Rivets - how strong

[Hooligan36]

I just made it home from a local show and seen a home built Rod. He had built the body frame work with 1"x1" square stock, and had the cowl riveted to the frame along with all the side panels. How strong are rivets? I figure side panels dont have much weight but are rivets strong enough to hold on a cowl?

 

[Bonehead]

The Empire State building is put together with rivits, and the Statue of Liberty. Most WWII airplanes. Probably the Eifle Tower too. If done right they are plenty strong.

 

[cycledog]

Stronger than bolts for the most part.

 

[Hooligan36]

is the only way to do a strong rivet with a expensive machine?

 

[Bonehead]

No, there are several ways to put in rivets, most require a bucket of elbow grease.

Alot of them can be done by hand with a hammer, there are also special punches and some rivit tools that screw down on the rivet.

Or are we talking about pop rivets? The kind with the hole in the head? Different story there, still strong, but not so great with road vibration. Snowmobiles use them and some semi trucks but you see some that vibrate out sometimes.

 

[Gastrick]

is the only way to do a strong rivet with a expensive machine?

No you don't need expensive machinery. Of course if you start getting into large diameter rivets, you might have some issues. What kind of rivets/riveting do you have in mind?

 

[Hooligan36]

no pop rivets.

I was looking at a air tool that seems to hammer in the rivets. I watched the gun on a youtube video but I was wondering if you have to be able to access the back of the rivet for this tool.

 

[Hooligan36]

No you don't need expensive machinery. Of course if you start getting into large diameter rivets, you might have some issues. What kind of rivets/riveting do you have in mind?

I have a 25 Maxwell cowl.... I built the frame. The cowl is just welded on with some holes that were drilled and then filled. Im now thinking about using rivets to attach the cowl and the side panels. Im not exactly the best welder when it comes to thin material

 

[T2T]

no pop rivets.

I was looking at a air tool that seems to hammer in the rivets. I watched the gun on a youtube video but I was wondering if you have to be able to access the back of the rivet for this tool.

We do rivets from time to time.........Yes you have to be able to access the back of the rivet.

 

[cycledog]

no pop rivets.

I was looking at a air tool that seems to hammer in the rivets. I watched the gun on a youtube video but I was wondering if you have to be able to access the back of the rivet for this tool.

If you have an air chisel all you need to get is the rivet sets. I have found aircraft supplier a good source of riveting equipment

www.aircraft-tool.com

www.yardstore.com

 

[Hooligan36]

crap, I have an air chisel..... what all do I need to convert the gun?

 

[cycledog]

crap, I have an air chisel..... what all do I need to convert the gun?

All I did was get the correct diameter rivet sets. They slip into the same place your chisels go. Make sure to use low air pressure. You can use most any thing heavy for the bucking bar. Body dollies work well and you can make them to fit your needs from scrap you might have lying around.

 

[Hooligan36]

thank you much.... now I dont have to dish out the cash on the gun

 

[Gastrick]

Hooligan, I have a thousand or so bucked rivets in the interior of my coupe. I used an air chisel and just bought the rivet sets used just like cycledog. There's a little info and a couple of photos in the below link.

http://www.ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2590&highlight=rivets

 

[Hooligan36]

thanks, you guys have been a huge help

 

[Bonehead]

Here is the way crazy people do it. This is mainly for looks but might work well for your tubing.
http://ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5467

 

[Hooligan36]

nice.... I would have never thought about that

 

[motorpsykler]

Where is a good place to buy rivets?

 

[Gastrick]

Where is a good place to buy rivets?

I get my solid rivets from McMaster-Carr.

http://www.mcmaster.com/