the cart.
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DDP – where offered, you pay duty and taxes upfront in the cart and pay nothing more on delivery.
Why prepaid duty is higher than the estimate. On top of the duty and taxes themselves you pay the carrier's fee for handling customs clearance, and for the certainty of a final price: if customs assesses more, we cover the difference and nobody contacts you again; if it assesses less, we don't refund the difference. With payment on delivery you carry that risk and pay exactly what customs assesses.
How we invoice shipments. Always at the real value and with complete commercial documentation (goods description, origin, HS code). We can't declare a lower value or mark a shipment as a gift.
By destination:
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USA – the duty-free "de minimis" threshold below USD 800 no longer applies; all shipments are subject to duty regardless of value (US rules change often). There is no VAT in the USA.
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Canada – GST/HST, possibly provincial sales tax and customs duty. The duty exemption threshold is CAD 20. The carrier (usually UPS) handles clearance and contacts you before delivery.
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United Kingdom above £135 – we invoice without VAT; on import you pay UK VAT of 20% and any duty. UPS charges a £6.25 VAT adjustment and a £12.90 disbursement fee; if duty and VAT exceed £516, it charges 2.5% of that amount instead. UPS rates may change.
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United Kingdom up to £135 – B2C orders are invoiced with UK VAT of 20% and you pay nothing more on delivery. B2B orders with a valid UK VAT number are invoiced without VAT (reverse charge); without a VAT number we process the order as B2C. Different rules may apply to Northern Ireland.
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Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, Åland – these lie outside the customs or tax territory of the EU, so IGIC (in the Canary Islands also AIEM on shipments above €150), IPSI or import VAT applies. Madeira and the Azores are standard EU with no extra charges.
Refused or returned shipments. If you refuse a shipment, don't collect it or don't pay the charges in time, the carrier may return or destroy it and charge storage. For returned goods we deduct shipping costs and related fees from the refund. Prepaid duty and taxes (DDP) are not refunded – customs authorities collect them and you can claim them directly there.
This information is indicative; binding information is provided by the customs authorities in your country. We'll sort out anything unclear about your order through customer support.
In 99.9% of cases, no. Delivery within the EU is usually not subject to any additional fees.
Exceptions – special tax territories. Some parts of EU member states have their own tax regimes and import charges may apply when delivering to them:
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Canary Islands (ES) – part of the EU customs territory but not the tax territory. Deliveries are subject to IGIC tax:
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Up to €150 (including shipping) – simplified procedure, IGIC only.
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Over €150 – standard customs procedure, import duties, IGIC, AIEM and special taxes.
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Ceuta and Melilla (ES) – located outside the EU customs and tax territory. Deliveries are considered exports and are subject to local IPSI tax and customs duties.
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Åland Islands (FI) – part of the EU customs territory but not the tax territory. Deliveries are subject to import VAT and possible charges.
No, we do not ship to P.O. Boxes. Carriers require a signature upon delivery, which a mailbox does not allow.
If you are not home during the day, we recommend:
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providing your work address as the delivery address,
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after the shipment is handed over to the carrier, using their self-service tool to request delivery to a pickup location or at a different time – see My goods are on the way, but I need to change the delivery.
Fill out the catalog request form and we will send you the printed catalog. The printed catalog contains products without prices.
We do not print the price list – prices are updated daily according to the exchange rate. Current prices can be found:
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on our website for each product,
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in the downloadable PDF price list.
Partially. Our products are made of metal, and metal mining always impacts nature – labeling them as 100% eco-friendly would not be honest. What we can influence, we do:
Electroplating. Our suppliers invest in modern technologies and processes that are safe for nature and employees. The old reputation of "dirty" plating is largely overcome.
Packaging and shipping. We pack in plastics and cardboard – we have not yet found an alternative with the same strength and protection. We are registered with EKO-KOM, which ensures take-back of packaging in the Czech Republic. At our company, we sort plastics and paper and strive to maximize material utilization.
Durability and recycling. Our metal products are highly recyclable. At the end of their life, hand them over to a scrap metal collection point – for us, that is the right end for the product.
No, we do not offer gift vouchers and do not plan to offer them in the future.
You can pay by card, via PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay, by bank transfer (proforma invoice) and, in selected countries, cash on delivery.
The full overview is on the Payment methods page. You'll see the options available for your order in the cart once you choose the delivery method.
No. E-transfer is a Canadian system for transferring money to an email address, but our company has a European bank account that does not accept e-transfers.
Instead, you can pay by:
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international bank transfer (SWIFT or SEPA),
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PayPal,
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credit card (except CAD currency).
No. If we deliver the goods to an address within the EU, it is a supply inside the EU and VAT applies regardless of your billing address being in a third country. A customs office confirmation (round stamp) on the invoice does not change this and we do not refund VAT on that basis.
Why it is not possible. Under the EU rules on tax refunds (in the Czech Republic Section 84 of the VAT Act), a refund by the seller only applies to goods of a non-commercial nature exported from the EU by a natural person in their personal luggage. A purchase delivered to an address within the EU does not meet this condition.
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Do you want to buy without VAT? Enter a delivery address outside the EU. We invoice such shipments without VAT and you pay taxes and duties on import in your own country. You will find the details in the answer Will I be charged any additional fees for delivery outside the EU?
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Do you already have an invoice with VAT? If you are a foreign taxable person and meet the statutory conditions, you can apply for a refund to the country whose VAT is shown on the invoice. For invoices with Czech VAT this is the Tax Office for the Capital City of Prague (Finanční úřad pro hlavní město Prahu) under Section 83 of the Czech VAT Act; for invoices with the VAT of another EU country (German VAT, for example) it is the competent authority of that country. We cannot file this application on your behalf.
Yes, you can also buy in person at our showroom.
Opening hours. Every working day from 7:00 to 15:00, except the lunch break from 11:00 to 11:30. We are closed on weekends and Czech public holidays.
Ordering ahead is fastest. Place your order on the website and choose Personal Pickup as the delivery method. We'll prepare the goods and email you as soon as they're ready for collection.
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Do you want to see the goods and choose by look and feel? Come by without any notice.
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Are you planning a larger purchase on site? Let us know in advance through customer support so we can set aside enough time for you.
Leave yourself some time for choosing on site – arrive at least one hour before we close, preferably by 14:00. You'll find our address on the Contact page.
Anyone can buy from us – companies and private individuals alike; a business registration is not a condition.
The price depends only on quantity. The more pieces you order, the lower the price per piece. Whether you buy as a manufacturer, a retailer or for your own workshop makes no difference.
Quantity and turnover discounts are listed on the Payment methods and discounts page.
Yes. Enter a valid VAT number with your order. We verify it against the European VIES register.
With a valid VAT number we don't charge you VAT. Without a valid number we process the order with VAT, the same as a purchase by an end customer.
Prices on the website include the VAT of your country. As soon as you enter a valid VAT number in your order, the cart recalculates the prices without VAT. If you are logged in and have a valid VAT number saved in your account, you see prices without VAT on the website too.
No, we don't offer local payment services such as BLIK, Klarna, Afterpay or iDEAL.
You can pay by card, via PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay, by bank transfer (proforma invoice) and, in selected countries, cash on delivery.
The full overview is on the Payment methods page. You'll see the options available for your order in the cart once you choose the delivery method.
Yes. Prices in foreign currencies are converted at the current exchange rate, so they can differ slightly from day to day.
The amount you'll actually pay is shown in the cart before you complete the order.
Yes, if PayPal offers you instalments at checkout, you can choose them. This is a PayPal service, so PayPal decides whether to offer them and on what terms.
PayPal pays us the full price of the order. You arrange the instalments and any fees for them directly with PayPal.
You can find other payment options on the Payment methods page.
Yes, the smallest quantity is one bag of rivets or 100 snaps. We don't offer smaller packs.
Rivets and Chicago screws are sold in bags. Most bags contain 100 pcs, bags of rhinestone rivets also 50 pcs, and bags of eyelets and cap rivets usually 1,000 pcs. Brass and stainless steel Chicago screws and some double cap rivets also come in bags of 10.
Snap fasteners and button studs are sold individually, from 100 pcs of one type.
The number of pieces per bag and the price per piece are shown on each product. We'll send you a sample to try. See Can I get a product sample?
Yes, prices are per metre. We sell webbing in whole rolls, but some webbing you can also order in a shorter length.
Polypropylene webbing (solid colour, rubber, woven, reflective): 50 m rolls, flexible webbing 25 or 30 m.
Waterproof webbing: 30 m rolls, Super Grip 15 m.
If a product shows a minimum order, that is the roll length and you order in whole rolls. If it shows no minimum order, you can also order a shorter length, for example to try it out. You pay more per metre than for a whole roll, and above the roll length you add whole rolls only.
You can try a sample of the webbing first. See Can I get a product sample? We can make a different colour or thickness to order. See Can you supply webbing in a different color or thickness?
Carriers class some postcodes as remote areas, for example in remote parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland or Australia and on the French islands. Carriers such as FedEx or DPD charge a surcharge for delivering there. You pay it for every parcel, regardless of the size of your order.
You will see the surcharge at checkout next to each carrier it applies to, together with your postcode. If we already know your address, we include it in the shipping price in your cart too.
You can avoid the surcharge:
- choose a carrier that does not charge it for your area (at checkout you can see the prices of all carriers),
- choose a delivery address with a different postcode, such as your workplace.
You can check indicative shipping prices on the Delivery Methods page.
I've already placed an order
After receiving your order, we will send you a confirmation email with a summary and payment instructions. When we hand over the goods to the carrier depends on the payment method and time of day.
Payment method:
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Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, cash on delivery: we process the goods for dispatch immediately after receiving the order.
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Bank transfer (proforma invoice): we prepare your order for dispatch after the full amount is credited to our account.
Timing (Prague time):
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On a working day before 11:00: we hand your order over to the carrier the same day.
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After 11:00: we do not guarantee same-day dispatch. We often manage it anyway. If not, we dispatch your order the next working day.
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Weekend or Friday after 11:00: we hand your order over to the carrier on Monday (if not a public holiday).
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Public holidays: we dispatch on the first following working day.
Stock availability. What you see on the website as in stock, we physically have ready to ship. Out-of-stock items cannot be ordered, but you can set up a back-in-stock alert for the product and we will notify you as soon as it is available again.
Emails you will receive:
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Order confirmation with summary and payment instructions
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Information that we are packing your order
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Handover to carrier with tracking code
It depends on where your order is in the payment process.
You have not paid yet. The easiest way is to create a new order with the correct items. You don't need to worry about the old one – on day 3 it will send you a payment reminder and on day 6 it will be automatically cancelled.
You have already sent the payment, but the money has not reached us yet (typically a bank transfer in transit). Contact us via the customer support form – we will resolve it together. Do not create a new order yet, as it would create the need to match and refund payments.
The payment has already arrived. We can no longer change the content – an invoice has been automatically issued and a dispatch note has been sent to the warehouse.
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Do you want to add an item? Create another order. Unfortunately, two orders cannot be merged.
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Do you want to remove an item? After receiving the goods, return it within the 14-day period – see Complaints and Returns.
Once the shipment has been handed over to the carrier, we can no longer make changes – contact the carrier directly. You will find their contact information in the email with the tracking link.
Self-service tools by carrier:
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Czech Post – redirection options are limited. The best way is to track your shipment on the Czech Post website.
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DPD – DPD service allows you to change the delivery location or time.
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UPS (Standard, Expedited, Express Saver) – UPS My Choice service (redirection, delivery time change).
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FedEx (Economy, Priority) – FedEx Delivery Manager service (redirection, hold at depot).
Contact us as soon as possible – the faster you reach out, the better the chance of correcting the address without consequences. The procedure depends on the shipment status:
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We haven't shipped yet. We'll change the address in the system and ship the goods correctly at no additional cost. (After placing an order, you cannot edit the address yourself in your account.)
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The shipment is already with the carrier. You can contact the carrier directly (contact details are in the email with the tracking link – see The goods are on the way, but I need to change the delivery). We will also try to contact them. The carrier often calls you directly to arrange the change. Success depends on the specific carrier and courier.
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The shipment was returned from the incorrect address. You pay the return shipping costs – these are usually higher than the original postage because we don't have volume discounts on them. To ship to the correct address, you'll also pay new postage.
It depends on when the invoice was issued.
Invoice from the current calendar month. We'll update the billing address on request.
Invoice from an earlier month. The details can no longer be changed – the data has been handed over to our accountant and reported in the tax return.
Contact us via customer support with the order or invoice number and a description of what you need to change.
It depends on the situation:
Payment failed in the cart. There can be several reasons – invalid card, payment gateway outage, your card payment limit is too low. If the payment fails, you will see an error message and can try again immediately. If repeated attempts fail, contact us via customer support – we will send you a new payment link where you can also choose a different payment method.
You received a reminder but already paid. We send an automatic reminder on the 3rd day after receiving the order to everyone who has not yet paid. If you sent the payment recently (typically by bank transfer), the reminder may arrive before the payment is matched – this usually resolves itself. You can see the current order status in My orders. If the status does not change after a few days, contact us via customer support.
I have already received an order
We do not offer direct size exchanges. Return the incorrect item within 14 days of receipt and order the correct size separately. You can find the procedure on the Complaints and Returns page.
Yes, within 14 days of receipt. Log in to My orders and click Return for the relevant order. Ordered without an account? Open the order tracking link from your shipping email and click Return items. If you don’t have the link, request it on the Complaints and returns page. You pay for the return shipping. If your goods are faulty or we've made a mistake, we arrange pickup at our expense. We refund your money within 14 days of the returned goods reaching us. The complete procedure is on the Complaints and returns page.
No, you must send returned shipments yourself. You can find the delivery address and procedure on the Complaints and Returns page.
Fill out the claim form as soon as possible. Send a brief description of the defect and a photo of the product. Depending on the situation, we will send a replacement or refund your money.
If the goods were already damaged upon receipt (broken box, etc.), please see the question The goods arrived damaged during transport.
Contact us as soon as possible via the claim form. Provide your order number, a description of the problem, and a photo of the shipment contents. Preferably within 7 days of receipt, but we will resolve later reports as well – errors sometimes only become apparent when using the product.
What happens next:
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An item is missing from your order. We will send the missing item free of charge – you do not need to return anything.
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You received different goods than you ordered. We will send the correct item.
The error is on our side, so we will cover the costs.
You always receive the invoice in three ways – so you can find it in three places:
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Physically in the shipment. We include a printed invoice in every package.
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By email. We attach a PDF to the email we send when the shipment is handed over to the carrier.
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In your account. Log in to My Orders and download the invoice as a PDF for the respective order.
If you cannot find the invoice in any of these places, contact us via customer support.
Product inquiries
We do not recommend it for a lead. A fire brigade snap hook has no swivel eye for the webbing, so the lead twists as the dog moves, and it is less convenient for clipping to a collar every day.
For a lead, choose one of our dog lead clips.
No. The name “fire brigade snap hook” describes the shape, not a certification. Snap hooks with a spring-loaded gate are not intended for climbing, work at height or securing people.
For securing people, choose only a carabiner with the appropriate certification and follow the intended use of the specific model. In this category, the oval Kong® Classic has EN 362 and ANSI certifications.
In the gate and the breaking load. A regular fire brigade snap hook only has a spring-loaded gate that snaps shut by itself. The Kong® Classic also has a screw-lock sleeve that prevents it from opening accidentally.
The breaking load of the Kong® Classic is 2,400 kg; for regular fire brigade snap hooks it is 500 kg at most.
Where you want to secure the connection after clipping in and do not unclip the snap hook often. Screw the sleeve shut after clipping in and loosen it before unclipping; it does not lock by itself.
Opening and closing therefore takes longer. Where you clip and unclip several times a day, a snap hook with a spring-loaded gate is quicker.
We don't recommend it. A bag loads the clip steadily, with its own weight only, while a dog on a lead can jerk hard. Bag strap clips have a breaking load of 12–60 kg, dog lead clips 100–240 kg.
For a lead, choose from the clips made for it and go by the breaking load of the specific model.
Choose an eye as wide as the strap or slightly wider: a 20 mm strap goes into a 20 mm eye. Use the Eye width filter the same way to show clips for any other strap width. You'll also find the inside eye width in each clip's variant table and in its name, as the number after the slash.
Dimensions may vary by ±10%. For a strap made of several layers or of thick leather, go one size wider.
If we know the restocking date, we display it directly on the product page. However, this is only an estimated date – it may shift based on current information from the carrier, sometimes at the last minute. We cannot provide a more precise date even upon request.
We recommend two options:
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Set up a back-in-stock alert for this item – the most reliable notification method. We'll send you an email only when we physically stock the item, so you know it's actually available.
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Choose a similar product that is in stock if you need a solution now.
We can immediately supply only products from our current range. If you need a different size, color, material or a completely new product, we can manufacture it to order – see I would like to have a product made to order. How long will it take?
Yes, we offer custom manufacturing, whether it's modifying an existing product or creating a completely new one. The timeline depends on the scope:
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Modification of an existing product (different color, finish, material, size): typically 10–12 weeks from payment of the proforma invoice.
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Development of a completely new product including mold production: approximately half a year. We develop a new part with its own mold only for simple shapes, such as rings or half rings. We no longer develop complex parts, for example a side release buckle or a buckle.
Our process:
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We clarify the specifications together (dimensions, material, finish, quantity).
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We send you a quote and a proforma invoice.
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After payment of the proforma, we begin production.
The minimum value for custom manufacturing is €1,000. This applies across all products, regardless of what you are having manufactured.
We cannot economically cover smaller orders: the fixed costs of production preparation (machine setup, surface treatments) are only viable from this threshold.
For pricing and to begin production, we need:
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3D model of the product in CAD format (e.g., STEP). We derive the weight from the model, which is key for pricing.
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Material: typically ZAMAC zinc alloy, brass, or steel. We're happy to discuss other options.
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Surface finish: nickel, matte black, antique brass, and others. We'll confirm available options based on the material.
We typically maintain dimensions within a tolerance of ±1 mm. Without a 3D model, we cannot give you an accurate quote.
To get started, contact customer support. We'll assign you internally to the right team member.
Yes, we manufacture webbing on a custom basis: you can choose a different color, thickness, and weaving method.
Minimum order per color and size (limited by the production batch size):
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waterproof and Hexa webbing 1,200 m,
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polypropylene webbing 2,000 m.
Process:
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Contact us via customer support.
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We will finalize the specifications (thickness, weaving).
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After approval, we will issue a proforma invoice.
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Within 8 weeks of proforma payment, we will deliver the webbing.
Country of origin. It varies by specific product – most metal components come from Asia, with some assembly and accessories completed in the EU. We are happy to provide specific information for a given product via customer support.
REACH. Under the REACH regulation, our products generally qualify as articles, not as substances or mixtures. We monitor the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and request composition information from our suppliers. If an article contains a Candidate List substance at a concentration above 0.1% by weight, we will provide the name of that substance and information for safe use on request, free of charge, within 45 days. REACH is European legislation for the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. Details in our REACH document (PDF).
SVHC and other specific declarations. If you need a declaration on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) or other specific documentation for a given product, contact customer support – we will handle it individually.
Certificates and technical documents. If a given product has a certificate, technical data sheet or safety data sheet, you will find them:
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on the product page on the website,
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in My orders for products from that order.
Yes, but only for products you have purchased from us. Distributors and retailers who are not currently purchasing from us may not use the photos.
Terms of use:
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Use the photos as they are – without modifications, retouching, cropping, or color changes.
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Do not use them in misleading advertising.
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Attribution (pethardware.com) is not required.
Tarnishing of brass is caused by oxidation – a natural chemical process that cannot be completely prevented. Certain substances (chemicals from tanned leather, sweat, grease) accelerate it.
How to address it:
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Remove the oxidized layer – using the brass cleaner Sitol.
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Protect the surface – if you want to preserve the shine of polished metal, apply a thin layer of transparent protective varnish by brush, dipping, or spraying.
The cleaning and polishing process is shown in our video.
No, we cannot guarantee 100% shade consistency for rose gold and antique brass hardware. Electroplating is a process in which it is impossible to keep all factors affecting the final shade exactly the same at all times – minor variations between production batches are inevitable.
Additionally, individual production batches are mixed in our warehouse, so we cannot guarantee that even items from a single order come from the same batch. For example, if you are purchasing snap hooks to match D-rings from a previous order, a slight difference in shade may occur.
The breaking load tells you when the product breaks in a direct-pull test. It serves as a reference figure for selection – not as a guarantee.
How we measure. For each product type we test 2–3 pieces on our own equipment, which is neither certified nor calibrated. Variance between pieces of the same type can be up to 20% – steel products tend to have less variance than cast zinc products.
How to use the breaking load:
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Safe load = 1/10 of the breaking load. For a 25 kg dog, choose a carabiner with a breaking load above 250 kg.
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Collars and martingales – for buckles, slide buckles, and martingale chains used on collars, the actual pull forces are half of the breaking load, so you can count on a doubled safety margin.
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Other use – if you use buckles or chains outside of a collar (e.g., as a connector between two fixed points without the possibility of load distribution), the half-force bonus does not apply.
Yes. We weld steel products using spot welding, and stainless steel products using argon welding. The only non-welded products are loops, where welding is not necessary – they are not subject to strength requirements.
Specific information can always be found in the product description.
Occasionally, a snake chain may become twisted – this is not a defect or mechanical damage. The chain can be easily untwisted.
The procedure is shown in this video.
For coastal environments, we exclusively recommend stainless steel or brass. You can see the material in the technical specifications for each product.
Products with surface treatments (electroplated, etc.) may oxidize or start to rust in humid air – therefore we do not recommend them for coastal areas.
No need to worry – the rivets are still brass and their quality remains unchanged. Here's the explanation:
Brass naturally has a beautiful golden color that oxidizes and darkens when exposed to air. To prevent this, we apply two surface treatments to certain rivets:
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first, a silver intermediate layer,
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second, a brass-colored layer (golden appearance).
The top brass-colored layer can wear away on exposed areas over time, revealing the silver layer underneath. The rivet material remains brass – only the color is no longer uniform.
If you prefer natural brass darkening (golden → dark) instead of this effect (golden → partially silver), we recommend brass rivets without surface treatment.
Choose the parts by what they need to do on the strap. The inner width should be the same as the strap width or slightly larger.
Snap hook or second strap: attach it to an O-ring or a D-ring.
Loose strap end: a metal loop (strap keeper) holds it flat.
Adjustable length: use a tri-glide; a reduction loop joins two different widths.
Load. For safe use, load O-rings and D-rings with no more than a tenth of the listed breaking load. For damp conditions and the seaside, choose stainless steel or brass rather than plated steel or zinc alloy.
The total thickness of the layers you're joining decides. Add the shank overhang needed for spreading: the shank should be 2–3 mm longer than the material thickness.
The shank length is listed on each rivet's product page in the variants table as dimension B. The full range is in the Rivets & Screws category.
The hole diameter differs by material. For leather, choose a punch slightly smaller than the shank diameter: leather is elastic and grips the shank tightly. For waterproof webbing, choose a punch that matches the shank exactly; the webbing doesn't stretch, so the shank has to pass through without being forced.
A shank that's too long shows up as a rivet that deforms while spreading, or caps that don't line up.
By the total thickness of all the layers you're joining. Once the rivet is through the material, leave at least 5 mm between the top layer and the point where the shank starts to taper, so there's room for the burr and for setting.
A longer shank is fine: you snip off the excess once the burr is seated. That's why you don't choose the length the way you would for standard saddlery rivets. The shank length is listed on each rivet's product page in the variants table as dimension B.
For joining waterproof or Hexa webbing, we recommend a double cap rivet: 70 Z 13 mm for three layers, 79 Z 15 mm for four layers.
Nothing serious. Once the burr is seated, snip off the excess with end cutters.
Leave 2–4 mm of shank above the burr, depending on the rivet size. Around 2 mm is enough for smaller rivets; leave a bit more on larger ones so you can form the new head.
Cut in two steps. First cut about halfway through the shank, turn the cutters 90° and finish the cut. This leaves a bevel that's easy to tap down.
You won't be able to set the rivet. If there isn't enough shank left once the burr is on, you can't form the new head. Pick a longer rivet for that material thickness.
Push the rivet through the prepared hole and fit the burr onto the shank from the other side.
Drive the burr down to the material with the setter, using several lighter blows.
Trim the shank with end cutters so that 2–4 mm remain above the burr.
Form the head. Tap the bevelled end down with a hammer and finish it with the setter's cup. Run a finger over the finished rivet: no sharp edge should remain.
You'll find the step-by-step photos in the guide How to attach copper rivets.
A rivet and burr has a long shank and a separate burr. You fit the burr onto the shank, snip off the excess and form the second head from what's left.
A standard saddlery rivet (single cap or double cap) has two parts that fit together when the rivet is set. So the two types differ in construction, in how you set them and in how you choose the length.
Match it to the shank diameter and make it with a hole punch of the same size. The rivet has to pass through the material but mustn't wobble in the hole. The shank diameter is listed on each rivet's product page in the variants table as dimension A.
The shank won't pass through a hole that's too small, or you'll damage the material. In a hole that's too big, the rivet won't sit firmly and the joint may not hold.
Besides the rivets and burrs, have these ready:
a hole punch or punch pliers for the hole,
a rivet and burr setter; for copper rivets we stock a copper rivet setter,
a hammer,
end cutters to trim the shank,
a solid work surface, such as a small anvil or a granite slab.
Copper and brass react naturally with their surroundings, darken and develop a patina. It's not a defect, it's how these metals behave.
Moisture and water speed this up. Long exposure to damp gives copper its typical blue-green patina; brass turns darker and duller.
Cleaning and polishing bring the shine back; for brass you can use Sitol. To keep the rivets shiny longer, keep the item dry and wipe it down after it gets wet.
No. The word “Stand” followed by a date (for example “Stand 08/2021”) is neither an expiry date nor a production date. It marks the label version, i.e. the date on which the manufacturer Renia approved its design and legal wording.
Renia uses it to keep up with ongoing changes to EU legislation on chemical products, such as the CLP Regulation. The date shows which requirements the label was created under. It has nothing to do with when the tin was filled or how old its contents are.
The manufacturer Renia guarantees the technical properties of its products for 12 months from production. Renia usually produces fresh to order, so in practice you can count the 12 months roughly from delivery.
When stored properly, the products remain usable much longer. According to the manufacturer, the properties of most of them usually do not change for another 2–3 years.
The manufacturer is not required to state a production date or a best-before date on these chemical products.
Treat a glued joint on a collar or leash as a supporting one. Without additional hardeners, the manufacturer does not declare water resistance for our Renia glues.
Bending: the manufacturer explicitly states that the dried film stays very flexible only for Aquilim 315.
Water: according to the manufacturer, Aquilim 315 is significantly more resistant with Renia A300 hardener, but we do not sell it. The technical data sheet for Top-Fit and Colle de Cologne does not state water resistance.
Loctite 401 instant glue retained 75 % of its original strength after 1,000 hours in water in the manufacturer's test.
For stressed spots that get wet, add stitching or rivets to the glue.
Thin the Top-Fit and Colle de Cologne contact cements with Renia thinner, not with acetone. Thin Aquilim 315 with a small amount of water.
Cleaning tools: clean the brush and the container with Renia thinner or acetone after using contact cement, and with water after using Aquilim 315.
The thinner does not change the open time of the glue. If you mix it in thoroughly, the glue will not separate afterwards.
According to the manufacturer, Renia glues last at least 12 months at 20 °C. You will find more about storage in the answer How long does Renia glue or dye last?
Top-Fit is the fastest, Colle de Cologne the most universal, and Aquilim 315 is solvent-free.
Top-Fit: contact cement with very high initial tack, so you work on the piece right after joining. It bonds leather, rubber, EVA, felt and cork. It does not bond plasticised PVC.
Colle de Cologne: universal contact cement; you can handle the piece after a few minutes. It also bonds fabric, metal and plasticised PVC (vinyl).
Aquilim 315: water-based and solvent-free. The dried film stays very flexible and transparent. It dries in 30 to 60 minutes and reaches maximum strength after 2 days.
All three bond leather to leather. The choice depends on what you are bonding to the leather and whether you want to work without solvents.
Renia Colle de Cologne bonds leather to waterproof PVC-coated webbing and to metal. The manufacturer lists it as the only one of our Renia glues for fabric, metal and plasticised PVC.
Metal (tag, ring, rivet): for small metal parts we recommend Loctite 401 instant glue, which the manufacturer lists for metals and for leather.
Do not use Top-Fit on PVC-coated webbing, as according to the manufacturer it does not bond plasticised PVC.
Polypropylene webbing holds with contact cement only if you first briefly pass the surface through the flame of a gas torch.
According to the technical data sheets, we have no verified bond for TPU coating or for nylon. Secure such a joint with rivets or stitching. You will find more material pairs in the tool Which glue for which material.
Contact cement contains solvents and you coat both parts with it. Water-based glue is solvent-free, but it dries more slowly.
Contact cement (Top-Fit, Colle de Cologne): solvent-based and highly flammable. Thin and clean it with Renia thinner.
Water-based (Aquilim 315): solvent-free, and the manufacturer does not classify it as hazardous. It dries in 30 to 60 minutes, and once it turns clear it is dry. Wash your tools with water. It must not freeze.
When you glue absorbent leather to a dense material, coat only the dense side with Aquilim 315 and join the parts within a few minutes. You will find the explanation and the procedure in the Aquilim 315 technical data sheet.
Yes. The manufacturer lists both Loctite 401 and Loctite 454 as suitable for porous materials too, including leather and fabric. They suit small areas and leather-to-metal bonds best.
Loctite 401 is a liquid and sets on leather in 15 to 30 seconds.
Loctite 454 is a gel, does not run on a vertical surface and sets on leather in 5 to 15 seconds.
Apply the glue to one surface only and do not spread it with a brush or a cloth. Position the parts exactly right first time, as after a few seconds you will no longer be able to move them. The bond usually reaches full strength after 24 to 72 hours.
Roughen both parts, coat them and join them within the glue's open time, then press them firmly together.
Roughen both surfaces. Sand the leather or clean it.
Coat both parts until you can see a layer of glue on them. Absorbent leather sometimes needs two coats.
Join the parts within the open time. According to the manufacturer it depends on the material; you will find the exact values in the technical data sheets for Top-Fit and Colle de Cologne.
Press. The manufacturer specifies a pressure of 1 to 5 bar: at least 60 seconds at 1 bar, at least 15 seconds at 3 bar. Do not deform soft materials while pressing, or you will break the glue film.
The bond keeps gaining strength: for the first day with Top-Fit, for the first two days with Colle de Cologne.
For leather to leather, use Renia Top-Fit. It grips straight after joining, so you can carry on working on the piece right away.
Leather with waterproof PVC-coated webbing: Renia Colle de Cologne. According to the manufacturer, Top-Fit does not bond plasticised PVC.
Solvent-free: Renia Aquilim 315, water-based. It dries more slowly, in 30 to 60 minutes.
Small metal part on leather: Loctite 401 instant glue.
For any other pair of materials, the tool Which glue for which material will pick the glue for you.
For classic stamping, we recommend leather about 2 mm thick or more, that is medium-thick or thick cowhide leather.
A stamp needs a certain thickness of material to make an impression that is deep enough. On thinner leather the impression will be shallower, and too much force can damage the grain side.
Leather around 1 mm can be stamped, but the impression will not be as deep or distinct. Work carefully and test the stamping on an offcut of the same leather first, as heavy force risks cutting through.
You can convert a thickness given in ounces (oz) to millimetres in the leather thickness converter.
The best results are usually achieved on vegetable-tanned leather.
This type of leather responds well to moistening and allows a clean, lasting impression. On very soft, chrome-tanned or heavily finished leather, the stamping may not be as pronounced.
Natural cowhide leather is best suited to decorating with stamps, and you can dye it after stamping. The differences between the types of leather are explained in the Leather Guide.
For ordinary hand stamping, a mallet is used.
With very thin leather, controlled pressure in a press may be more suitable, because the force can be increased gradually, reducing the risk of cutting through the material. In either case, test the stamping on an offcut of the same leather first.
We do not recommend a metal hammer.
For hand stamping, a plastic or other non-metal mallet is more suitable. This reduces the risk of damaging both the handle and the stamp itself with repeated blows.
Yes, if you use too much force.
Correct stamping should compress the material and create an impression, not cut it through. The risk of cutting through is higher mainly with thin leather and with stamps that have fine, narrow parts. Increase the pressure or the force of the blow gradually and stamp on a firm, flat surface, for example on a granite slab.
No, our stamps are made of zinc alloy and are intended for hand stamping into moistened leather.
For regular hot work and bookbinding, stamps designed specifically for hot work are used, most often brass ones.
A regular pattern on a belt, strap or collar can be made faster with embossing rolls than with individual stamps.
You fit the roll on an embossing machine with a 25 mm shaft and pull a strip of leather through it, so the pattern forms continuously along the whole length. Before choosing, check the width of the pattern and whether the roll fits your machine.
Go by the dimensions in the table for the particular stamp.
They let you judge whether the motif will fit your product, such as a belt, wallet or collar. Before buying, compare the stated size with the space you actually have available on the product.
It depends on the product, and you will always find the information in its description.
Sets of letters and numbers and symbol sets include a handle in the package, and the package contents are stated in the description.
Most individual stamps are fitted into a handle, which we sell separately. A few stamps have a one-piece grip and do not need a handle.
No, handles differ according to the size of the stamp.
ø 8 mm handle for stamps smaller than 1/2"
ø 13 mm handle for stamps 1/2"–1"
heavy ø 22 mm handle for stamps 3/4"–1"
Which handle a stamp needs is stated in its description. You will find all handles in one category.
The individual characters are stamped next to each other to form the required text.
Test the whole inscription on an offcut of the same leather first, so you can more easily judge its length, spacing and placement on the product. You can keep the stamps in one line using a ruler or a guide template.
What matters is the gate opening, meaning how wide a gap the gate leaves when you press it. Your rope, strap or chain link has to pass through it with room to spare. A 40 mm snap hook opens 6 mm, a 60 mm one 8 mm, a 100 mm one 13 mm and the largest, 140 mm, opens 21 mm.
The breaking load grows with length too: a galvanised 40 mm snap hook holds 65 kg, a 60 mm one 250 kg and from 80 mm upwards 500 kg. The breaking load of the stainless steel ones is 450–500 kg. You will find the breaking load for each length in the variant details.
Our polypropylene fibers have UV stabilization of 80–90 kLy, which corresponds to light conditions in Central Europe.
In practice, this means that after one year of exposure to sunlight, the product retains at least 70% of its original strength.
Storage
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Dry, dark, dust-free and ventilated room.
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Relative humidity 50–70%.
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Temperature 5–25°C.
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Away from direct sunlight, chemical fumes and other factors accelerating degradation.
When these conditions are met, shelf life is at least 2 years.
Care
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Washing up to 40°C, tumble drying allowed.
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Do not use: bleaching, ironing, dry cleaning.
No, we don't normally supply health safety test reports for leather and leather straps.
Why. Testing every batch is neither common practice nor mandatory in this industry. The obligation to hold test reports lies with the manufacturer of the final product, where EU legislation requires it for that type of product.
In the past we had part of our range tested on a random basis. Where we do have a test report, it is listed directly on the product. If it isn't on the product, we don't have it.
If you need a test report, you have to arrange the testing yourself at an accredited laboratory and at your own cost.
No. Biothane is a registered trademark of the American company BioThane Coated Webbing Corp. and we don't sell their material. Our waterproof webbings are our own product.
Choose a buckle with the same or a slightly larger inner width than the strap. The number in the buckle's name is its inner width: a 38 mm strap fits a 38 mm buckle snugly and a 40 mm buckle with a little play.
Width: filter the belt buckle listing by inner width, for example buckles for a 38 mm strap.
Strap: our leather straps for belts are 38 mm wide, 3 or 4 mm thick and 1.4 m long.
Holes for the prong: the prong diameter is listed for every buckle; choose a hole punch to match.
Attaching: fix the buckle with Chicago screws so you can replace it later, or permanently with rivets.
They are still available. We have only renamed them to match the actual shade. The webbing and the product code stay the same.
Old name → new name:
Lilac → Purple Pink (code …/LIL): smooth
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