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Riveting Thin Aluminum Sheets

DHeal

Well Known Member
Patron
A little tip: When riveting thin aluminum sheets together with with AD rivets, it can sometimes be difficult to keep the two sheets tightly together as you squeeze/set the rivet. The result can be a slight gap between the sheets.

I have found that by placing a small (@1/2" x @3/8" x @3/16") piece of rubber with a @1/8" hole drilled in the center (I use old orange silicone baffle material) over the unformed shop end of the rivet and then squeezing/setting the rivet, the rubber piece creates pressure which keeps the two sheets tightly together during the squeezing/setting process.

Be aware - the little buggers have a tendency to fall to the floor and get lost, so make several of them! :)
 
I do the same thing, but use a short piece of 1/8 id tygon tubing. You can see the whole thing at my posting "Improvements to the Avery Rivet Squeezer"
 
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