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Thread: Air riveting tools
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21st Jun 2018, 01:21 AM #1New Member
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Air riveting tools
Hi all, as part of project, 5” gauge loco, I need to do some riveting, I purchased some 10mm shank air chisels for a pneumatic air chisel and want to make the riveting tool for 3/16” steel rivets with a domed head, any thoughts on on machining a dome in the tool and the anvil tool as well
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21st Jun 2018, 01:26 AM #2
Hi,
I've made a couple of snap rivet tools, heat up the end of the punch to red hot and bang it down on a suitable size ball bearing ! Job done.
Use different size ball bearings to suit the rivet size you need.Best Regards:
Baron J.
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21st Jun 2018, 08:17 AM #3New Member
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Ahh Brilliant!, well done
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27th Jun 2018, 12:55 PM #4Most Valued Member
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Go to a site like Aircraft Tool Supply or Aircraft Spruce, both in the US. They sell complete kits or individual rivet sets very cheaply and are used to shipping worldwide. I personally use ATS, but have a number of colleagues who prefer other suppliers. I have't been able to fault ATS. They also sell rivet guns, and it's something you may want to look at vs an air chisel. The rivet gun can be throttled accurately, you will do your head in with an air chisel.
Making a tool to rivet a large number steel rivets is not a trivial task. You will need to use the appropriate grade of steel and both harden and temper it correctly; too soft and it won't last more than a couple of rivets, too hard and you'll wear pieces of the tool in your face.
https://www.aircraft-tool.com/shop/main.aspx
Pilot Supplies and Aircraft Parts from Aircraft Spruce
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28th Jun 2018, 03:14 PM #5Most Valued Member
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If its just a small size air chisel like you get at Supercheap etc then I don't think its going to do the job for 3/16 steel rivets unless you're doing them hot.
The chisels are about the equivalent of a "2X" size rivet gun, and IMO you'll be struggling with anything under a 4X. You need something with a decent hit that is going to form them before they work harden too much.
Think you'd be better using a decent hammer to form them.
Back to your question though, to get the profile I'd grind it in with a dremel or similar, while slowly rotating the rivet tool (the proper term is a set or snap).
I've got a couple of old snaps here with odd profile's that would save you 80% of the work getting a round profile ground in. Happy to donate them to your project - PM me if interested.
Steve
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