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Riveting Tips

by Susan LeGuyader
I was recently working on a project that I used rivets to make cold connections. It can be nice not to have to solder something to hold pieces together. Riveting isn't hard, if you follow a few simple tips.
Instructions
When riveting two pieces together, you need 1mm of material sticking up to make a good, secure rivet.

I made myself a riveting "stick".

It's really a flat piece of copper wire, 1mm thick.

I drilled some different gauges of wire in it and marked it.
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, riveting tips
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, I drilled some different gauges
It is mandatory that the punched or drilled hole you make in your metal, corresponds with the correct size of wire you are using for your rivet.

If the hole is too big for the rivet, you won't be able to rivet them together.

There are many ways to make holes in metal.

Here are a few that I use: metal hole punches,

Eurotool has a great hole punch with 4 different sizes of holes that correspond with wire gauge size, a Dremel with a drill bit and a flex shaft.
Pro Tip: Super Pro Tip: If you are using drill bits, it is so easy to get them mixed up or have to stop what you are doing and look up what size the drill number is for what wire size. I write on the package what size of wire to use with the drill bit.
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, punched or drilled hole you make in your metal
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, I write on the package what size of wire to use
Quick riveting instructions:

First, use a marker for exact placement of your rivet.

Tap the mark with a punch.

Layer the metal you want to connect.

And add the rivet.

I'm using a handmade fine silver rivet.
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, use a marker for exact placement of your rivet
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, Tap the mark with a punch
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, Layer the metal you want to connect
There are different kinds of rivets to use.

You can purchase premade rivets with a flat nail head or you can make your own.

Premade rivets can have fancy head or flat nail head.
You can also make your own rivets with fine silver.

I use fine silver because you get a perfect round ball.
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, You can purchase premade rivets
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, You can also make your own rivets with fine silver
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, I use fine silver
Riveting hammers generally look the same.

A flat head on one side and a cross peen on the other side.

I've also added a chasing hammer to the list because I will use that at the end to tap out any rough spots.
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, I've also added a chasing hammer
Back to riveting, turn your cold connection stack upside down on a soft surface for a round rivet (like a piece of wood) or a hard surface, like a bench block for a flat rivet.

Use your spacer and trim excess rivet material away.
Use a riveting hammer and tap lightly on the exposed end of the rivet.

Then turn the work half a turn and continuing tapping the rivet flat.

Use the ball end of the chasing hammer to tap any rough edges out.
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, Use your spacer and trim excess rivet material away
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, Use a riveting hammer and tap lightly
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, Use the ball end of the chasing hammer
Turn your work over and see what a beautiful connection you've made.

You can rivet just about anything together, mixed metals, mixed media.

The sky's the limit.
Susan LeGuyader's Riveting Tips - , Metalwork, Riveting, Riveting Techniques, Wire Rivets, Turn your work over

Materials

20 Gauge Half Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-20HRH
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $3.32
  • Gold Club Price: $2.49
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Tools

2 Hole Metal Punch
G12-60
  • G12-60
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.97
  • Gold Club Price: $7.48
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Chasing Hammer - Flat Faced with Polished Wooden Handle - Pack of 1
G3-13
  • G3-13
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.97
  • Gold Club Price: $8.98
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DELUXE 4 HOLE METAL PUNCH
PUN-420.04
  • PUN-420.04
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $64.95
  • Gold Club Price: $48.71
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Steel Riveting Block
ANV-120.00
  • ANV-120.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $49.95
  • Gold Club Price: $37.46
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  • Category: Metalwork
  • Technique(s): Riveting

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