Rivet Help

[Jwestman]

I apologize if this has been covered somewhere before but if it has I can't find it.

I have 3 interior rivets missing in the area between the door and galley in our 2012 flying cloud 25fb.

My local dealer has only rivets in bulk and the airstream store is sold out on rivet kits.

Can anyone tell me what I need and how to install those three rivets?

Thanks!!

[Hittenstiehl]

Go to a Airstream gathering anywhere and likely multiple friendly types will volunteer to put them in for you free of charge.

[Jwestman]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Go to a Airstream gathering anywhere and likely multiple friendly types will volunteer to put them in for you free of charge.

I'd like to learn how to do it myself. I've lost a few before and have taken it into the shop but this time of year it is a long wait.

[Hittenstiehl]

Sounds reasonable always good to have those skills.

Check VTS for good rivet guns or any HD, Lowes, Ace, will have basic hand squeeze guns. Ace, Fastenal, Aircraft Spruce has the rivets or a fellow Airstreamer will send you a few gratis. Someone here will tell what size you need for the spot in question and you tube has great step by step videos for the actual method of install.

[dbj216]

Hi Jwestman from Grand Rapids. It is a very pretty little city in the heart of Michigan.

The rivets inside your Airstream are "Pop" (brand name) rivets, but more commonly called blind rivets. They are very easy to remove and install, and almost never come loose.

Your local hardware store will sell you some in a package of 25, or a package of 100. It might be the rivets you want to replace are painted white. You can buy those also. Rivets are not very expensive.

You will want 1/8" diameter rivets with an 1/8" grip range. The rivets are marked on the package. 1/8 diameter, 5/32 diameter, and 3/16 diameter are common sizes for Airstreams and many other applications. Too bad they just don't list them as 4/32, 5/32, and 6/32 diameter so we don't have to convert fractions.

You need to spend $25 on a hand rivet tool. Stanley makes a good one, but others will work fine too. This rivet tool will pull the stem of the rivet to tighten it up after you insert the rivet in the hole. And then "pop", the stem breaks and your rivet is tight. The rivet tool will install blind rivets up to 1/4, or 8/32 diameter.

Then insert the rivet into the hole, place the rivet tool over the stem of the rivet, and squeeze it until it pops. Do enough of these and you'll get Popeye forearms!

All Airstreamers have a supply of Pop rivets and a rivet tool. It's just part of the game. You'll have it for years.

David

[AWCHIEF]

I found it impossible to find all aluminum rivets locally so I buy mine from Vintage Trailer Supply. My rivit gun came from Lowes. They should be a normal part of every Airstreams owners on the road tool kit.

[dbj216]

My stores around here do carry aluminum pop rivets. They also carry steel. Make sure you buy the aluminum rivets for your aluminum trailer.

David

[Jwestman]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Hi Jwestman from Grand Rapids. It is a very pretty little city in the heart of Michigan.

The rivets inside your Airstream are "Pop" (brand name) rivets, but more commonly called blind rivets. They are very easy to remove and install, and almost never come loose.

Your local hardware store will sell you some in a package of 25, or a package of 100. It might be the rivets you want to replace are painted white. You can buy those also. Rivets are not very expensive.

You will want 1/8" diameter rivets with an 1/8" grip range. The rivets are marked on the package. 1/8 diameter, 5/32 diameter, and 3/16 diameter are common sizes for Airstreams and many other applications. Too bad they just don't list them as 4/32, 5/32, and 6/32 diameter so we don't have to convert fractions.

You need to spend $25 on a hand rivet tool. Stanley makes a good one, but others will work fine too. This rivet tool will pull the stem of the rivet to tighten it up after you insert the rivet in the hole. And then "pop", the stem breaks and your rivet is tight. The rivet tool will install blind rivets up to 1/4, or 8/32 diameter.

Then insert the rivet into the hole, place the rivet tool over the stem of the rivet, and squeeze it until it pops. Do enough of these and you'll get Popeye forearms!

All Airstreamers have a supply of Pop rivets and a rivet tool. It's just part of the game. You'll have it for years.

David

That is exactly the info I was looking for! Thank you. I was looking at the Stanley tool yesterday but couldn't figure out the right rivet size.

Glad you liked GR. I'm an old Duluth boy so have a fond preference for Northern Minnesota but West Michigan is a beautiful place to live and airstream.