Air Riveting tools

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I restore old 47-54 chevy trucks and I am trying to figure out how to re-rivet the old crossmembers, shock mounts, structural supports after repairing rust damage. Does anyone have experience with doing this? I want to keep things original so no bolts. Thanks!
Reply:When you are talking about air tools, Air pop rivet guns wont cut it.  Are you talking about trying to peen the head of a red hot steel rivet?
Reply:I believe those rivets were cold set.  You'll need a rivet squeezer . . . a hydraulic one to handle the large size.Dynasty 300DXSmith He/Ar gas mixerMM350PHobart Handler 120Smith LW7, MW5, AW1A
Reply:That thing could give you a BIG ouchBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:There's a tool I don't have
Reply:'Cures even the worst acne in 6 seconds or less' . . . But can you get the 'fingernail' attachment?:-) :-)- Tim
Reply:Its not practical to go with the machine above, so hot riveting, relatively inexpensive riveting hammer, etc. Does anyone have any experience with this? how are you backing up the rivet for hammering? where do you get your rivets? what hammer is your choice? You know, the obvious reason for posting the question in the first place? lol!
Reply:Try one of the groups involved in restoring steam tractors.  The boilers are all hot riveted.  Darke County Steam Threshers owns a rivet gun and a small forge for heating them.  There is probably a similar group near you.Dynasty 300DXSmith He/Ar gas mixerMM350PHobart Handler 120Smith LW7, MW5, AW1A
Reply:You can hand set hot rivets with just a hammer and something like a dolly to back it up. If you have access to a lathe, it's easy to make  a rivet set or buck. I made a crude fast set for my forging class. The instructor had a full set of pneumatic rivet guns and bucks he uses for large scale industrial architectural pieces at his shop. All the commercial one is, is an over sized air hammer with a "bit" that has the shape you want the head of the rivet to be. The buck on the back side is simply a block with a shape machined into it to match the rivet head.I think my Machinery Handbook has a section detailing sizes and shapes of common rivets, but I can't locate my copy this evening..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:If you gou to McMaster Carr You should be able to get the rivets, a handheld dome punch or anything else.  You may need someone else to hold the rivet with a hammer or dolly.  Eastwod may have a solution too, but I haven't checked them out.
Reply:7A749:  Thanks for the mention!Deve: I generally work with aluminum, which for the large part can be set 'cold.' (without heat).  I don't routinely work in steel rivets, but since I do routinely go to Metal Meets (local metalshaping weekends) and routinely get asked to give a riveting demonstration.  Most of those guys are working on cars and want information like what you do...how to authentically rivet vintage frames and fenders.  So, I've begun a little research into that area (but I do NOT claim to be an expert on this yet).Here is an early Ford riveting specialist...I'll direct you to his website.  Here is a page with some relevant material...http://www.bigflatsrivet.com/install.htmlI have some pneumatic squeezers for my riveting work, but they are primarily for squishing solid aluminum rivets in aeroplane-like projects...But I do stuff more like this...Hope the link helps some!  I knew early Ford guys needed rivets for their frames (Model A's and T's), hadn't heard of Chevy guys needing them.  Looking forward to seeing how you handle this.I know...this is a welding forum (and I am teaching myself OA welding)...so you will have to follow the link in my sig, if you want to see more of my work.KevLast edited by Machine_Punk; 02-21-2013 at 12:38 AM.Kevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio