Setting Rivets In Difficult Places

[aquinn1989]

Hi all i make firefighter radio straps and harnesses. I am having a difficult time coming up with a good design on a radio harness that i can set rivets well. The press i have is not deep enough to let me set the bottom rivets. I will attach some pictures. I am having a difficult time setting the bottom rivets in the holster. Any pointers or ideas would be great!

Thanks

Alex

[Halitech]

Hate to say it but you might be looking at doing some by hand

[TinkerTailor]

Can you shorten the side flaps enough to fit the rivet machine in through the bottom corner holes?

[Chad Prince]

How about some Chicago Screws and a little Loctite?

[Halitech]

Chicago screws would be good but price just went up on materials compared to rivets

[aquinn1989]

Yeah i use Chicago screws in the two larger holes to hold some clip with Dees. I couldn't mind setting some by hand but i am unable to figure out a good way to have a solid surface to strike against that will fit inside the holster to allow for that. I think i will try shortening up the sides so i can get the press in there. Thanks for the pointers all, really appreciate the help.

[dirtclod]

I use a piece of 3/4 by one inch steel that is bent L shaped. To use it clamp it in vice and set the rivet in a hard to get at place.

[Wild Bill46]

Would it be possible, to drill a hole on each side of the press, if there are not any there already ?

and afix your press with bolts, to something sturdy where the jaws could hang over the front edge ?

This would allow you to insert the case onto the lower jaw, and thus able yourself to rivet ?

Just a thought ????????????? Hope this might help ? --- Wild Bill46

[Nuttish]

Wild Bill is right. That's how it's done.

Your little press is made out of cast iron — if you're doing a ton of riveting, I wouldn't trust the business end not to snap off if it's not supported by your bench or a piece of steel. It'll probably be fine for limited runs, but be very very mindful of any flexing at all.

You might consider having Metal Supermarket or similar or a machine shop fabricate a piece of 1/4"+ steel plate more or less the shape of the entire footprint of your press with the same hole pattern.

[Wild Bill46]

Nuttish - Thanx for your vote of support ! --- Wild Bill46

[Dwight]

I make similar boxes for cell phones, . . . magazine carriers, . . . etc.

I set the rivet by sliding a piece of lumber in the pouch, . . . then a 1/4 or 3/8 inch piece of flat stock steel, . . . one smack with a hammer, . . . rivet is set.

I can set that rivet with a hammer faster than I can even think about doing it with the setter.

Just the way I do things. . . . works for me.

May God bless,

Dwight

[TinkerTailor]

I make similar boxes for cell phones, . . . magazine carriers, . . . etc.

I set the rivet by sliding a piece of lumber in the pouch, . . . then a 1/4 or 3/8 inch piece of flat stock steel, . . . one smack with a hammer, . . . rivet is set.

I can set that rivet with a hammer faster than I can even think about doing it with the setter.

Just the way I do things. . . . works for me.

May God bless,

Dwight

I was going to post this exact thing when i got home to a real keyboard instead of my phone. Beat me to it.

It is also way faster than fiddling with chicago screws and much cheaper. To be honest i think double caps hammered flat hold way better than ones done with a setter to keep the dome.

[Red Cent]

i think double caps hammered

Tinker, what are double caps?

[Dwight]

I like to use the hammer and dome the outside piece, . . . but inside where it will rub on a gun magazine, . . . cell phone, . . . etc. . . . I prefer them to be flat.

I've got several pieces of steel and lumber out there in the shop, . . . some specifically sized to go right into the box.

I also made a tool that uses a small paper clip, . . . I slip the rivet into it, . . . goes down into the pouch and out the hole, . . . slip in the lumber, then the steel piece, . . . pull out the tool, . . . put on the cap, . . . SMACK, . . . done.

I believe it was an M14 magazine pouch that I first did this with.

Double cap rivets are what I've just always called rivets:

May God bless,

Dwight

[TinkerTailor]

i think double caps hammered

Tinker, what are double caps?

Double cap rivets