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 Post subject: Riveting techniques
PostPosted: May 10, 2019, 6:34 pm 
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Joined: December 6, 2017, 2:20 pm
Posts: 125
Location: San Jose, California
Are there any recommended riveting techniques? Or should I just go at it. One tip I heard was to do 1/8 holes first, and when I'm ready, clean it up with a #30 bit.


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 Post subject: Re: Riveting techniques
PostPosted: May 10, 2019, 10:40 pm 
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Joined: June 13, 2014, 11:55 am
Posts: 88
thehiddenproject wrote:
Are there any recommended riveting techniques? Or should I just go at it. One tip I heard was to do 1/8 holes first, and when I'm ready, clean it up with a #30 bit.


Trace and space prior to drilling so it looks cool..
I used a piece of elastic ribbon marked at 1" intervals which I stretched to give even spacing corner-to-corner.


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 Post subject: Re: Riveting techniques
PostPosted: May 11, 2019, 12:17 am 
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Joined: April 17, 2009, 1:28 am
Posts: 212
Location: San Tan Valley, Arizona
You may want to look here http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=9019, it may provide what you are looking for.


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 Post subject: Re: Riveting techniques
PostPosted: May 11, 2019, 12:21 am 
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Joined: March 19, 2011, 10:22 am
Posts: 2386
Location: Holden, Alberta, Canada
Measure to space your rivets. Use cleco's if possible. This will allow you to drill and fit your panel, then take the panel off to remove the swarf. By doing this you are assuring a good clean fit to the frame.
To prove this take a piece of scrap aluminum, clamp it to a piece of scrap tubing, drill it, remove the aluminum, and look at the swarf on the back side. :cheers:

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 Post subject: Re: Riveting techniques
PostPosted: May 11, 2019, 4:07 am 
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Joined: May 27, 2006, 9:46 pm
Posts: 1954
Location: BC, Canada. eh?
If you have a lot of rivets to do, consider picking up a Harbor Freight air riveter. They are so much faster than doing it by hand, and they are extremely consistent.

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 Post subject: Re: Riveting techniques
PostPosted: May 11, 2019, 3:01 pm 
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Joined: January 18, 2015, 2:34 am
Posts: 85
Location: Los Angeles
If you are doing large panels, you might consider getting a rivet spacer from Aircraft Spruce (I'm sure there are other sources). It is an accordion-like device that uniformly spaces the holes for a much more professional looking job. Start with a package of drill bits as they get dull after a few dozen holes. Consider getting a second cordless drill and keep shallow countersink bit in it for clearing the scarf. An extra charged battery for each as well. Definitely get some Clecos. They make it much easier to hold everything in alignment. Measure the length of the edges you are riveting, factor in the rivet spacing and order the rivets in bulk before you start. Have a Dremel available with a small cutoff wheel because you will occasionally have a stem that snaps off too long. The Dremel will allow you to clean it up neatly. I know that if I fail to do this as I go, I inevitably snag something on the long stem (usually me). Don't be afraid to start over! 90% of the learning occurs on the first piece.


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