Riveting question

[Kyuzo Larkin]

When I start riveting, do I want to drill holes as large as the rivets I am using? Or is the rule of thumb the same as drilling with wood, drill smaller than the rivets I am using? I am afraid to crack the ABS if I use a drill size smaller than the rivets.

[4505Marcel]

You usually go a tiny bit larger and use a backing washer

[4505Marcel]

Only talking maybe Half a mm

[Kyuzo Larkin]

kk sadly the fabric store I went to did not have 1/18 rivets, only 5/32 rivets. is that going to be an issue going a half mil larger when the rivet is already bigger than suggested?

[Kyuzo Larkin]

i have not drilled anything yet

[Chef]

I always go the same size as the rivet, and use a backing washer.

 

The expanding part should not get to the plastic itself as it should be halted by the washer.

 

5/32... that's 4mm yeah?? That's what I use as standard.

[Kyuzo Larkin]

Will any washers do?

[Dart]

You'll need to get washers that will fit the rivet. So if you're going with 5/32" rivets, get the same sized washers.

[Kyuzo Larkin]

Does this look right? I put the rivet and the rivet with the washer through it side by side for comparison.

[01Hawk]

Are they clothing rivets you have pictured? For the rivets in the belt /holster you prob want to use these type ( I have never used or looked at clothing rivets tho)

[Kyuzo Larkin]

I have clothing rivets, it's the washers I am worried about.

[Guest Forrest Patrol]

I don't think they are the correct rivets. I think you need these, like 01Hawk said

 

http://www.multifix.co.za/blind-rivets.htm

[Kyuzo Larkin]

hmm...the back of the packaging said they work with all fabrics and leathers...

[Guest Forrest Patrol]

Yes they will but they aren't what you are supposed to use

[Kyuzo Larkin]

It's a dritz eyelet kit, 5/32 says it works with medium to heavy fabrics, so I assume it means webbing and leather.

[Kyuzo Larkin]

hmm...well darn...

[Kyuzo Larkin]

I guess I'm not following what the difference is...I hate the idea that my biker scout uniform will be ground to a halt because I got the wrong rivets... :/

[01Hawk]

I've never used clothing rivets so I don't know what they look like installed. I googled images for them and they look like the end up capped ( not a hole left in the middle like a pop rivet). The correct rivets would be a pop rivet and you can get them ( and the washers) at a hardware store or Lowes/Home Depot in a kit with the rivet gun.

[Guest Forrest Patrol]

[Kyuzo Larkin]

well good news, I drilled the holes for the rivets, bad news, I have the wrong type of 5/32 rivets lol. Wish I knew. Looks like I am making a trip to the store.

[Kyuzo Larkin]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_445504-37672-513127___?storeNumber=1108&Ntt=pop+rivets+5%2F32&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%4074457445%5D&pl=1&productId=4193483

[Kyuzo Larkin]

I think actually what I am going to do, is go ahead as planned, and use what rivets I have, and just make a new belt later on, I actually messed up on the belt itself, it will be good enough for the premiere but I actually made a blatant error due to misreading directions. But this is helpful! For my first time making this, I think I have actually done a pretty solid job, but next time I'll be more 501st ready lol.

[Guest Forrest Patrol]

You need rivets for the tank top + bottom, belt, knees and boot holster. There are different heads on rivets as well, I think I used domed head but I don't know if there is a correct one.

[01Hawk]

I would use aluminum rivets vs the steel ones.

[Chef]

What you have there are call 'double cap' rivets.

 

They are used in leatherwork and for making 'studs' to hold fabrics together. Especially on the more 'specialised' kind of leatherwork. nudge nudge...

 

 

What you need are 'pop rivets' or more correctly called 'blind rivets', as has been pictured by the chaps above.

 

They also use a special tool for their installation, called a rivet gun. normally very cheap. It's just a hand tool for squeezing them up.

 

 

They come in various different sizes, I suggest you get 5/32 considering that's the size holes you've already drilled, and you need to get the corresponding 5/32 washers to go over them.

 

Basically the tool pulls the shank down through the rivet expanding it. When it gets to a certain level of pressure (generally when the expanded part hits something it can't get past, i.e the backing washer) it snaps the tang off. The expanded bit pulls the surfaces tight together and then it can't be removed as the expanded part is larger than the hole it needs to get out of.

 

When they're installed, they look something like this.