Comment

Comment by Ron D Leclerc on January 7, 2011 at 10:43am

Hey Marty...

I got some  cheap rivet setters from Aircraft Spruce... both dome and flush in 1/8 and 5/32" size!  I'm not sure what the stem size is. They only cost a couple bucks each... not to expensive.  The rod is just 4130 steel with  flat ends nothing fancy!  I have seen some guys drill a hole to accept a rivet setter there also... I don't think you have to, this works ok as long as the end is flat!  The nice thing about ising the nylon is that you can make the 1/2" hole on the tight side resulting in a friction fit for the rod.  It holds the rod in place making it easier to work! To line up the flat bar... just drill all the screw holes and add you rivet setter,  Then install your 1/2' rod place your flat bar with the rod lined up with the rivet setter... screw in place and you are done.  It's just that simple... when you work with wood.  You sure don't need a steel frame for this setup... just make sure that you have a good solid base under the rivet setter... a couple of screws to keep it in place would not hurt! Wood and aluminum are the most forgiving materials to work with... any time I have to make a tool I always look to wood first!

Hope that helps...

Ron

Comment by Marty de la Motte on January 7, 2011 at 4:44am

Hi Ron,

I like the rivet setter - planning to make one myself but didn't want to use steel.  Didn't even think of wood!

I haven't set any solid rivets - what sort of fitting do you need at the bottom, and what sort of end on the driving pin?

Cheers, Marty