Rivet Calculator

[brady.blake55]

Hey guys. I’ve been waiting for my aluminum delivery and diving into everything. Since I’m new to a lot of these skills, I’m creating cheat sheets. I created this rivet cheat sheet and rivet length calculator. I don’t doubt that it already exists, but I learn by creating things like this so it was a good exercise for me.

While it isn’t complete, I think it’s a good start. Hopefully someone else finds it helpful.

[geraldmorrissey]

I ended up cutting rivets to actual length after experimenting with test coupons and recording the results. I found that rivets cut to my calulated length were consistantly short and gave me an undersized shop head. Making test coupons was my salvation. I did not want to drill out a -5 rivet and I didn't have to.
I remember only a couple of locations on the spars where a stock rivet length worked, all the rest were custom cut. Just my method, yours may vary. Your spreadsheet will give you a good starting point. Good luck.
Gerry
Patrol #30

[sjt]

They never sell them in every size you want

What you want to do is invest time to make something like desertbearhawk

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desert bearhawk video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypn5WkxUDQM


I did something stupid:

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Under no circumstance buy or use

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If you were Boeing they probably would sell rivets in 1/4 and 1/2 size.
Wrong size rivets will anvil over making extra work which can be avoided by cutting each rivet to the correct size.



Then again if you worked for Boeing driving rivets all day you might be able to drive the wrong length rivet -- but I doubt it.


If cutting each rivet to size seems like a lot of work then compare it to drilling out each rivet you anvil over.

[Frank]

Au contraire, I found the rivet cutter to be invaluable, along with shims to get in between sizes.

[sjt]

I remember from Star Trek where Scotty says "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me"

I wish that stupid thing only ruined two rivets, before I chucked it.

I am pretty stupid and I have a jar of rivets I had to drill out.

[Frank]

They don't come much stupider than me. Early days in my collection of drill-outs, easily twice this many by now.
Nothing to do with the rivet cutter, though.
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[sjt]

Frank, you are missing an opportunity. Blame it on the rivet cutter. No one will know.