rivets

[nwclassic]

Can someone give me some info or direct me re rivets w/brand name Olympic? I read a post in the last two weeks that referred to them in mounting solar panels -- saying they were preferable to pop rivets for a number of reasons. Anyway, I'd like to learn about them and where to get them. Thanks in advance. Brian

[Bubbla]

Brian try this company: http://www.bylerrivet.com/
They have bin very helpfull to me. Very fast service
alex

[femuse]

Here is an other source for Olympic rivets:

http://www.hansonrivet.com/

Read this on Olympic rivets:

http://www.airforums.com/forum...hlight=olympic

Chantal

[68 Overlander]

Ive been selling them for quite awhile for $19.75 per 100 with the neoprene washer. Not sure if that's the best price out there, but I think it is. The best thing going is the Flipper rivet tool by the same company (Gesipa) that makes the rivets. 40% less effort than a standard manual rivet setter.
Randy

[nwclassic]

Alex, Chantal, Randy ... many thanks. Just what I needed!
Randy -- Is there a phone#/time I can reach you?
Brian

[68 Overlander]

334-347-2063 anytime. If I miss your call, leave your number and I'll call you back.
Randy

[Inland RV Center, In]

It "is not" recommended to use olympic rivets with washers.

Reason.

The washer do not last forever. They will dry out which in turn will allow a water leak. Not just one here or there, but all of them.

If the factory wants to use them, that's fine. They have to warranty the repair.

Place that repair in the hot desert, and watch what happens, very quickly.

A far superior way is to use regular olympics, and vulkem sealer.
Run a small bead of vulkem on a metal plate. Turn the shank of the rivet, just below the head, into the vulkem. This will put a small circle of sealer underneath the rivet head. Insert the rivet, and install it. Any excess sealer can easily be removed.

We all know that vulkem is almost ageless. Additionally, it will "NEVER" harden or crack. Therefore, it will never leak.

Using the washer type olympic, is a short term fix, that is less than an optimum repair.

We have replaced thousands of the washer type, that were causing rain water leaks.

Beware of what seems to be an "easy" fix. It won't hold water, over time.

I know, I know, there are the washer believers. But the test of time, says otherwise.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com
airstreamcandy.com

[68 Overlander]

Yes, I can see where in dry enviornments, that could happen in time. I use both washers AND vulkem and haven't had any problems. I also remind people that the washers are easy to remove if you prefer not to use them on some areas of the trailer and do on others.
Randy

[nwclassic]

Andy -- Good info, thanks for chiming in.
Brian

[wb13798]

thnx andy
i have a small leak and i think i know which river that needs replacing with vulkem. was going to use the rubbergasket. lol
al

[Bfrank]

What if any is the shelf life of vulkem. I have heard that it has a shelf life of about 90 days is this true ? Is it the best sealer to use to stop leaks?

[Inland RV Center, In]

The shelf life of any sealant is a function of the environment that it is kept in. If kept cool, vulkem will last a year or better, on the shelf.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com
airstreamcandy.com

[joecmm]

I just replaced three sections of the front of my Excella,I used 400 olympic rivets and 1 tube of Parbond, bought all the supplies from inlandrv and Andy hooked me up, its nice to deal with somebody that knows his stuff! Thanks Andy!