How To Finish A Rivet?

[NightrainSrt4]

This question follows very much like the title. The case I am building is plexi with an aluminium frame. Dont quite have enough progress to start a log I think so bare with me.

My question is just this. When you are riveting, how do you get a nice finish on the rivet. When you just use the gun, they all pop in different depths, and some are like cut along an angle when they pop. I tried not letting them pop and then cutting the mandrel with the dremel. but when I get closer to the bottom, my hand isnt all that steady and i scrape the bottom of the rivet. Im gonna use a higher grit sandpaper and try to make the ones I have look better. (I practiced on the rivets on the bottom of the case for that method...so no harm done. Dont think it will look bad, but just not sure its perfect)

One way Ive been thinking of that I might try later today, is to just let the rivet pop, and then take a narrow drill bit and drill out the mandrel to an equal depth on each rivet. That might be the best way to do it for me perhaps?

How do each of you make your rivets look so perfect?

[Spawn-Inc]

well i would practice this first but put an unpopped rivet in a vice (don't clamp to hardor even at all really. then hit the mandrel with a hammer and look were they make it weak, cut ahead of it just a bit then place the mandrel back into the rivet. then try and see how much comes out. if you can get it right you won't see it like you want.

[NightrainSrt4]

cut ahead of it just a bit then place the mandrel back into the rivet. then try and see how much comes out. if you can get it right you won't see it like you want.

I think I understood you up until that point.

Im gonna hop in the shower to clean off a bit, then Im going to procede building the case. I'll try the method of drilling the mandrel to an even depth and report back on that.

I would try the way you mentioned, but I dont really understand it.

What I really wanted was to make the mandrel even and smooth with the head of the rivet, but...that didnt really work out the way I wanted so Ill try the making it an even depth inside the rivet by drilling into the mandrel once it pops

[Spawn-Inc]

looks like its off to paint,

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/6684/2442644980100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

then place the rivet back onto the mandrel. by cutting it ahead of there cut it should pop off deeper so you won't have to drill it.

[calumc]

if you want a proper finish and you have access to the back of the rivet try and get a rivet bolster. i don't have a clue where you'd get one or if you can even get them any more ( the ones i've used are very old and used for making the heads on steel snap-head rivets) They're basically a steel rod with a dome in one end to give you a nice dome on your rivet!

[Spawn-Inc]

like this right.
http://stenguns.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/rivetgrp.gif

that wouldn't be worth the trouble. (assuming its hard to find the tool that rivets them)

[moon111]

One could also consider using copper rivets. One side is round, the other side you cut with a pair of side cutters then hammer with a dished punch.

[NightrainSrt4]

Thanks Spawn. I might try that. Is that the way you do your rivets? I just think that the rivets look mighty crappy when they arent similar to each other, some cutting off jagged and such.

For those who use rivets in their cases, how do you get them to be uniform and look nice, or is that just a detail that you dont really notice less you get up really close so im just being picky lol.

[Spawn-Inc]

i never did it with mine cause i don't care about it too much, i found them to be pretty uniform. plus i am going to get some black touch up paint and paint the heads. if you wanted to you could even bondo in the holes and make it round like the rivets i posted above, though you would have to paint them to cover the bondo.

[$loth]

if you wanted to you could even bondo in the holes and make it round like the rivets i posted above, though you would have to paint them to cover the bondo.


What I was going to say, bondo it, sand it and paint it.

[NightrainSrt4]

Hmmmmmmmmm....

You guys may have just convinced me to paint the aluminium, not sure yet though...

I originally wanted the aluminium frame to stay the way it is, but now that im thinking about it I think I may paint it black...

1. My desk is black painted metal, and glass....and the pc is under the right portion of the desk. A matching black and clear case might be a nice touch.

2. All the drives and such are going to be painted black...so if the frame is black it might help everything blend together some.

3. Ive been getting quite frustrated/semi depressed that the case isnt coming out perfect...I know it is a basic case, butwhen I see everyone elses cases, i just want it to be perfect. I guess if i paint it, I can cover up some of the imperfections with the metal Im using and maybe I wont get so stressed about it being perfect.



I think I will use a matte black, and try to keep it a little textured...that way the case is similar to the desk...


Thanks...now the case is startign to take a turn and I may have just gotten a little motivated.

Now to take out the rivets of the one side panel I had already put together...

Thanks

Not sure if Ill bondo, but with black I wont notice so many imperfections, least in my eyes.

I hope lol