I'm thinking about drilling the rivets out of these vintage straps to salvage the clips. I can then make my own leather straps, and press in a new rivet.

Also, I might hunt up some thicker web material, like the Fuji straps shown. The new straps are just too thin...in my opinion. Maybe find the webbing in some cool colors or something, in case that floats my boat some day!


Has anyone else done this?
I don't mean to be a cheapskate, but these clips are good quality and in good shape.

(p.s. What brand are the French ones on the left?)

You just drill out the rivets, nothing wrong with putting new leather on those

I think those French ones are Christophes.

Chombi

I am trying to recondition some old Binda straps with a hard wax dissolved in solvent right now. I have good supply a older NOS Christophe straps also. It would be cool to offer an original style leather toe strap. I guess most people use retention type pedals these days.

I mangled up the Cristophes a bit drilling out the rivets.
Next time I'd put the rivet head on a file or something to prevent it from spinning with the drill bit.

The Suginos came apart easily. They had a softer, thinner rivet...with pointed barbs inside the clip.

I doubt anyone makes 'em like this anymore!

thats a great idea- you just need to source a good rivet replacement which should not be that difficult.

if you want text that is also possible using ink transfer from a copier using an iron .

hey-where is rootboy?
this should be just up his alley to give us a how to.

I've done this several times when the leather has snapped close to the buckle. I used a common pop-rivet with backing plate and flattened the head with a metric ballpeen.

Top

I have acess to metric ballpeen hammers here in finland, I could bring some over if yours is worn out.'
I also have metric files,and sandpaper....

You guys are a hoot!

Anyway, if I ever get around to doing this, I'll post up some pics.

Thanks!

Hey 67Tony,,,and, Mr. Puch in Finlandia... never tried this yet myself, though I have some very good black leather at the moment that would be perfect. Just don't own any old buckles I can refurbish. Well, I do, but am loathe to take apart an old set of Martanos.

Say, Tony, if you want/need some rivets to use for replacing, I have a whole bag of nickel plated brass rivets, very small head (5/16ths ...1/4" ?) and head on both sides, that I think would work well for these. You're welcome to few of them, no charge, if you want to try them. PM me if interested.

By the way, you may not have access to a Dremel, hence the drilling, but I would grind off the back of the rivet instead of drill them, if you can. Less chance for damaging the clips, IMO.

The dremel idea is a great one...I actually have one but did not think of using it.

rootboy, thanks a bunch for offering a handful of rivets.
They sound perfect, and should work real well.

PM has been sent, and thanks again!

Good for you.

A few generations ago, most things were made to be serviceable, and regular folks routinely serviced them, or made do with an item that was less than perfect (oh my heavens!), or simply did without (shocking!). This project is a great example of that way of thinking, and I think we could do with a lot more of it. Imo it's one of the great things about the C&V forum, and old bikes in general.

By taking the currently common nylon webbing toe strap,
and adding a saturating amount Of Plastidip , the tool-handle stuff,
It stiffens up the floppy strap nicely..

You're welcome Tony. Rivets on the way.

My grandpa always said "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.". I've always appreciated that philosophy.