The Ford Barn

poweredbylincoln · 09-06-2011, 05:39 AM

Hello fordbarn,

I know many of you have experience with various metals.

I had a quick question to shoot by you all

Any one have any experience/knowledge/ advise

For bucking rivets to (make a head) on the other side with aluminum rivets

I am looking to replace some 15 or so rivets on the bottom of a small aluminum boat and make it water proof

rivet shank off hand 3/16 to 1/4''

I have done steel ones for the model a and heated with a torch and then pounded with a tool to conform it into a nice round head...

but I have yet to try it on aluminum and none to be water tight

any knowledge/advise greatly appreciated =)

thank you

dave in australia · 09-06-2011, 07:14 AM

Aluminium rivets don't need to be heated to be set. Use a 3x rivet gun and the appropriate size rivet tool. If you don't have a rivet dolley, a piece of mild steel about 2lb will do for 15 rivets. Dry fit the rivets and the tail should be about 2 x rivet diameter through the hole. When setting, flatten the tail until it's about 1 x rivet diameter in height and expanded to about 1.5 rivet diameter in width.
Hope this helps.

Kevin in NJ · 09-06-2011, 08:57 AM

Do search on riveting aircraft parts.

There are specific rules on proper fitting and setting Al rivets. I ran across the rules in the distant past looking up some other information. Hopefully I am repeating it accurately. An A&P certified mechanic would be able to tell you more, you might want to stop by local airport.

Aluminum is works different then steel. You only get a certain number of hits before it work hardens and can not be moved more. They have different standardized rivet guns to handle different size rivets. The guns give a consistent amount of hit force with each hit. So you will find a rivet of a certain size will require a certain number of X's rivet gun. The more X's the longer the hammer weight is moved in the gun.

Big Al · 09-06-2011, 05:01 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Hi
when one is driving small rivets nail sets are made in several sizes and the end has a small round hole that is just the right size to buck the rivet. The end result is a round end vs. A flat end. Just the tool foe installing data plates on firewalls.

Big al

09-06-2011, 05:39 AM	#1
poweredbylincoln Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,707	Riveting aluminum off topic Hello fordbarn, I know many of you have experience with various metals. I had a quick question to shoot by you all Any one have any experience/knowledge/ advise For bucking rivets to (make a head) on the other side with aluminum rivets I am looking to replace some 15 or so rivets on the bottom of a small aluminum boat and make it water proof rivet shank off hand 3/16 to 1/4'' I have done steel ones for the model a and heated with a torch and then pounded with a tool to conform it into a nice round head... but I have yet to try it on aluminum and none to be water tight any knowledge/advise greatly appreciated =) thank you

09-06-2011, 07:14 AM	#2
dave in australia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,177	Re: Riveting aluminum off topic Aluminium rivets don't need to be heated to be set. Use a 3x rivet gun and the appropriate size rivet tool. If you don't have a rivet dolley, a piece of mild steel about 2lb will do for 15 rivets. Dry fit the rivets and the tail should be about 2 x rivet diameter through the hole. When setting, flatten the tail until it's about 1 x rivet diameter in height and expanded to about 1.5 rivet diameter in width. Hope this helps.

09-06-2011, 08:57 AM	#3
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Riveting aluminum off topic Do search on riveting aircraft parts. There are specific rules on proper fitting and setting Al rivets. I ran across the rules in the distant past looking up some other information. Hopefully I am repeating it accurately. An A&P certified mechanic would be able to tell you more, you might want to stop by local airport. Aluminum is works different then steel. You only get a certain number of hits before it work hardens and can not be moved more. They have different standardized rivet guns to handle different size rivets. The guns give a consistent amount of hit force with each hit. So you will find a rivet of a certain size will require a certain number of X's rivet gun. The more X's the longer the hammer weight is moved in the gun.

09-06-2011, 05:01 PM	#4
Big Al Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 81	Re: Riveting aluminum off topic Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Hi when one is driving small rivets nail sets are made in several sizes and the end has a small round hole that is just the right size to buck the rivet. The end result is a round end vs. A flat end. Just the tool foe installing data plates on firewalls. Big al