Beginners Guide to Rivets

I've used a cold riveter that worked like Marty's Matchbook Makeovers method. It had a very robust chassis like an arbor press. The head ran at about 60-100 rpm. The trick was that unlike Marty's set-up on the drill press the dome forming tool wasn't vertical (though the drive was). The end of the forming tool was off-set 5-10 degrees so that when it was running it appeared to be oscillating. The tool was hardened and polished and when it came down onto the rivet it "walked" around the rivet and deformed it into a very nice looking dome. Oil on the rivets kept the tool from galling the rivet head. There were adjustments so once set it was easy to get repeatable results in a production run. There were different tools for different styles of rivets. When you see a rivet with concentric circles on the head it was probably done with this type of tool. Cheers from NC/USA

At the risk of being corny I found tonight's episode riveting

I need to see Scoutcrafter restoring a corn cob 😂👍🏻

Wouldn’t you know it, Scout’s on the job. He started this show with a doggone corn cob. Then on to rivets. He doesn’t like pop. He just kept on talking. The guy never stops. So many types. So many rivets. More types than when I golf and make divets. I like them all Especially for leather. They don’t add weight. They’re light as a feather. Along comes the tools. The dome’s shaped like a dill. He says we can make them. Like we have the skill. Rivets are handy. Scout makes them look nice. But when I do them, I must do it twice. Thanks for the fun. 🤠

Those Chicago screws remind me of the hardware on the old Disston hand saws.

Wow, who knew someone could make a 16 minute video about rivets so riveting! Thanks for the info, Scout.

I remember in metal shop in Jr high school making a metal box. One side of the box we solderd and one side we riveted. I have a good collection of different rivets including brass rivets for replacing bands on a ford model t transmission. The parts of your video with the copper rivets reminds me of Levi denim pants that my mother quit buying for me when they raised the price to 4.25 from 4.00 so I had to start wearing cheaper jeans. I use to remove the red Levi tag off the rear pocket of the Levi's and sew it on to my cheap jeans so I wouldn't get used as punching bag in school.

I love travelling over old riveted steel bridges. That riveted construction is absolutely beautiful.

Scoutcrafter, in school metalworking classes we were taught how to use a soft iron rivet and then countersink the opposite side and cut the rivet proud. Then ball pein the rivet into the countersink until it fills the countersink entirely. Once filed flat the repair virtually disappears and is my favourite way of attaching spade heads to new handles. If you cannot get soft iron rivets then use an iron nail. Heat to red heat and let it cool slowly to anneal it. Then rivet but he careful as lots of little taps will work harden the rivet. Has been useful for the past 50 years. Great video as always, informative, useful and thoroughly entertaining.

Also called a bucking tool. It puts a nice dome on a rivet. Great video !

A good tool post. Very informative. Now time for a cold bottle of beer. Cheers !

I remember seeing the video with the old file handles but I had totally forgotten about the corncob. Thanks for reminding me!

This is so cool: there are many of these old rivets kicking around here from past estate sale purchases & I never really knew how they went together....until now.... and the corncob handle is just brilliant. By the way, thanks so much for saving my ears by editing out the banging. That takes time yet you do it for "us" anyway. Have a great day!!

Well that answers that for me John! I found a bunch of the copper rivets in my grandfather's stuff. I figured they were rivets, but had no idea that a doming tool was made for them. Thanks for showing this. Always great to learn new things here! Funny thing was I was thinking of Marty's tool also right before you mentioned it! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

ScoutCrafter memory lane. at 1 time for 10 years. i worked for a precision fastener company. includes POP RIVETS AND TOOLS. i was the mechanic to repair the pneumatic and hydraulic rivet guns. even bought my dad a rivet gun and he loves it, still have a rivet gun that was obsoleted. memories thank you Bobby

My grandfather had brass split rivets when I was a kid, he taught me how to use them for all kinds of projects. Knife skabbords to arrow quivers. Love the video, made me feel 10 again..

I have used ATS rivet squeezer and dies 25+ yrs ago. Unfortunately it has a narrow, maybe 3" throat but it is great for repairing joints on small and large tool boxes. Was able to tighten the rivets on a wooden 6' step ladder. You only need it when you do. Thanks for the upload. I think the ATS is primarily used in aircraft industry. ATS still sells today on their website listing a 22" throat tool. Keeps me searching for a used one. My brother-in-law worked for Boeing years ago. I'm sure if I got serious one could be located in the Seattle area. Never enough. Have a greater one.

Never used copper rivets. I have used pop rivets and Chicago screws. Learned a lot. Thanks

Cob handles are great but we also used cobs to plug the neck of the kerosene jug.

Cool, a trip back to my grandpa's corn farm in Iowa. He used those corn cobs for file handles as well. He fought in WWI, lived through the great depression and I got to spend some one-on-one time with him so I learned a lot. He was wise. I got the bug, learned woodworking, leatherwork, welding/fabrication, electronics, etc and I don't regret any of it. It makes me happy to teach others too, so I appreciate what you are doing here! Thanks

Not only are those file handles comfy, they're also great for the environment unlike plastic handles. Great video as always!

I have a collapsible clothes drying rack that uses rivets to hold together a folding metal hinge between the legs. One of the rivets broke off when the rack fell over one day. I wasn't sure what kind if rivet to use to repair it. But it looks very similar to the two piece rivet you showed last. Thank you.

THANK YOU...for sharing. My dad was a big fan of rivets, he was always making things and using rivets to hold them together. Great show John.

Corn cob! who would have thought! I used those copper rivets a lot in leather. I love them. You should make a dome tool for the Dake after peening with a hammer, let the Dake take care of the rest, especially with copper. A lot of the old cars had rivets instead of bolts, probably cheaper having a bucket of rivets than to use bolts. My '64 Chevy C-10 frame is riveted together. Been fun cutting those babies out as needed for ball joints, new brake drums etc. I agree on the pop rivets, I try to use my dome tool to finish those if I can. great video on Rivets!!

God bless you for showing us beginners kinds of rivets. Many thanks for very useful tips and informations

Hi Scout, I'm a little late to the show today, just got back from a friend who welded something up for me. The copper rivets are really cool, but for some reason I kept thinking about that clamp just showed at the start of the video.. It's really nice! Great instructional, wasn't wrong looking forward to this all day. Thanks a lot! Time to get in the sack for me now.

Thanks for the information. It was very useful. I too am a subscriber to Marty's channel and he does an excellent job of restoring Matchbox cars. I keep looking at your earlier episodes and I always find something new to learn about.

What a great instructional video. I never used the copper peen over rivet but now I am looking for a project to try these. And yes the Chicago rivet is commonly known as a sex bolt.

For file handles spent shotgun cartridges with the primers removed and die infilled with wood can be used.The file can be introduced into the cartridge via the primer hole.

great info as always. love marty’s matchbox makeover - funny how we all watch similar channels!

That's a good idea corn handle, learning a lot from you Scout. Man i wish i wouldn't have all of that snow in my yard, we have to much. ☝️☝️

Just wanted to say this was a great informative video, thanks for making it!

Perfect timing...i have an upcoming project with copper rivets, you answered all my question. Cheers

As always, great video. Thanks for sharing. It is great fun watching other people work.

Glad to see you start your video on the front porch again, it’s a nice touch. Looks too cold there to spend much time outside. Great to have a warm basement/workshop. I worked in a Shipyard in Avondale, La. for 44 years. During those years I worked in many different departments one department I worked in, was Heavy Equipment Maintenance. In that department we used a variety of many different types of rivets very interesting what you can do with them. I enjoy your channel keep up the good work and your variety of subjects

Those "Chicago screws" are basically the same thing as Corby fasteners used by knifemakers to fix handles to knife tangs. The only difference is the head shape.

John, I wondered if in the past you had ever experimented with small hot rivets? In general, of course, the goal on this channel is a functional, often attractive restoration. As I get better at detailed restorations, personally I get more curious about the really tough stuff - I'll call "museum-grade" restoration. I wonder if one could use either MAP+O2 or OxyAcetline torch to heat smaller rivets, use a small anvil or anvil area, a shaped mandrel like the ones you made for the copper rivets, and peen a clean rivet in a full museum-grade type of restoration? Have any other viewers tried this in the past? I might put this on my "breakthrough skills" to attempt and report back later in the year. Nice segment. A logical follow on to this piece would be grommets.

Wow what a great video ,very useful information for me that I did not know before, all I knew was just those standard pop rivets before this or would just grab a nut and bolt to try to fix something but now I could do it the right way and make a great job of it, thanks a lot. Ken

Ah I have always wonder what those "Chicago screws" were actually called. We see them all the time for binding hole punched engineering drawing sets when not in binders. Never considered they might be used as actual fasteners elsewhere. Sweet intro! Talking Marty I would love to see your take on a hot wheels restoration someday. I think you would knock it out of the park!

This is great stuff! This totally answer's questions I've had about copper rivet's 👍

Like the shout out to Marty. Love that channel. Quick request - I would love to learn the difference between various plastics and various adhesives. If you have some knowledge about such things, please consider an episode about that.

thankyou very much. been after some Chicago screws, but never knew the what to call them.

Those rivets look nice rounded over like that. I kind of like the look of hammer facets on the peened over part too though. I guess it depends on the application. Big thumbs up on the corncob file handle too! 👍🏼👍🏼. Take Care 😁

Well Done ScoutCrafter! I have a tool used to rivet the blades onto a sickle bar mowing machine... the rivets are on the shelf at my local tractor supply store. It is a rotary type tool. Also... “micro machines” here on KZhead did a great video on installing rivets in aluminum body that he is building using an air hammer and dolly. Really great stuff Scout! Thanks!

Great video! I was riveted to the screen. Those pop rivets brought me back to the days when we used to replace fabric on high speed doors. 40-50 rivets squeezed in by hand. I wonder why I have carpal tunnel syndrome now. Lol. Great stuff as always!

Multi-purpose corn cobs nd you used an Estwing hammer the other day and I didn't say anything about it. I must be slipping. Good riveting experience, John CS! Blessings 2 U and Smiley!

Now I can make all my pants look like Levi’s! Great video!

Just bought an Arrow rivet gun yesterday! Talk about timing!

Great vid. They do make a tool called a spinner Jantz knife supply sells them I have one for spinning the ends of pins on pocket knives I make.

Nice overview. Thanks Scout.

Good stuff. I have a few corncob strikers for my slate turkey calls. Many uses indeed. Good information about rivets. I like Marty's channel also. 👍

Great channel...corncob handle ? Great in a pinch,maybe. Clever...solid demo on rivets.,though. Really enjoy the videos 👍🇺🇸

Great show john very good info

Great video 👍👍👍👍👍 GODBLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Love the Red White and Blue before all your videos!

Very useful info. Thanks for sharing. Best to you!

WOW, ScoutCrafter! You're a Marty's Matchbox Makeovers fan too! Guess creative people manage to find each other, right? And then, there's Kevin... sheesh! :-D

Very interesting video John really enjoyed that one great job mate

You can modify c clamps to do rivets theres a few folks that do leatherwork and hotwheel restorations that use that method and it works fairly well from what ive seen and my experiences using them

Marty's videos are great. This was some very valuable and great information. Like to say welcome to all the new people :D. Thanks Scout we'll see you Friday =D

Great video ScoutCrafter. Now I want to know more about rivet nuts. I guess that’s what they’re called.

Great videos! A lot of knowledge shared in them. New subscriber.

Another excellent tutorial Mate!!☺

I am 73, raised in Oklahoma. Out on the farm corn cobs were the only file handles you would see 😜

Good show. If you want a close to permanent way to join two items; take a look at Corby screws. They are generally used by knife makers. Use permanent (red or green) Loctite, and grind off what you don't want sticking out. The are very easy to use and you don't need a whole lot of tools to get a good looking result. I use brass ones. But, they come in several different metals. Cheap, too.

Hi John , Good Info . I Work on HW & Matchboxes too . Use 2-56 Allen cap "Screws" . That Was A fun to Watch Video . I See You're Teaching us All . You Also Are Having Copycats out there.

Very informative thanks for the tips on rivits

Dreaded pop rivet, is the exact word I would use. Trying to restore a wooden folding table that has been riveted together. Never again, they are difficult and time consuming to remove from wood without damaging! Reserve for metal me thinks. I’m going to make a new table!

Interesting John . When I first started my Ironworking career in 1972 , and I gained the nickname "Rivets" . The first long job (1 year ) I had as an apprentice , was working on our County courthouse jail cells . The plate walls were riveted together with 3/8" rivets and a pnumatic riveter with a back=up man. The cells were in the basement , 3rd and 4th floors. So Daily I had to carry welding/cutting supplies , bolts and nuts , and a whole lotta rivets between floors , I can understand why they gave me that nickname.The backup man used a tool that was named in the 1800's. It was a long round heavy piece of steel that had a counter sunk dome on one end named a "HorseCock" , I S**t you Not !

Great tutorial on rivets ScoutCrafter!!

Reactionary commentary-free. Thanks.

Great knowledge

It actually looks like it would be relaxing work once you found a rhythm

Another interesting video. I always learn something or recognize a similar tool from my collection, however it still needs to be SC’d!! I remember using the Chicago rivets to attach the wheel trucks to my skateboard. We called em “Sex Bolts” for obvious reasons. Hahaha! Cheers. “Chicago screws”

excellent video, like beginners stuff

Intresting lesson sir..

Great video buddy! In a previous lifetime I was a semi trailer mechanic and I've bucked probably a million rivets LOL I think my hearing is a little shot from an even with wearing protection

Very interesting tutorial on rivets. - Kathie

Great video scout I learnt something new today I gotta get me some of those Chicago screws ha ha Could you show us some of your leather work with the rivets you used that would be great 👍 I’m a big fan of The copper and brass rivets I never knew there were so many different rivets crazy god bless take care 🇺🇸👏🇳🇿🙏🛠🔩

That was very Riveting to watch !

My favorite is female-to-female as well, Scout!

Rivets are cool - exposed fasteners always look nice to me. Do you think you could do a video on brazing & soldering?

Thank you for another great video, not sure if you have covered it in the past any way you can do a video on your process of sharpening the cutting edges on linesman pliers and diagonal pliers? Some scoutcrafter tips and tricks. Thank you in advance.

Greetings from New Zealand

Great lesson. Can I use the Chicago screw for vintage hand saw handle attachment? Thanks for the info.

Thank you for the great information ….. Now here is the million dollar question……..How do I remove a old rivet with a burr? They are rusted in a old steamer trunk. 😊

Great topic today’s John I learned something today. I have also seen on a KZhead channel which I don’t remember of a river center that looks like a C clamp any ideas on that

From a firsthand account, corn cob file handles are indeed Farmer approved.

Anyone interested to see steel rivets and peening can watch Dave Engel's Coach Shop. He uses steel rivets quite often on his projects. Also if you pay close attention to the tools on the wall in the background on Dave Engel's Coach Shop, you can spot a orignal ScoutCrafterized autowrench! Thanks for the rivet info. I never knew what to call the Chicago screws. I have a nice tray of them I scavenged from a pile of old carpet sales sample displays. They come in handy. I guess I should check out this Marty guy now.

You need an Induction Heater Tool, for those steel rivets! RIP Boy Scouts! =(

Got it...thanks....

Awesome video

Nice lesson

Like the Chicago rivets at least they can be removed, thank you!

I LOVE MARTY!!!

Many times when installing door closers we use what I've always called sex bolts. It's the same thing is Chicago screws.

Great to know! My neighbor's been feeding the deer so I've been finding dried up corn cobs around my place. Bonus is, I won't have to wait until July. Gotta love your "waste nothing" approach to things, Scout. Never heard them called Chicago screws, have heard them called "sex bolts". Now the question is: is a Chicago screw a sex bolt?

Another great video. Are rivets used to hold scales on knives? Can't wait till Friday. Thanks, John. Jim

Hello John, nice handle you know the corncob in the 1800’s people used it as insulation for the attic, TP too. 🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽

Sweet corn must be very expensive in New York? We usually don't eat it as close to the cob as you do. Appreciate the education on rivets, I was given a bunch of steel rivets and have never had much luck using them. Thought I needed to be taught better I guess I've been taught to avoid them.