A possible low cost alternative for hard to obtain sheetmetal rivets

[Grahame Collins]

Maybe!
I was sorting out my nails and fasteners and came across some fiber cement sheet clouts.

The sizing is 25 x 2mm shank with 5.5mm diam head. Instant rush of excrement to the cranium.:roll::roll:

I did a quick and dirty trial this afternoon and took some pics. Note that the set was recessed to accommodate the clout head thickness and flush the head with the sheet surface.The reverse of the sheet is not shown as I did not think to take a picture of it.

The half sphere reverse dome sizing is set by the availability of the 3mm round HSS burr. I would like it a tad bigger but next size up is 6mm and that's too big.

Maybe a try tomorrow with doubled sheets. It will take a bit of mucking around with cut off length to get the domed compression side of the rivets looking better.

Grahame


389129

389130

389131

[Ropetangler]

That looks quite promising Grahame, as you say some experimenting with rivet length should tidy it up and make the look more consistent. Well done.

[compind]

Maybe!
I was sorting out my nails and fasteners and came across some fiber cement sheet clouts.

The sizing is 25 x 2mm shank with 5.5mm diam head. Instant rush of excrement to the cranium.:roll::roll:

I did a quick and dirty trial this afternoon and took some pics. Note that the set was recessed to accommodate the clout head thickness and flush the head with the sheet surface.The reverse of the sheet is not shown as I did not think to take a picture of it.

The half sphere reverse dome sizing is set by the availability of the 3mm round HSS burr. I would like it a tad bigger but next size up is 6mm and that's too big.

Maybe a try tomorrow with doubled sheets. It will take a bit of mucking around with cut off length to get the domed compression side of the rivets looking better.

Grahame


389129

389130

389131
Grahame... good one bloke! Used to remember watching the 'old man' (chippie) doing roofing/flashing using cement sheet clouts, and soldering the heads (and backs) after heating the 'copper' with the "kerro blow torch"... old method NEVER die!
Steve...

[Grahame Collins]

Hi Fellas ,
Continuing from yesterday I have now riveted 2 pieces of Z/anneal together.

From several more rivets in the overlapped sheets I found a few things that were important.


The set with the recess for the rivet head (formerly a clout) was important in ensuring the heads flush with the sheet surface.

The head had to be flushed before measure and cut of the shank (about 2 to 3 times shank diameter) The end nippers cut an upward wedge shape and its not easy to start a flat from the the first tap.

The cut off has to be gently tapped down to a mushroom on top of the shank. (but not flat)

The hammer taps had to be flat (parallel to surface) as if not struck parallel, the mushroom created on the top of the cut shank slumped off to one side and did not lend itself to be straightened up. The pics bear this out. Rivet No 7 in the first pic was not mushroomed and the attempt to dome it with the dome part of the set did not work too well.


Down the track I need to make some drawers for a Rota parts cabinet I scored at the recyclers. The domed mushroom side will necessarily have to be on the outside as inside clearance for the set tool will be difficult.

The drawers & boxes will need some dog leg tooling ( well not really tooling, but some thing really solid to beat on) for setting the rivets.

I am happy with this effort and off to a good start. I hope this idea fuels some other riveting projects .
EDIT <17 Nov.2020. I have just seen a vendor for the Rivet snaps.If any one is chasing them here is the vendor

https://ejwinter.com.au/ >

Photos below :

389143

389145

389153

389154

389155

389164

[eskimo]

nothing wrong with those flathead rivets:2tsup:

[AndrewOC]

When I'm finished gleaning timber from pallets and timber fencing, there is often blocks with fistfuls of nails in them that will never be pulled out. These are first to go in the winter night bonfires, and voila! , annealed flathead 'rivets' are ready for collecting, next day ;)
yours in low cost alternatives,
AndrewOC