When trying to set a rivet in a tough spot I take a piece of similar stock, drill and lightly countersink a hole in it to seat the head without damage, and clamp it to the head side with a vice grips. Make it long enough to keep it out of the way, and out of the heat. Put the piece in the forge to heat the other end of the rivet to be peened, this way the rivet won't fall out when you have to flip it over on the anvil or rivet set to put the peen on the the top end. If you keep the head end cool it will not deform, a quick squirt of water will help with this. I use heavy enough stock on the "helper" that I can lay that side on the anvil and actually hammer on it. Also prevents the cool head of the rivets from denting the anvil.
I may post some pictures if this seems confusing?
To heat the end to be peened it has to be down in the forge, but you have to flip it over to hammer it. I have dropped so many rivets trying to flip them over on the anvil to hammer them, even harder to position in a rivet set.
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Jeff Phillips
Silver Moon Forge
"Perfection is easier to expect, than it is to achieve"
Last edited by unkle spike; 07-13-2008 at 11:13 AM.
Reason: aint writing so good this morning (confusing myself)
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