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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Materials

20 Gauge Half Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20HRH

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $2.11
Gold Club Price: $1.58

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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

Out of Stock

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

Reviews

Susan LeGuyader

I am a self-taught jewelry designer, having started making jewelry almost 15 years ago. I love exploring new techniques, to incorporate them into my designs. I live in Vancouver, Washington. You can find me on Facebook at Queene Bead Design. My is email: queenebead@q.com. My Etsy shop is: QueeneBead.