rivet forming tools ?

[RichardT10829]

anyone know where i can get them ? I have been told how to make them but wondered if they could be bought ? They would be used on 3/8ths dome head rivets.

Cheers


Richie

[gary_bath_jr]

I would like to knw as well, more original and all that.

Gary

BTW Richard, pics of my carrier have been posted here, you also posted some. If you still need some for a reference to the ones Chris is selliing let me know and I will post them again.

[Grant Bowker]

Look at aviation tool supply houses. Most of their rivet toools are smaller than we need but they may go large enough. Also check Mac's Auto (sellers of Ford parts) they list some rivet sets. Remember that the rivet gun is usually on the factory formed head and the bucking bar does the field formed head. In other words, for a rivet that is domed, round or whatever at each end, the rivet set in the hammer and the face of the bucking bar should have the same shape depression.

[rnixartillery]

Why not get a couple turned up !,we made a couple from air chisles.

Rob..................rnixartillery.

[T Creighton]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

anyone know where i can get them ? I have been told how to make them but wondered if they could be bought ? They would be used on 3/8ths dome head rivets.

Cheers


Richie

Have a look at the Bigflats Rivet Co's website http://www.bigflatsrivet.com/index.html[

I bought 150 3/8 rivets from them for my truck frame from them. They arrived in about 10 days and I am on the other side of the world.
They now supply tools etc which I wish they had when I did my rivets. I had to make my own bucking bars and sets.
Great people to deal with.
Cheers,
Terry

[tankbarrell]

Be careful to check modern head sizes against original.

We have recently finished rivetting new floors and sponsons in a Ram tank and the modern rivet head on a 3/4" dia rivet is smaller than that used during the war.

I purchased an original 1945 dated pneumatic hammer and sets from the USA and these tools suit the modern rivets perfectly but they are a little small in the head. Not a problem if you do not mix old and new!

I did make my own sets for 1/2" and 3/8" out of EN24T and they worked a treat. These can of course be made to suit any original head size.

[RichardT10829]

I had a chat with Martyn regarding making my own forms, i believe he used Moyle point chisels cut down and heated up and hammered over a ball bearing to create a cup. I was going to do similar but wondered if i harden a rivet first by heating it up then quenching in oil, let it cool and use it as a form. then heat the bar up form the end over the hardened rivet and again quench the bar in the oil..... as i say i was wondering if they could be puchased. all my top armour will be done so no worries about mix and match, plus all the rivets i have got are imperial the supplier can even do them countersunk all be it i will be using normal dome heads unless i find a way to countersink all my holes 45 deg with sufficient depth.

cheers guys i will keep you all posted on this front.

[tankbarrell]

You won't harden a rivet using the method you describe unless it is a high carbon rivet. Most rivets are mild steel and cannot be hardened to any great extent.

I have had success with the ball bearing method or using a ball end slot drill.

[Michael Hughes]

You will find it difficult to harden a rivet due to the stock they are made from.
If you keep the rivet head cold i.e. quenching as you go you should have no problems making the tools. The trick is to keep the tool steel red hot when forming it over the rivet.
Then there is a trick to hardening the tools as you need to quench at the correct temp for the tool steel you are using. You can easily make it too brittle.
If you contact a local Blacksmith Guild they should be able to help you in making the tools.