bobasaurus Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I made this rivet heading/upsetting tool today based vaguely on pictures I saw online. I think it will work all right, I plan on using it to make some tong rivets soon. Stupidly, the center of mass makes the spring side dip down when trying to clamp it in the post vise... I might shorten it up someday so it doesn't take 3 hands to use this thing. I'll also take a die grinding bit to the countersinks and round them over some more tomorrow. I clamped a shim in the jaws when drilling the holes so they will grip the rod well. The holes are 1/4, 3/8, 5/16, and 1/2". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel OF Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Are those wings you've welded on the sides so you can put it in the vise and hit down without it slipping through the vise because they rest on top? Especially as you mention countersinking the holes - I would identidy that more as a tenon making tool or a tool for rounding up bar to a specific diameter - but it should serve you as a riveting tool. If those wings are welded on for the reason I guessed, you may find you get twice the bang for your buck if you cut them off and instead use it over your pritchel hole, claming it shut with some G clamps. That would then also allow you to rotate the tool 90 degrees and use it vertically as my above mentioned tenon making tool. Unless you have a friend to hold the tool you'll want to weld a hardy shank to the underside of the bottom spring arm. I would suggest only countersinking the holes on one side, then the tool can be turned/flipped either way to give you 2 different types of shoulder on your bar. It's easy for those sorts of tools to flex out of alignment so I'd also be tempted to get it all aligned right, clamp it shut, then weld a small piece of flat stock to the bottom die so it covers the seam line, at the opposite end to the handles. That'll prevent the top die sliding over the bottom die and the holes becoming misaligned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Great tool. And used for tenon's and to size bars. An example Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalmangeler Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 My rivet heading tools have the spring on the bottom so they sit well in the vice. I made them with one tool for each size, less options more tools. I really like having the shoulders on my rivet heading tools. I also have tendon tools I have not used them interchangeably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genesaika Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I have a question for y'all. Could a pipe flaring tool be used for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel OF Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I had to Google image search it - I can see why you'd wonder that. My guess is no. The ones I found don't seem to have much mass to them so I'd imagine they'll deform or split - depending on what they're made from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 That would be my guess as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genesaika Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I might give it a try anyway and report back on my findings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Take before and after photos, in case there's some photogenically catastrophic failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 11 hours ago, genesaika said: I have a question for y'all. Could a pipe flaring tool be used for this? The pipe flaring tools require you to secure them with wing nuts. I don't think it would work, by the time you get the stock secured it would be too cool and you probably would have several burns to boot. A lineman's crimping tool will work for small rivets and nail heading though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Hmm. Well if its not a chrome plated flaring tool then maybe weld algle iron and a U spring to it to use in the vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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