commanderpete

Thanks for the help. Here's a few pictures. Like an idiot, I applied sealant in the gap between the two teak rudder boards (you need to leave room for the wood to swell when wet). The gap just got wider over the years. I cleaned out the gap, but couldnt tighten up the drift pins (they're threaded on one end) I was afraid of cracking the wood So I cut and pounded out the drift pins and I'm making new ones. The end that gets peened over is where it goes through the shaft

Greetings all. I was wondering if you could help a newbie. I haven't been able to find much information on how to peen metal. I'm making some "drift pins" that go through the wooden rudder on my old boat, using 3/8" silicon bronze rod. I need to peen over the ends where it passes through the rudder shaft (cant use fasteners). Basically, I'm trying to form a head on the end of the bronze rod. From what I've heard, you need to heat the metal, but not red hot. Then pound away to mushroom the end. Any other tips I should know? Would it help to drill a small hole in the end of the rod so it flattens out better? Thanks for any advice Peter