Rivet source

[Rusty]

Anyone have a good source for the BlueBird-type body panel rivets:

• exterior hi-domed blind
• 1/2" wide head
• 1/8" head height
• 1/4" hole
• .2" grip

Going for that stock-look.

Thanks in advance-


edit: here is East CoastCB's link link for Rivets , but .08 head height.

Here is Fastenal's $$$ link

R-

[somewhereinusa]

Try Bylor Rivit. Search for structural rivit, or just call them. Good service and prices.

[family wagon]

I've bought a variety of "universal head" solid steel rivets. Some from Hansen Rivet in CA and a bunch from Rivets in Stock aka Jay-Cee Sales & Rivet in MI. Most 3/16 diameter and 3/8, 1/2, and 5/8 length. Also a bunch of 1/4 diameter by 1/2 length. But now that I wrote this I realize you didn't ask about that at all..

I'm attaching a photo of some closed-end blind rivets. The barrel on these is 1/4 diameter, .67 length (grip must be something like .45 or less, but I haven't pulled any yet to test). The head is .50 diameter and about .10 tall. I'm not sure whether this head would be more similar to a universal or to a round profile.

Edit: by the way, this particular style is aluminum with a steel mandrel. Just in case material matters.

[Rusty]

[QUOTEfamily wagon;219363]

Edit: by the way, this particular style is aluminum with a steel mandrel. Just in case material matters.[/QUOTE]


Thanks ! If I put aluminum rivets in a steel panel, I will get abused by the other Forum members... Something something galvanic reaction.

Found these bad-boys: Magna-Bulb MBP-R8-M4 . They are on fleabay, as well for $50/100 ish delivered. Turf's link to Byler Rivet is good, as well- nice folks, spoke with them on the phone.

Blind Rivets | Huck Tools | Huck Fasteners | Recoil | Rivet Tools | Threaded Inserts | BlindRivetSupply.com | Arconic



rivet specs, if anyone cares to read more

[Rusty]

Found these guys local-

Alro has decent (retail) prices for the 5'x10' 16 ga sheet I want. ~ $170 w/ high steel prices now.

aluminized or zinc is next ? whichever takes paint better.

Great PDF of sheet steel specs

Alro website

[Tango]

Aluminum & zinc both require etching to take paint but there are some "specialty" sheets such as Galvaume that come ready to paint.,

[family wagon]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Thanks ! If I put aluminum rivets in a steel panel, I will get abused by the other Forum members... Something something galvanic reaction.

That's absolutely true. Nevertheless, just yesterday I stripped out about a dozen factory rivets off parts from my bus. The parts were galvanized steel and the rivets were non-magnetic.. sure looked like aluminum rivets from the factory on mine. It's kind of weird: they used them rather haphazardly. Rivets holding the rub rail on one side were steel, while on the other side many were aluminum. I suppose it's possible they were field replacements and not factory original, but I didn't see any other signs that would lead me to believe somebody had been in there replacing rivets.

[mikerob643]

Hey Rusty, this may be Reviving an old dead thread but how did those magna bulb rivets work for you ? Are they water proof and do you need a special gun to put them in? I am going to be at the riveting stage and am trying to search the internet for a closed end 1/4 inch all steel rivet and not finding much

[jjhwick119]

I don't believe he is on the forum any longer

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by mikerob643

Hey Rusty, this may be Reviving an old dead thread but how did those magna bulb rivets work for you ? Are they water proof and do you need a special gun to put them in? I am going to be at the riveting stage and am trying to search the internet for a closed end 1/4 inch all steel rivet and not finding much

I've got 1/4" SS closed end rivets from a few suppliers via google.

Here is where I got my last batch-
https://rivetsinstock.com/rivets/bli...nd-rivets.html

[mikerob643]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I've got 1/4" SS closed end rivets from a few suppliers via google.

Here is where I got my last batch-
https://rivetsinstock.com/rivets/bli...nd-rivets.html

Awesome thanks for the link. I will give them a call tomorrow.

I just popped a few rivets from around one of the windows that we are going to take out and the sizing is kind of weird. The 3/16 drill bit fits in with a little bit of slope around it. The 7/32 drill bit doesnt fit into all the holes and the holes that it does fit into are realllly tight.
Does it sound like I should get 3/16 rivets then ? is there usually a little play around the edges of a rivet before its set?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by mikerob643

Awesome thanks for the link. I will give them a call tomorrow.

I just popped a few rivets from around one of the windows that we are going to take out and the sizing is kind of weird. The 3/16 drill bit fits in with a little bit of slope around it. The 7/32 drill bit doesnt fit into all the holes and the holes that it does fit into are realllly tight.
Does it sound like I should get 3/16 rivets then ? is there usually a little play around the edges of a rivet before its set?

I thought my bus had 1/4" but they were almost all 3/16" with a few 1/4" too.
Sounds like yours were 3/16. There should be a little room but a fairly snug fit. The rivet expands.

[mikerob643]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I thought my bus had 1/4" but they were almost all 3/16" with a few 1/4" too.
Sounds like yours were 3/16. There should be a little room but a fairly snug fit. The rivet expands.

Awesome thanks for the information ! if there is supposed to be a little play around the rivet then yeah I think mine are 3/16. Which I'm pretty excited about because they seem to be easier to find. I was also just looking at the how to remove rivets using an air punch and chisel. The thread had a great video from b.s. bus which showed the method being used on interior rivets and not exterior ones that are not blind rivets but the style you have to manually buck.

Will a air hammer chisel or sds hammer drill work for these exterior rivets as well ?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by mikerob643

Awesome thanks for the information ! if there is supposed to be a little play around the rivet then yeah I think mine are 3/16. Which I'm pretty excited about because they seem to be easier to find. I was also just looking at the how to remove rivets using an air punch and chisel. The thread had a great video from b.s. bus which showed the method being used on interior rivets and not exterior ones that are not blind rivets but the style you have to manually buck.

Will a air hammer chisel or sds hammer drill work for these exterior rivets as well ?

I've been removing rivets with and air chisel/punch for years.
I grind the exterior bucked rivets flat-ish then drill em.