Subject: Re: [airstream] rivets
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 21:00:40 EDT
From: HtzgD@aol.com
Reply-To: airstream@h2eau.net
In a message dated 10/10/98 12:55:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
burke@micron.net writes:
There are principally two rivets sizes and types to deal with. The interior rivets are 1/8" pop rivets. Use only all aluminum rivets. Make sure the rivet tool you get has a tapered tip for the 1/8" size. The outside uses both 1/8" pop rivets in behind things. The visible rivets are buck rivets. That is when the coach was built the rivets were bucked into place. One person on the inside and one on the outside. Once the coach is built it is not generally possible to get to the inside of the outer skin.
So some evil genius came up with the Olympic replacement rivet. It is a 3/16" split side pop rivet. Set into place normally the devil is in the finishing. In order to seal and obtain the original appearance of the buck rivet it is necessary to finish the head of the Olympic rivet with a special tool. A very expensive special tool. That tool is one of the major reasons very few RV service facilities will take on Airstream body work.
Back in January I corresponded with a Ben Wormington from Ben Wormington Fasteners, Inc. on the Olympic Rivets. Although I have not purchased any as yet, he seemed to know his stuff. To his Airstream customers he typically sells either a 5/32" or 3/16" diameter rivet (for enlarged holes). He also can help you with the special tool for "shaving" the rivet head ($175).
Because of the cost a lot of people just hand dress the rivets using sanding supplies.
It's been a few months but he may still be at: benw@nfinity.com
Don H. #5277