Solid rivet length

[chalcedon]

Hey there.
What length solid rivets should i use to re-attach Annabel the caravel's shell to the c channel.
Thanks.
Eric...

[markdoane]

I use 5 length. The formula for calculating is:

Rivet length = Thickness of materials + 1.5D

Where D is the rivet diameter.

In the case of my '59, the body/belly/channel are all .032", and I used 5/32" rivets, so the length would be 3×.032" + 1.5×0.156", or 0.3304".

Convert .03304" to 16ths gives a length of 5. (Rivets diameter is in 32nds, and length is in 16ths)

I used about 1 lb of 5 length, 1/2 lb of 6 length, and about 1/4 lb of 7 length.

You could also buy a rivet cutter and cut them to whatever length you need.

[Zeppelinium]

Markdoane,

Is 5/32 the standard exterior driven rivet diameter? I'm about to ditch my Vista View ports and will need to use the same holes to attach a replacement plate. For some reason, the driven rivets around the Vista Views "look" bigger than 5/32.

Roger

[markdoane]

Roger,

I haven't worked on Vista View windows, so I don't feel I can answer your question.

The original rivets in my trailer were 1/8" Brazier Head rivets, which I am replacing with 5/32" Universal Head rivets. Both have the same head diameter, so they look similar.