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Closed End Blind Rivets
the JoKeR - 17/3/05 at 01:24 AM

I hate rust and corrosion, but live where it's in endless supply. Standard rivets have the hole which could let in moisture, but I ran across these closed-end rivets which look to take care of that problem. Anybody have any first-hand experience with them to know if they hold up as good as standard rivets? I plan to use seam sealer or a small rubber washer to help keep moisture from sneaking in. I'm planning to try them on an aluminum body truck I'm currently building, but obviously rust isn't quite the issue with aluminum as it will be with steel.


Dave Ashurst - 17/3/05 at 06:59 AM

They're the same type I used for my car body panels, for the same reasons. Also fitted into an extra plug of sealant down the drilled hole.

I see no reason why they shouldn't be mechanically equivalent to the open ended type. (Do you?)

I haven't checked their effectiveness for limiting moisture ingress, sorry. I have no intention of opening it up!

dave

keith2lp - 17/3/05 at 07:48 AM

Hi

We use these all the time at work and the mechnical properties are the same. If poss get them with stainless mandrels as this stops the bit thats left in the rivet rusting.

Keith

NS Dev - 17/3/05 at 10:53 AM

These are what Caterham/Westy use, and what I have used.

clbarclay - 17/3/05 at 11:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by keith2lp
If poss get them with stainless mandrels as this stops the bit thats left in the rivet rusting.


Surely won't stainless like normal steel cored aluminium quite quickely. As I understand it it is best to use rivets made from the same material as the peices being joined together.

Mix - 17/3/05 at 11:37 AM

So we should be looking for aluminium rivets with aluminium mandrels

Mick

the JoKeR - 17/3/05 at 12:19 PM

It's been my understanding that the stainless doesn't cause a reaction with aluminum or regular steel. Or maybe I'm wrong?? I know aluminum and steel will react over time, which is why I was thinking of using the stainless version once I get to that point.

David Jenkins - 17/3/05 at 12:38 PM

Stainless won't rust when it gets wet, like ordinary steel will. It may still be affected by electrolytic corrosion with the ali, but at least you've removed one kind of corrosion from the equation!

DJ

keith2lp - 17/3/05 at 12:39 PM

Hi
We use aluminium rivets with stainless mandrels by the 1000s in outdoor applications in extreme environments to join aluminium panels together.

We have yet to see any serious corrosion in any part of the assembly even with units that are 15 years old.

I dont think you will get any problems using these rivets.

Keith

britishtrident - 17/3/05 at 01:25 PM

Just a point but no matter what rivets you use moisture will get drawn into the tubes, my approach is to seal as much as possible but provide a decent drain and use Waxoyl where feasable