How do you crimp your sliding shoe rivets?

Brakeman Riveter. 

A small round tip punch.

Take a look at the hobby horse product line: http://www.hobbyhorseproducts....HorseCatalog2015.pdf

Specifically the DC-1002 Sliding Shoe Anvil and their mating roll clinchers DC-1009 though DC-1013

The Brakeman Riveter and the Press are sweet!    But I would never use them enough to warrant the price. I guess it's the old punch for me!  

Brakeman riveter set. Worth every penny just for convenience 

Hobby horse press was one of the best purchases I made when setting up shop. For the novice maybe the brakeman riveter. A little pricey. I think Hobby Horse closed shop but they are available. More pricey. If you want to send it out I can rivet it for you. A couple dollars if you send the parts. I have parts if you don't.

General automatic center punch. Just modify (file) the tip and you have a "riveter".

Hobby Horse is still alive and up and running talked with them a couple of weeks back and got a new catalog and price list. 

Hobby Horse.

I use the Brakeman riveter for the knuckle rivets. I like to use the original Lionel press for sliding shoes. It’s light weight makes it easier to feel the force applied to the sliding shoe. This rivet is sandwiching two pieces of plastic and it is important not to over do it. I use the Hobby Horse for just about everything else. I find it makes wheel work particularly easy.  I was on the Brakeman riveters web site recently and was surprised at the price. I think I paid less than $100 for my set at York years ago. 

RJT posted:

Hobby Horse is still alive and up and running talked with them a couple of weeks back and got a new catalog and price list. 

Do you have a contact number for them. I need a couple of wheel cups. Need cups for the wheels with the rod pins that protrude from the wheel.