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Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Buck riveting permits sloppy workmanship. The holes thru the metal don't have to be straight, the holes can be the wrong size, the rivet gun can be held at an angle, and all is forgiven, because the rivet swells.
Using Olympic rivets takes a little more care and technique.
The drilled holes must be reasonably straight, and the rivet gun must be held at 90 degrees from the metal.
Olympic rivets do not swell like buck rivets.
Olympic rivets should also have a small bead of Vulkem placed around the shank of the rivet, before it's inserted into the hole. When that is properly done, the Olympic rivet is sealed behind the head and around the shank, once the pin is pulled.
Buck riveting work must be sealed from the backside, therefore no sealer is under the rivet head or around it's shank.
Buck rivets are much cheaper than Olympic rivets.
Using a #21 drill bit for Olympic rivets is correct, not #20 as some choose to do. A #20 allows way too much slop for the rivet shank.
OLYMPICS WITH WASHERS IS AN ABSOLUTE NO NO.
Why???
The rubber washer deteriorates in time, and when it does, every rivet that used the washer, will leak. Who ever came up with the idea of using rubber washers with Olympic rivets, on an Airstream, did not think very far into the future. It at best, is a very poor way to do proper metal replacement.
Sloppy workmanship, is never an acceptable excuse when working on sheet metal replacement.
Segment replacements should have a bead of vulkem injected between the seams, then riveted. Same way with the lower and window sheets.
The roof sheet is handled differently. After all the rivets holes are drill in the roof sheet, the sheet is set aside so that all the metal shavings can be removed. Then, a good bead of Vulkem sealer is placed on every main bow and horizontal stringer, and on the adjoining metal. The roof sheet is then placed back into position and riveted with Olympics.
Using that procedure will insure a roof replacement, with NO leaks.
There is a specific technique that must be used, regardless of the type fastener, nails, screws, rivets and the like.
If not done properly, most any fastener system used, will become inadequate in short order.
Using Olympic rivets is a piece of cake, BUT, using the proper technique, is a must, since they are not as forgiving as a buck rivets, but they certainly have more than held up to the task.
Using Olympic rivets will hold an Airstream together just as well as buck rivets, any day.
35 plus years of use, more than demonstrates that fact.
Andy
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