Solid Rivets

[Freedom]

  NoahL said:

NOW I'm quite intrigued! I know that there are two types of bluing--cold bluing and hot bluing--but I don't know how to do either one. Can you point me to some tutorials? Thanks!

Hot blueing is not what you are after...

You can just go into most sporting goods stores and by a little bottle of liquid bluing(cold blue)...it is pretty cheap and it will last a looong time. They sell it in tubes but the little bottles of liquid are better for what you want it for.

Just take a Q-tip and wipe some on your rivet head, they will turn color almost instantly. You may need to wipe them with alchohol ect. to take off any oils first, but other than that it is easy and gives a nice antique look. You can do it several times if you have stuborn spots that don't want to color.

[NoahL]

  Freedom said:

Hot blueing is not what you are after...

You can just go into most sporting goods stores and by a little bottle of liquid bluing(cold blue)...it is pretty cheap and it will last a looong time. They sell it in tubes but the little bottles of liquid are better for what you want it for.

Just take a Q-tip and wipe some on your rivet head, they will turn color almost instantly. You may need to wipe them with alchohol ect. to take off any oils first, but other than that it is easy and gives a nice antique look. You can do it several times if you have stuborn spots that don't want to color.

Thank you very much! I will definitely have to look into doing that! I appreciate everyone's help

[Saddlebag]

You might find what you are looking in skate supplies as rivets are used to secure blades to the boots.

[Trevor]

Hey there Noah.

Ive been putting in rivets for a long time and we have an aluminium rivet which is very similar to the copper rivet and burr that you see available. But

the aluminium is much easier to set and looks great. All those rivets that you are talking about will be very hard to set against leather. It will only take so much pressure. and a steel rivets could rust and look like crap.

If you want I can show you some pics of the aluminium ones and maybe ship them up to you. They come in two sizes which is about half inch and three quarter inch with a washer.

simply put the washer on.....hammer the end so the rivet fattens slightly and then use the setter to force the washer all the way down and stay down, then cut off with side cutters and finish with setting the head with the rounded side of the tool.

I use them for heaps of jobs that need a good solid and very sturdy rivet which looks OK.

Get back to me if you are interested

Cheers

Trevor

"Way Down Under"

[Rayban]

Noah....would Chicago screws work for your application? I use them instead of the snaps to fasten the buckle in place.

Also....I think you are under estimating the rapid rivets.....they do come in a couple different sizes.

If you would take a couple small pieces of leather and fasten them together with a couple rapid rivets, you would be surprised at what it takes to destroy the bond. It usually takes me a drill and pliers.

[NoahL]

Haha, wow, I had forgotten about this thread! Well, thanks to all three of you for your suggestions. Since this thread, I've decided on using Chicago Screws, since those are easy to find and readily available. As far as the rapid rivets being tough--I was more concerned with them deforming than with actual hardware failure, due to the type of pressure that would have been placed on them in this particular application. Thanks again, everyone!

~Noah