Setting rivets on a leather saddle: looks hard, but it's easy
First, check out the YouTube video above!
Selle Anatomica is a leather saddle manufacturer from the USA. Their leather saddles, which become more comfortable the more you use them, have many fans. They may look classic, but they’re actually quite high-tech.
While leather saddles are very durable if you maintain them well—like keeping them dry and applying oil—the metal rails can sometimes fail before the leather does.
Selle Anatomica offers a great selection of repair parts, so you can replace broken rails while keeping the leather you’ve already broken in. I’ve captured that process in the video above.
Tools and parts needed for replacement
- Replacement parts
- Rivet setting tool (Rakuten)
- Rivet setting base/anvil (MonotaRO)
- Side cutters
- Hammer
- Needle-nose pliers
- Something to secure tools, such as a vise
※Available via MonotaRO or Amazon.
If you would like to request this service from Circles
Doing it yourself is fun, but it can be quite a challenge. Of course, we can handle this work at Circles, so please consult with us.
- Cost of required parts
- Labor fee: 3,000 yen (tax included)
Replacement parts for Selle Anatomica leather saddles
Almost all parts can be ordered individually. Some items may take time to arrive, so please contact Circles if you would like to order them.
- Replacement rails: 10,800 yen (tax excluded)
- Dedicated rivets: 30 yen (per piece / tax excluded)
- Tension bolt: 800 yen (tax excluded)
- Tension slide: 500 yen (tax excluded)
※Please note that the prices above are subject to change due to currency fluctuations.
Rivet setting, which requires specialized tools, can be intimidating, but it isn’t actually that difficult. Rivet tools can be used for leather crafting and more, not just saddles, so give it a try.
Circles from PIT
The mechanic space at Circles is always running at full capacity. We hope to continue uploading niche repair videos that you can’t find anywhere else.
If there’s a specific repair process you’d like to see, please let us know!