slightly Ot- rivets

D

deloid

Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
458
This is an area where many of you excel (when setting scales) so I hope you don't mind my asking this question here.

I am working on a clock. The mainspring is no longer sold so I bought the correct thickness and width and cut the sping down (only works at the correct length because of a guard). I needed a rivet 1/16 inch thick and the metal being riveted was about 1/16th as well. They don't sell rivets like that so I chose some nickel silver stock and made two rivets. I annealed them (heat and dunk...opposite to steel) but then I had trouble getting a clean mushroom. In the process of hammering I think the small rivet became work hardened and the result was poor. I put the clock together and it works great but I can't send the piece out with the sloppy rivet job.
I am now wondering if copper or brass would make better rivets (stay malleable longer). What do you think?
 
Danjal
He is saying that he work hardened the non-ferrous material by hammering it.
Copper would probably make a really clean mushroom, I have made many rivets from it but cant compare it to NS as I have not made a rivet with it. Definitely anneal the copper before working it to be sure.
Goodluck
Chris
 
peining is one skill that can take a long time to truly master

light blows with a small well polished hammer

Nickel silver should work just as well as copper or brass, just takes practice and patience.
 
There is no need to anneal rivets. If the heads are splitting you are either leaving too much material, or hammering too hard.
Smashing the heads is not the object, just peen them lightly with a very small hammer.
 
In the process of making the rivets on the lathe they get heated enough to burn my fingers (as I found out).
 
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