Smooth interior walls /hiding rivets

[tr0y]

Hi All -

I am new here and looking for your expertise...

I was wondering if anyone had ground down and smoothed out interior walls to hide rivets to give the interior walls a totally smooth look ? I was thinking grind them down a bit and then feather in Bondo or a similar material like you would with drywall mud to hide the fasteners. Am I crazy ? Any thoughts ?

I did some searching in the forums but did not find anything.

Troy

[ventport]

If you grind them it will compromise their strength. If you cover them with body filler they do move a little with temperature changes and road vibration. I think you would see them after a few trips down one of our fine worn out highways.

[Phrunes]

Originally Posted by tr0y

Hi All -

I am new here and looking for your expertise...

I was wondering if anyone had ground down and smoothed out interior walls to hide rivets to give the interior walls a totally smooth look ? I was thinking grind them down a bit and then feather in Bondo or a similar material like you would with drywall mud to hide the fasteners. Am I crazy ? Any thoughts ?

I did some searching in the forums but did not find anything.

Troy

Rivets are cool!

[Darkspeed]

You can get some types of vinal / pleather upholstery material that has a 1/8 or thicker foam backer. When you glue this in as a wall covering it will for the most part make the rivet heads disappear

[BIGED52]

Originally Posted by tr0y

Hi All -

I am new here and looking for your expertise...

I was wondering if anyone had ground down and smoothed out interior walls to hide rivets to give the interior walls a totally smooth look ? I was thinking grind them down a bit and then feather in Bondo or a similar material like you would with drywall mud to hide the fasteners. Am I crazy ? Any thoughts ?

I did some searching in the forums but did not find anything.

Troy

Troy, Don't grind them as your interior panels wil POP (pun intended) off the wall segment ribs and you will do a lot of harm that will be a pita to repair! If you can't stand the look of them the only real choice is to place an interior covering over the entire exposed interior and that would be difficult at best. Get used to them and make them your friends. Ed

[worldinchaos]

Originally Posted by BIGED52

If you can't stand the look of them the only real choice is to place an interior covering over the entire exposed interior and that would be difficult at best. Get used to them and make them your friends. Ed

What he's trying to say is treat rivets like your in-laws.

[Gringo]

what a riveting idea.

[Aerowood]

Use flush rivets

[Gringo]

hmm...how many would you have to drill out and replace?

don't the true flush riveting jobs like on aircraft wings, require a corresponding dimple in the skin? which would mean you need access to both sides, right?

[deauxrite]

Very bad idea. The first road trip will (if you get that far) will result in some unintended consequences...your interior walls will separate from the structure and you will have a major mess on your hands.