TOPIC: re-riviting questions

Guys,

Any threads or tutorials you can point me to.
I have a non-classic 1972 Starcraft 12'.
Some rivits are popping.
It needs new rivets not epoxy anymore.
The sand dragging and salt are taking its toll.
Tools required?
Any special rivits, and where to purchase?



Thanks
Jim

The folks on the Feather Craft forum are a great resource for advice, tools, techniques on riveting.

http://www.feathercraft.net

There are many places to order your rivets from..just need the hole size and the thickness of material that you are pulling

www.rivetsonline.com/solid-aluminum-rivets-1-16-to-1-8.html

I would try tightening up the ones there first...and if a no go then drill and replace

You can but a air hammer to do the job made just for the job or set them with an hammer and punch

Put the boat on some saw horses and add about 2 inches of water (not to look for leaks but to deaden the sound...But it helps on the leaks)

Have someone hold a back up with a backing hammer (any hammer will do but a 1.5 lb hand sledge is what I use)

I have a large flat punch that I hollow the end out some as to keep it on the rivets
For a large job I bought the air hammer from Harbor Freight and hollow the end of the punch after cutting it off (had to use the grinder). It is not as fast as the $99 unit but much cheaper

www.harborfreight.com/air-impact-hammer-kit-92037.html

www.harborfreight.com/3x-air-riveting-hammer-with-5-piece-chisel-set-97857.html

Thanks

The heads are missing an the leakers.
Re-riveting is the only way to go I think.

Are there manual rivet guns other than hammers?

The best rivet to use will be an "AN470 AD" rivet.

AN stands for Army/Navy specifications. It will be a protruding head similar to what was in your boat.

AD is the alloy. It is the most common, commonly used in aircraft also.

The rivet gun is not the same as an air hammer. Similar yes, the same no. I use a 4X gun. (You can use a 3X gun on smaller 5/32 diameter or less rivets). A rivet gun has a different stroke & hammers a different blow. That is not to say the air hammer won't work, it should with small rivets.

You will need the rivet set for the size rivet you are using. You will need a bucking bar & probably a few different size & shapes to buck the rivet.

The correct drill size for a hole is #30 for 1/8" dia, #21 for 5/32 dia, #11 for 3/16 dia. It is unlikely you will be shooting larger sizes.

A correctly installed rivet will swell to fill the hole & sealant should not be required.

Excellent info, thanks all.
It is enough to get me started.