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Author Topic: Wanted: Brass Rivets  (Read 12486 times)

Spinal

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Wanted: Brass Rivets
« on: 2013-10-18, 11:43:55 »
I need a few (2 for the armour + a few to screw up, so probably 5 or so) brass rivets.

I need them to match what's on the armour (fixing a torn buckle) - so domed/sphere/round head of 1/4" head diameter. Don't know the shaft diameter yet as I haven't taken the old ones out yet, but I'm guessing 1/8".

Ideally located in the UK :)

Anyone? (or locations where to find them?)

Sir Wolf

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #1 on: 2013-10-18, 12:22:34 »
http://www.rjleahy.com/ best place in the world for rivets.

Sir James A

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #2 on: 2013-10-18, 12:26:12 »
+1 on RJ Leahy

I think McMaster Carr still has them as well
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Spinal

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #3 on: 2013-10-18, 12:58:32 »
Thanks :)

Only issue is, for a few rivets shipping to the UK will be prohibitive...

You wouldn't happen to know anyone this side of the pond?

Sir Wolf

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #4 on: 2013-10-18, 13:11:31 »
contact Sir Gerard de Rodes on this forum. He's on your side of the fishing hole

Sir James A

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #5 on: 2013-10-18, 15:14:06 »
Ah, I didn't know it would be high on a small sized box. Sir Gerard is a great one to contact, possibly ping a few armorers from other there as well?
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Sir Gerard de Rodes

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #6 on: 2013-10-21, 15:52:00 »
Hi There Spinal,

I have answered your P.M. with a couple of suggestions.

Do you know what armorer made your harness/piece of armor ?
Most tend to use steel or copper to be honest.

A good rummage through the bay of E`s shows some results at reasonable prices for small quantities.
G.
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Spinal

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #7 on: 2013-10-22, 07:12:22 »
Pm re-PMed  :p

As for the armorer, not a clue! It all started with a late night ebay session... as do most of the more interesting things!

Had a rummage through ebay, but they are all pretty small, nothing in the size I'm looking for - will try Lancaster as suggested :)

Thanks,
M.

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #8 on: 2013-10-22, 08:03:21 »
If you have no luck there, try Mercia Sveiter, if anyone can get them it will be him.
G.
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Spinal

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #9 on: 2013-10-23, 07:58:14 »
Rivets found in the end :)

Now I just need to figure out how to set them...

Sir James A

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #10 on: 2013-10-23, 14:20:57 »
Rivets found in the end :)

Now I just need to figure out how to set them...

Depends if you want to hold something in place solidly, or if it's a pivot/articulating rivet. I can tell you either one. Might have time to make a video this weekend, though it's realllllly hard to do alone. Been meaning to do so, since I need to replace straps on my greaves anyway, and doing one articulation rivet for a video only takes a few minutes.
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Spinal

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #11 on: 2013-10-23, 14:26:03 »
Hold something in place solidly please!

I've wasted 5 rivets already... I think they are too long (they keep bending), but I've cut them at 1.5x the diameter of the rivet + the thickness of the materials. Maybe the leather isn't providing enough "support" for the sides?

If you do make a video, I'll be ever indebted to you!
M.

Sir James A

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #12 on: 2013-10-23, 14:42:52 »
Hold something in place solidly please!

I've wasted 5 rivets already... I think they are too long (they keep bending), but I've cut them at 1.5x the diameter of the rivet + the thickness of the materials. Maybe the leather isn't providing enough "support" for the sides?

If you do make a video, I'll be ever indebted to you!
M.

Okay, that one is somewhat easier than articulating.

If it's a domed head, it's best if it is sitting inside a dimple to keep it from moving around. Clip it off so that it is about as high above the washer as the diameter of the shaft, if not slightly less.

I like to clip mine off with a pair of bolt cutters. It leaves a nice "/\" on top.
I like to use a ball peen (domed head) hammer.
I like to start by tapping down on the outer edges at the top of the "/\". It mashes easily, and helps keep the washer held down in place.

After that, it's mostly a mushroom it out process. Once the washer is held down enough, work the sharp edge of the "/\" down a bit, then give the center of the rivet some solid smacks. That will swell the shank of the rivet so that it holds in place better. After that, keep tapping it down and "spreading" it a bit. What you want in the end is to "squish" the material out into something sort of like a countersunk screw head. Somewhat like "\=/", but where the top of it is flush. Just make sure you don't thin it out too much, or it won't hold as well.

I've seen some people say to make more of a "dome" on the inside too, instead of flat. I find flat easier, and I see flat on actual period pieces as well.

If they keep bending, it's likely they are too long. If it isn't that, then my guess is that it's not being held directly upright, and you're striking too hard and too far off center. I get bends when they are too long, primarily something like trying to go through canvas + steel + leather for shield strapping.
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Spinal

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #13 on: 2013-10-23, 14:57:58 »
Thanks - in this case it's steel-leather-leather-washer - so quite thick. I'll try again at some point, maybe trying to hit a little less hard. Don't have a ball hammer, but if I keep failing I may have to try that...

Sir James A

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Re: Wanted: Brass Rivets
« Reply #14 on: 2013-10-23, 15:07:45 »
I'd highly suggest steel washers, and not leather washers.

I can do articulation rivets with a regular claw hammer in a pinch. The solid ones don't go as well, but some people can do it. I'm not great with rivets, but, I'm passable. A ball peen hammer runs about $5 or so for a cheap one in the states, probably can find one for around 10 euros or less over there. You can find nice gel handles and such for $35 (50 euros) and up, but if it isn't a constant use thing, cheap one works fine.
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