Using Tiles on Tube Rivets and Eyelets

by Judy Ellis, Wirejewelry.com

Featured Tool Tip for March 6th, 2017

Using Tiles on Rivets and Eyelets

with Judy Larson

Today we finish up our series of Tips from Judy Larson on Eyelet and Rivet Tools: Tip #3: Make a Tube Spreader Tool & #4 is How to Use the Tile and Nails on Rivets and Eyelets. These two tips go hand in hand!

Judy Says:

Tip #3: Make a Tube Spreader Tool:

Step 1: Find a few nails that are larger in diameter than the tube of the rivets and eyelets you use most often. Many local lumberyards sell nails, purchased by the pound, in bins. You should be able to purchase a few for just pennies.

Step 2: File tips of the nails to a shallow sharp point and you will have an instant tube rivet and eyelet setting tool. These were ground down on an electric grindstone in the shop, but you could use a file. It will just take longer. Note: You cannot use nails right out of the box. The tips are not round and the point is too long.

Tip #4: How to Use The Tile and Nails On Tube Rivets and Eyelets:

Step 1: Punch the appropriate size holes in the pieces you will be attaching your rivets or eyelets to.

Step 2: You may want to make the hole a bit larger if your rivet or eyelet does not fit. In this particular leftover fold formed piece, there was a hole caused when dimpling pliers broke through the metal. A bead reamer was used to make the hole large enough to fit a small brass 3mm eyelet or domed head rivet with a tube style back.

Step 3: Place the tube rivet or eyelet through the pieces you are securing it to. Then put two tiles on the rivet using the hole that best fits. Use a file the file off the excess tube until it is flush with, and not more than a hair above, with the tile. Do not cut the tube with a flush cutter. It will squash the sides together.

Note: In the following step, if you use a bench block under your piece when using a hammer with your tool to spread out the tube on the back of your piece, the face or your rivet or eyelet will be flattened out. The face of your rivets and eyelets will not be as easily damaged or flattened if you use a notepad or magazine instead of a bench block.

Step 4: Place the tip of the nail in the tube on the back of the rivet or eyelet. Gently hammer the nail until the tube starts to spread out. Once the top of the tube is spread enough that it cannot be removed from the hole, you can then use a domed face or ball hammer to finish spreading the tube out and flatten it.

Hint: A 1.8mm hole punch is not quite large enough for small diameter tube rivets and eyelets. Use a bead reamer to make the hole slightly larger.

Hint: Rivet and eyelet setters are a good investment if you will be using a lot of eyelets and tube rivets in your jewelry

I hope you’ve enjoyed these quick tips. For more tips from Judy Larson – CLICK HERE!

Happy Wrapping!

 

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