how to do proper old school rivets
 

Good afternoon all...So I am looking to do some small interior pieces using copper and riveting it together and looking for tip on how to do it. If you have any thoughts or suggestions I would love the pointers. Thanx in advance.

There are a lot of different styles of rivets and different ways of attaching them. All you need is the copper rivets of your choice and a setting tool or something to peen over the shaft of the rivets.

in for info! thanks for posting.

If you are going to use Steel Rivets, then you have a few choices to choose from-

1. Use a Squeeze-

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,3898.html

2. Get a Bench Top model-

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,4334.html

and, don't forget to buy a Die Set for either-

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,6455.html

3. Buy a Rivet gun (generally, 3X is best for most things)-

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,6214.html

and, the Rivet Sets-

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/2,296.html

and, Bucking Bars-

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/2,412.html

It really depends on what you are doing, what kind and how far they are from the edge of the part, or where in the Car they are located.

If it's a part that you can Rivet before the install, a Hammer and Vise can do many Rivets, or a Hand Squeeze can do them faster and better, but they have limited reach.

A Rivet Gun will set about any of them, but it takes practice to understand how hard to hit them, and you don't want to be banging them in-just 3-5 hits and they should be good-it's like Welding, you mess up and learn. If you are Riveting on a car, you will probably need a helper to hold the Bucking Bar-I will generally make a few pieces, clamp them in a Vice, then have my helper watch what happens when I hit them so they can understand what to do-

I will use a Roper Whitney punch (if I can) to make the holes (better), or a drill (not as good), Cleco it together, and Squeeze or Rivet-