ready for rivets

[air66stream]

My floor project is coming along on my 66 Overlander. I am ready to start going back together. I need to get some rivets ordered, but I am not sure what sizes/types to order. Reading the posts only confused me more. I need the beige rivets for the interior skin. Are these standard, or is there a specific length and diameter? I will need what seems to be slightly larger ones for the exterior and belly pan, and some olympics for the exterior that I had to remove to get the floor out. Is this enough info, or do I need to email Airstream? What sizes do I need, and do they have a specific name? And I guess while I am at it, what is the best source to get the rivets? Tom

[azflycaster]

Rivets can be found at many places. Here is one:
Vintage Trailer Supply - Vintage travel trailer parts and supplies!
I am sure others will add there favorite locations as well.

[Zeppelinium]

Good luck on finding beige rivets. All I've ever found are the white ones.

Yes, you need various lengths and diameters. First, get the "big head" pop rivets from Vintage Trailer Supply to do the belly pan. I can't remember if they are 5/32 or 3/16, but whatever, they are the right ones. You only use these big head rivets on the belly.

Next you need lots of 1/8" pop rivets. 30% short, 50% medium, and 20% long. These are the standard sizes. Shorts are for two pieces of skin. Mediums will do when you have two pieces of skin and a rib. Longs are for everything else. You will find yourself using mediums when you should really be using shorts.

Also, make sure you have a handful of 5/32" pop rivets (not big head) for those places where the previous 1/8" rivet hole has been elongated/deformed. Drill it out to the next size and use the bigger rivet.

Make sure all your rivets are aluminum. The same sizes are available in steel and will cause galvanic corrosion. You can get the 1/8" rivets, in all three sizes, at most any hardware store. But they are in small quantities and expensive. Go with Vintage Trailer Supply (they are friends to the community) or Aircraft Spruce and Specialty. I'm sure you can Google other suppliers.

Zep

[Ganglin]

Was there ever such a thing as beige rivets or were they white and just yellowed over time.

[bjond]

Simply stick a number of rivets in a piece of cardboard and spray paint them your favorite shade. Try not to paint the stem that breaks off as the paint can gum up the rivet gun.

[Zeppelinium]

Originally Posted by jbond

... Try not to paint the stem that breaks off ...

All hail to the polishing King, but how the heck do you do that?

Zep

[Jim Lee]

You might want to try going to Fastenal, a nuts and bolt store. I got all the hardware necessary to re-do our 78 sovereign there. At a reasonable price for rivets, screws, etc. They were comparable priced on the belly pan rivets and no shipping.
A good investment for re-doing an Airstream: an air compressor and an air operated rivet gun. I borrowed my brother-in-law's gun and it sure saved my hands! Also, no rebound like from a hand operated gun.

Jim

[thecatsandi]

aircraft spruce Home built and certified aircraft supply house.
Solid Aluminum Rivets from Aircraft Spruce

[adonh]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

aircraft spruce Home built and certified aircraft supply house.
Solid Aluminum Rivets from Aircraft Spruce

What hardware do you need to install the solid rivet?

Thanks

Don

[thecatsandi]

Depends,
Can to get a both sides? A rivet squeezer or a rivet gun and bucking bars. For a few rivets I would suggest goign to the airport and having an Aircraft mechanic do it for you. Slip him a $20 and call it good.

[davenpow]

adonh, if your reference to "solid" rivets is the once on the outside sheel of your AS those a pop-tivets that have been shaved down. See Vintage for the shaver.
ted