Difficult Nutplate Rivets

[NavyS3BNFO]

I don't know why I had such trouble with these rivets. They attach nut plates that sit right up against the inside of the side skins on the RV-8. I'm sure this isn't the only place or model that have nut plates in locations like this so I'm looking for any hints from the pros.

The problem is I can't get my squeezer on the rivets because they sit up against the side skin and I can't buck them for fear of denting the skin from the inside or deforming the thin angle they attached to. At least I don't think I can buck them - I haven't tried for the above reasons.

Any tips, tricks, something I'm missing? As you can see in the pics I resorted to blind rivets after trying to set them multiple times and mangling the shop heads...




Attachment 31222

[mill2978]

I used Knipex pliers to set most of my nut plates. Smooth jaws and parralel action make them a mini squeezer for flush rivets, esp in tight places like those.

[wirejock]

Originally Posted by mill2978

I used Knipex pliers to set most of my nut plates. Smooth jaws and parralel action make them a mini squeezer for flush rivets, esp in tight places like those.

2nd that. The big pair will make quick work of #3 rivets. Imcredible tool.

[idubrov]

Originally Posted by wirejock

2nd that. The big pair will make quick work of #3 rivets. Imcredible tool.

How big is big? Is 10" enough?

[wirejock]

Originally Posted by idubrov

How big is big? Is 10" enough?

My biggest pair are 12". They are my preference for squeezing #3 rivets in spaces where nothing else will fit or when I'm just too lazy to pull out the pneumatics.

[D-Dubya]

Tape your bucking bar sides and/or put a piece of poster board against the skin to prevent scratching of the surfaces. If you have the swivel mushroom set on your rivet gun, switch to a fixed head mushroom set since it's not centered on the rivet head. I didn't use mine much, as I preferred the swivel type with the rubber shroud around it for 99.9% of riveting. But when you need it that 0.1% of the time, it'll do the trick.

[Canadian_JOY]

Originally Posted by idubrov

How big is big? Is 10" enough?

The 10" Knipex are plenty for #3 rivets. Just make sure you have the jaws perpendicular to the rivet body. They make squeezing rivets soooo easy.

[nohoflyer]

Originally Posted by mill2978

I used Knipex pliers to set most of my nut plates. Smooth jaws and parralel action make them a mini squeezer for flush rivets, esp in tight places like those.

What size do you have. I see 4-16 inch options.

[rvanstory]

I did 2 things for the situation you describe.

1) Ground the end of my rivet puller flat. Allowed me to get in closer (about 3/32”) to edge. Worked in many situations.

2) For even tighter spots, fabricated a small wedge out of aluminum. Wedge was shaped with about a 20 degree angle (sorry, no pics). Drilled hole in middle just large enough for blind rivet stem. Place rivet where needed, put wedge on top with stem sticking out and thick edge of wedge facing the side with no clearance. Bend stem slightly out to get puller over stem. Press firmly down, then pull the rivet stem to set blind rivet.

Section 5.4 of builders instructions gives details and dimensions for wedge.

[NavyS3BNFO]

Thanks Randy but I'm looking for a way to set solid rivets. I gave up on solid and resorted to using blind rivets in this case.