this may sound like a noob question but over the months now i have made several things, tongs,shovles, stuff that needs rivets, i usually bolt em
because i have no clue where to get a rivit.. or how to make one, i was thinking of upsetting the end of a 1/4" rod but thats to small to upset without a jig, can i use bolts. and drive em through and use em like a rivet?

Thanks,
sabre

I use 1/4" stock for rivets. I useally upset one end , starting it by hand and if I dont get a big enough upset I`ll put iit in the vice and upset it more. (make sure you only leave a little above the jaws ,cause if you dont it"ll just bend).

Hey, Sabre:

Call me lazy, but rivets are something I "forge" using my McMaster Carr account. If -- for my next visit to a Ren Faire or an SCA meet -- I just GOTTA have hand-forged rivets, then yep, upsetting is the way to go. Local yellow heat on the end of a 1/4" rod and light taps; finish in a simple "heading jig," which in my case is a scrap rod offcut with a hole in its middle.

McMaster Carr is online, and they while they do have a minimum purchase requirement they've also got most rivets known to man. However, if there's an ACE HARDWARE nearby (or other "Mom 'n Pop," non-Home Depot type hardware store), try there. Look in their specialty fasteners bins, where my local Ace Hardware has a surprising variety of rivets available. Ask for "shovel rivets" or "solid rivets," or you'll be directed to the Pop rivets.

If you don't find rivets, look at the various bolts sold and see if one or more of the head styles available would make an acceptable finished product. It is possible to use a plain steel bolt as a jerry-rigged rivet, though expect the peened end to turn out a bit rough (even using a monkey tool); the threads are going to deform.

If you're around farming country, implement dealers will carry them.

I've used nails, cut off below the head, heat, insert, and form an opposing head by peining

Hey Sabre,

Lots o' places online to buy - Here's a few:

Round Head Rivets

Steel Round Rivets

Rivets - Jay-cee Sales & Rivet inc.

I have used 1/4" rod, and carriage head bolts just grind or machine the square shoulder down and you already have a nice head to start with! plus them bolts are normally a mild steel. I have also heard of using welding rods a pins and rivits.

Sabre,
It's pretty easy to make a rivit making jig for the vise. Take two pieces of metal, clamp them together with a couple of thicknesses of card stock between them, then drilll a 1/4" hole down the center of the card stock/metal. Make some sort of arrangement to hold them in allignment and so they'll stay in the vise like a spring swage, and a couple of locating pins. Then it'll clamp your 1/4" rod real nice without deforming it, and you can make rivets quite easy.

If your going to use bolts be careful if they are zinc coated, which a lot of em are, don't breath the fumes while the zinc is burning off.

welder19

The helmet I have posted to the gallery is riveted with short pieces of nail. I clamp them in the vise, round up a head with the ball end of a ball peen hammer and insert them. then do the round over to the other end.
Finnr

Tractor Supply carries rivets

hey check out Tractor Supply they have small rivets in various small sizes

well i went to ace hardware and , they had no clue what i was thinking about, they sent m to the pop rivet area, i managed to find guy that told me to go to a welding shop because they would have them......ill try making a jig and make some rivets tonight, ill also look up the place that the guy suggested....

Thanks alot for all the replys guys!!!!!

Centaur Forge in Wisconsin also carries an assortment of rivits.

Hello
try BP IO32

HOFI

Quick direct link to Uri Hofi Blueprint
BP1032 Hand Forged Rivet

Very cool!!!!,im goign to go make a riveting tool now!

well i went to ace hardware and , they had no clue what i was thinking about, they sent m to the pop rivet area, i managed to find guy that told me to go to a welding shop because they would have them......ill try making a jig and make some rivets tonight, ill also look up the place that the guy suggested....

Thanks alot for all the replys guys!!!!!

Sorry for the wild goose chase

I use the Ace Hardware in Fullerton, and they tried to sell me Pop rivets, too. I found the solid rivets in the store's specialty fasteners bins.

rivets are fun to make and as you have seen almost anything can be used. For wooden handles over flat metal ( like a knife) solid #6 copper wire works good cold and looks nice. kevin

well i went to fastneal and i orderd 50 1/4" by 1/2" solid plain buttonhead rivets,they gve me a huge catalog to look through, seems like ill be buying alot from there!