Crossmember Rivets

[PeteVS]

Originally Posted by john in illinois

I learned a great way to heat rivets helping a friend put in a crossmember.
Put the rivet in the hole cold and position bucking bar. get a stick welder cutting electrode-ours were from harbor freight. Turn the welder up to about 180amps-may vary. Touch the electrode to rivet end and the entire rivet heats completely through. Cherry to white hot. Then hit it with the air gun.
A lot simpler than using a torch and sure expansion in the hole.
John

OK, so you're saying to put the rod onto the end of the rivet and hold it there without creating an arc? How long should it take to heat up a 1/4" rivet?