posted 04-07-2001 10:23            

How would you like some expert advise on riveting? First of all it would be important to know what product you want to manufacture and in what quantities. Since you are new the game I guess you will be doing some artisan work in small quantities. For that there is a little bench mounted hand operated setting machine available with which you can punch holes and afterwards set your rivet with the same machine by changing dies. This, of course is slow and cumbersome. The next way is to use a drawn or rolled tubular rivet which punches it's own hole. This is already a step up. The next step is to get hold of a foot kicker press and have the extra hand free. If you want to go deluxe get a riveting machine with automatic rivet feeding, electric or foot operated. Then you must also consider what finish on the underside you wish to have. It could be a star, roll, or cap (a cap on the underside) finish. Then there is also what is being called a telescopic rivet (two parts). That requires pre-punching and can actually be set by hammer. The important things to know are the answers to the questions above.

Erhard

PS. I will e-mail you a picture of a hand press. I don't sell that, though I could turn you on to a company that doe's