Riveting Mistakes

SteveK · #1 09-07-2009, 04:01 AM

I am primarily using the gun and a bucking bar to set most rivets on my HS and VS. In the process, the gun has slipped a couple of times. Of course it has left smile dents on the pieces. I am unable to completely remove the smiles/dents by sanding and polishing, do I have to buy replacement pieces?

-Steve

pierre smith · #2 09-07-2009, 04:47 AM

...do you have the swiveling head with a rubber skirt around it?

Regards,

SteveK · #3 09-07-2009, 06:44 AM

I have no protective guard around the cupped AN470 gun fitting, which is what I allowed to cause the damage.

Geico266 · #4 09-07-2009, 06:54 AM

Welcome to VAF Steve.

Just do the best you can to remove the dents to a flush ot slightly below flush and fill them when you paint. Super Fill is a great product.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...s/superfil.php

Mel · #5 09-07-2009, 06:56 AM

The "smileys" are cosmetic only. You can fill them when ready to paint. If you plan to polish, it's your choice.

alpinelakespilot2000 · #6 09-07-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveK

I am primarily using the gun and a bucking bar to set most rivets on my HS and VS. In the process, the gun has slipped a couple of times. Of course it has left smile dents on the pieces. I am unable to completely remove the smiles/dents by sanding and polishing, do I have to buy replacement pieces?

-Steve

For 470's, the Avery Snap Socs should eliminate set slipping off the rivet head. Some people put a piece of masking tape on the rivet head that supposedly also helps keep the set from slipping. For what it's worth, I've NEVER had a smiley while using the Snap Socs. Good luck.

jsharkey · #7 09-07-2009, 01:11 PM

I found that if you keep pressure on the rivet head until you have fully released the trigger and the gun has definitely stopped you minimize the risk of "smiles" and "dents". If you start to move the gun off the rivet head as you release the trigger you often get one last stray "strike" that lands off target.

Jim Sharkey

APACHE 56 · #8 09-07-2009, 02:16 PM

That's why God invented Bondo and Super Fill.
IMHO when doing cosmetic work don't use anything on your airplane that comes in a tube.

RScott · #9 09-07-2009, 03:22 PM

I found that for the 470's a long, heavy rivet set works much better than a short one. I think the mass keeps it from bouncing as much. So I use my 10(?) inch set whenever possible and the short one only when I have to.

Kevin Horton · #10 09-07-2009, 06:21 PM

You can find pass/fail criteria for driven rivets in Section 4 of MIL-R-47196A(MI) MILITARY SPECIFICATION - RIVETS, BUCK TYPE, PREPARATION FOR AND INSTALLATION OF. You need to think like a lawyer to interpret it, but it provides clear pass/fail criteria if you dig deep enough.

Up here in Canada, a piece of hockey shin pad tape on the rivet set cup does wonders to keep it from bouncing off the AN470 rivet manufactured head. It also keeps the rivet set from marring the rivet head. Good luck finding that stuff in Virginia Beach though.