Replies

1. 
   RonInOttawa | Jan 28, 2006 05:07am | #1

   The secret is in LIGHTLY using the hammer to peen over the head. Put a heavy piece of metal behind the already shaped/peened head and then gently tap the opposite end. What you are doing is gradually compressing the end until it deforms into a mushroom shape. I've used the technique many time when building or repairing wooden boats, and it just takes practice.

   I ruined several of them before it had an old-timer show me how it was done. His tapping rate was about 100 per minute, and the hammer head was seldom lifted more than 1" from the rivet. If you're doing it right, it should take no more than 30 seconds to peen the head. Rivets also have an advantage that comes in very handy when working with wood....if they loosen up all you have to do is peen them again and the joint is as tight as it ever was!

   You might be able to find a reference to peening rivets if your local library has any books on boatbuilding.

   Regards,

   Ron

2. 
   philip | Jan 28, 2006 09:31am | #2

   Don, Ron has hit the ,er, rivet , on the head. But also, you should be sure not to have too much projection -this will increase thw danger of bending or buckling the stem. A rough rule is that 11/2 times the diameter is the max imum projection one should have to form a mushroom shape head.

   Philip Marcou
1. 
   QCInspector | Jan 28, 2006 11:57am | #3

   A method that also helps facilitating the shaping of the shop head when riveting,(the one shaped by peening as opposed to the manufactured head on the rivet when bought)is to drill a small hole about 1/3 to 1/2 the shank diameter in the end of the rivet. Don't drill the hole any deeper than the surface that the rivet will hold, preferably less. The hole weakens the end enough that it starts to upset before the undrilled section will, which will minimize any deformation of the shank. Starting with a center punch will help to start the flaring/mushrooming process but isn't mandatory. A couple / three light hits then switch to the hammer only. I learned the trick from an Aircraft Structures Mechanic when I had to put stainless steel rivets in control pushrods.Before you commit to riveting your furniture, I suggest (strongly) that you practice with a handful of rivets (they're cheap), trying the various methods until you are very comfortable with the process. After all the hard work getting to the point of assembly, the last thing you need is to mess up the riveting.

1. 
   DonStephan | Jan 29, 2006 12:45am | #4

   Thanks everyone for your prompt replies. Repair complete with your help. Mom will be making a banana creme pie for payment.

2. 
   Patto | Jan 31, 2006 04:26am | #5

   Phillip,

   Last time I had to peen brass it had hardened and was very difficult to manage. I was trying to reuse the original pins for the handle on an old brass coal scuttle.

   I annealed them after the first one and job was successful for all the rest.

   dave

3. 
   tinkerer2 | Jan 31, 2006 07:20am | #6

        Any grain farmer as old as I knows how to rivet the slats on a canvas raddle.