Faux Rivets!!!!

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I've been asked to bid a welding/fab job on an industrial furniture project.  I was sent a pic of a similar project but don't want to post it here because I'm not sure of history/copyright issues.Now for my problem, looks like a lot of rivets (1/2 to 3/4" heads).  I'm not a rivet fan, but........if  right money is there, oh well!Anyone have a source of rivets or a preferred installation method?  Bunches of blind hole drilling if I try to install short wedge rivets.  If I do the job they will have to look authentic, so any thoughts would be appreciated.The job is probably mine if I want it, just don't know if I want it
Reply:Do they have to be functional or just look right ?
Reply:How about these. 1st two options would work either as structural or fake rivets. The solid rivets you'd have to heat and upset the back to use them as structural rivets. "Simple" way is to heat them in a forge, insert hot, back the head up with a bucking bar and peen the back over with an air gun. You could also insert them cold, heat with a torch and then buck and upset the heated end. I've also seen guys use solid rivets as fakes by simply countersinking the back plate and mig welding them in place.http://www.hansonrivet.com/drive-screws.htmhttp://www.hansonrivet.com/drive-rivets.htmhttp://www.hansonrivet.com/commercial-solid-rivets.htm.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by BlueweldersDo they have to be functional or just look right ?
Reply:kuzineddieFor the rustic/industrial look - this a good source.http://www.blacksmithbolt.com/store/c/52-Rivets.aspxOpus
Reply:Doug and Opus...very handy rivet sites, thanks for posting them.
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseDoug and Opus...very handy rivet sites, thanks for posting them.
Reply:Thanks for the information Doug and Opus!  I will look into both!  I've been looking too and was wondering about this style, a button straight neck.  Just trying to find a way to eliminate some of the labor in this kind of build.  Drill a couple thousandths small and drive in, cut then grind? Attached Images
Reply:no way to weld them from the back and then grind flush?AWS CWI xxxx21711968 SA200  Originally Posted by WelderMike  I hate being bipolar, It's awesome.
Reply:or something like thishttp://www.mcmaster.com/#90081a310/=10gggmkAWS CWI xxxx21711968 SA200  Originally Posted by WelderMike  I hate being bipolar, It's awesome.
Reply:Originally Posted by AFFENDEno way to weld them from the back and then grind flush?
Reply:Tools aren't that hard to make. What I have done in the past when I needed to get a shape similar to the factory head was use one rivet is my "form". I'd drill a plate or bar and insert the rivet so it's flush. Them I'd take my "tool" and heat the end red/orange hot and drive it down on top of the rivet head to create the dome. Predrilling undersized helps the rivet center where you want it and means you have to displace less material. Usually I just spot it with the tip of a bit.I'll have to look in the shop. I know I have one rivet tool half finished waiting for final forming. I just have to dig it out and find where my bag of rivets went.Heads can also be hammered by hand, though it takes a bit of practice to get consistent results. Rule of thumb is to have 1 1/2 times the diameter extending past the base. So if you have a 1/4" shank rivet, you need 3/8" extending to form your head in most cases.They do make headers that go in air hammers/ chipping guns. Most I've seen are for larger 15-30 lb guns and are used to drive large rivets.I've also seen them done in a press. Dome tool is set up in the press, then rivet is inserted and then backed and the head is formed when the press simply squeezes the back to shape.Thinking back, here's another place that has steel rivets, but their selection isn't all that great. I think I got a few selected sizes from them last time I ordered from them.http://www.centaurforge.com/Steel-Rivets/products/223/Oh, one other piece of useful info on rivets. When buying rivets, buy them over length. It's easy to shorten say 2" long rivets to match a job. That means you don't have to stock 3 or 4 lengths of a given diameter if you only use rivets occasionally. The only time I buy "short" rivets is if I know I'll need a bunch all the same size for one specific job. No sense in shortening 100 rivets from 1 1/2" to 7/8"  ( 2 pcs of 1/4"stock plus 1.5x 1/4" shank for upset)  if I don't have to..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I have used 20d nails with with good success.
Reply:Thanks DWS, that's really good information to know!  The problem as I see it is this project could easily take more than 200 3/4" dia. Head rivets.  There will be multiple 3/16"-1/4" plate flanges broke at about 1 1/2" where the rivets will pass through.  Rather tight to hold and form with a hammer I would think. I'm starting to have doubts on this project as the time frame will be fairly tight, I don't really want to be beating on rivets at 2:00 AM in the morning!More thinking today then!
Reply:If truely faux, then braze or glue(epoxy) them in place. A little silver goes a long way .  Can rivets be installed before braking?
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderIf truely faux, then braze or glue(epoxy) them in place. A little silver goes a long way .  Can rivets be installed before braking?
Reply:My buddy just made a desk and did some faux rivots in some tubing. We used green 609 loctite with the proper primer on a slightly undersize hole so they press fit. Worked great, easy to repair if needed and looked great.Sent from my XT1080 using TapatalkAWS 17.1, D1.1 and ASME IX (GTAW)Miller Syncrowave 350LX, Maxstar 150sth, Maxstar 200DX and  Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 30aMiller buzz box with Lincolin TombstoneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick_HMy buddy just made a desk and did some faux rivots in some tubing. We used green 609 loctite with the proper primer on a slightly undersize hole so they press fit. Worked great, easy to repair if needed and looked great.Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
Reply:I'm in the middle of making a distressed looking wooden headboard for a king sized bed, with some blackened steel bands and faux rivets.  The "rivet look" I'm using in old wooden planks are cut-off heads of old rail road spikes.   Nice big fat looking rivets.  .   I have about 400 of them in a milk crate.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member