Rivet... Rivet... How to?

[Joe S.]

While I have the body off I got replacement clips and rivets for the tranny tunnel insulation. It's easy to get at both the inside and underside.

I have an air hammer and a piece of steel. Will that do it? Could some one offer some tips, suggestions, how-to's? They are only a couple but would like to give it a try and would like to do it right.

Thanks




Joe's 63 FI Convertible

[William C.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

Two people helps, one to use a LARGE hammer or other heavy flat item to back up the head side of the rivet, the other person uses an air chisel with a modified (homemade) tool constructed by cutting the tool portion off an air chisel tool that you don't use, drilling a recess into the shank, and using the recess to drive and form the rivet as you use the air chisel to peen it. The other person backing it up is (hopefully) obvious at this point. Pretty easy and looks very original when done.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

Joe:
I use the big end of a steel wood splitting wedge as a "buck" to do this riveting. I purchased a cylindrical air hammer punch and hollowed out the end to form a concave depression. Cut the rivet so that it protrudes the same distance as the diameter of the rivet. Just use a pair of wire cutters to snip off any extra. Set the air at the compressor to a relatively low setting (you will have to experiment to find the right setting). As Bill said, it comes out beautifully and just like the factory did it. Hope this helps.
Jeff

[Bryan L.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

Riveting is not that hard but it takes some practice, unless you want it to look like Ray Charles did it. I've done some riveting on general aviation aircraft on a small scale 18-20 years ago in a previous profession so I'm familiar with it, but far from being an accomplished tin-bender like a lot of the old guys I worked with. IMO it's best to have the proper tools. I recently purchased some assorted rivet sets that are common to Corvettes like 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 round sets, plus a flat set. Also got a small bucking bar and an inexpensive rivet hammer which I put a regulator on. Cost me a little less than $100.00. I practiced on some scrap first and then redid some stuff on a friend's 67 this summer like the grill mounts, grill brackets, and the battery access door. THey all came out very nice.

You want the rivet to be no longer than 1.5 times the thickness of the material you're riveting. I usually cut them just a little longer than the material. If they're too long it just doesn't swell right plus it looks like hell. After you snip the rivet at the proper length take a minute or so and smooth the small peak and any sharp edges. It will look a lot nicer when it swells. I didn't do that on a couple and when they swelled they had a slight pear shape instead of being perfectly round and I redid them.

Hope this was of help to you in some small way.

BL

[Lenn #40977]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

Yeowzer! And, I'm worried about what oil to put in the car.

[Rob A.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

I bought a fairly inexpensive rivet gun that came with quite a few attachments. (U.S. TOOLS) You can duplicate the factory rivets fairly easy, both flat and round finish, some by yourself. The less you distort the hole it originally went in, the better it comes out, so if and when you drill out the old brackets, etc, don't make the hole any bigger than you have to and the finished rivet will look good.

[Larry S.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

John Hinkley wrote an excellent detailed article in the magazine called corvette enthusiast on setting rivets.I belive it was the march issue.You might find it at a barnes and noble.

[Joe S.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to? (Guns?)

Checked US-Tools website. Did a search on Rivet guns. I found a slew of them anywhere from $175 to over $1000. You wouldn't have a part number by chance.

I do have an air-hammer and may try that for just the couple of rivets I have to do. But thought it would be good to investigate.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback and info.

Joe..

[Mike M.]

Try Aircraft Tool Supply

Joe, They have guns for around $90.00. They also tused to sell rebuilt guns for a good price. They have Cleco's for sale for holding your piece while you rivet. A lot easier the putting a couple bolts in and quicker. I bought a bucking bar from them. It worked good for getting into a couple hard to reach places, that I couldn't with what I had at home. I used a air chisel with a regulator turned down and it works fine.

http://www.aircraft-tool.com/

[Terry D.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to? (Guns?)

Joe
John's article was excellant as usual,he writes for Corvette Enthusiast, suggest you suscribe, he has had several great articles in there for restoration. Any way if you can't find the article the tools he used were from Harbor Freight, if you don't have a store close by, order on line from them. About $40.00 for air hammer, $7.00 for regulator, you can buy the rivit setting shank at www.aircraft-tool.com, cost $21.00 for a set of five or you can order just one for about $5.00. If you can't find the article, let me know and I will try to scan it and send it to ya.
Terry

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: Try Aircraft Tool Supply

Mike, their website looks interesting. I will be replacing all of my underbody brackets (seatbelt, seat, ....). What hammers, etc. do you recommend. I'd like a few ideas before I call them.

Thanks

Harry

[Mike M.]

Re: Try Aircraft Tool Supply

Don't spend a lot of money. There's no need to. The rivets are soft. If you have a air chisel all you need is a couple rivet sets for the size rivets you are setting. I got 3 from them a long, short , and one with a bend. Mike

[John H.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

February issue, page 56-58, with photos

[Greg L.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

Just a question about the rivet tail...was it bucked with a flat bar so the end was flat as per aircraft specs or was it bucked with a special concave bar to give the tail a domed finnish?

[Joe S.]

Re: Rivet... Rivet... How to?

John, is there a link to the article (or could someone forward me an eCopy). I'd love to check it out. In the meantime I'll check out some of the other Tools (Harbor Freight) as suggested.

Thanks,

Joe..