HFS
Well Known Member
Another DIY idea for bucking rivets in those hard to reach, inconvenient locations - like the narrow space at the leading edges of the vertical & horizontal stabs, closing out the wing skins by yourself, etc. Or?
By having "indexing" holes in the bar that accommodate an adjacent cleo; and, having the bar long enough to span a single (or double) rivet "pitch", you simply locate the bar over the cleo, push the bar against the adjacent web, and hold it against the rivet shank - then drive rivet. Almost all variables associated with holding the bar correctly in restricted or hidden locations are taken away, and your attention can be focused on the driving process only.
As an added benefit, since the bar remains stationary during the driving process, you can mark the "target" area with black magic marker, which gets "erased" by the setting of the rivet, leaving in indication of the size and shape of the bucked head. A simple solution for checking bucked head quality in restricted spaces.
The drawing shown below is pretty "raw" - done in 1995, but you get the idea.
The bars shown are tungsten and were made for me by Midwest Tungsten Service many years ago - these have gotten way to expensive at today's prices. My early prototypes were made from simple mild steel - A36 1 x 2, they worked just fine, only a little light on mass - hence going to the tungsten.
If there is any interest in MYO - I have the drawings I made and will send/post them if requested.
YMMV - And probably will!
HFS
By having "indexing" holes in the bar that accommodate an adjacent cleo; and, having the bar long enough to span a single (or double) rivet "pitch", you simply locate the bar over the cleo, push the bar against the adjacent web, and hold it against the rivet shank - then drive rivet. Almost all variables associated with holding the bar correctly in restricted or hidden locations are taken away, and your attention can be focused on the driving process only.
As an added benefit, since the bar remains stationary during the driving process, you can mark the "target" area with black magic marker, which gets "erased" by the setting of the rivet, leaving in indication of the size and shape of the bucked head. A simple solution for checking bucked head quality in restricted spaces.
The drawing shown below is pretty "raw" - done in 1995, but you get the idea.
The bars shown are tungsten and were made for me by Midwest Tungsten Service many years ago - these have gotten way to expensive at today's prices. My early prototypes were made from simple mild steel - A36 1 x 2, they worked just fine, only a little light on mass - hence going to the tungsten.
If there is any interest in MYO - I have the drawings I made and will send/post them if requested.
YMMV - And probably will!
HFS