Re: [VAL] Which Olympic rivets?

[Mitch Hill <fmhill@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Look at the rivets listed on the Airstreamdreams.com site, they are the 
correct rivets. I believe what you want is a 5-5 rivet for exterior work on 
your Airstream.  The first number is dia in 1/32 inch, most Airstreams I 
have seen use a 5/32" rivet shank diameter on the exterior hence the 5-5 
instead of 4-5 size, its the right size as used on my '64.

www.airstreamdreams.com web site has the technical dimensions of the 
Olympic rivets on line if this helps resolve your question.

One question that has been debated is the use of the type with the neoprene 
washer or not, I use them, however they take a bit more skill to use 
properly as you need a correctly de-burred hole with a slight chamfer to 
avoid extruding the washer. With either type rivet, I always use a bit of 
Vulkem preferably applied between the two pieces of aluminum so when they 
are clamped together by the rivet it extrudes slightly and can be cleaned 
up with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits. I usually let the 
vulkem set up about 5 to 24 hours or more before shaving the heads and then 
cleaning up the last bit of Vulkem that has extruded. It makes a nice neat 
professional appearing job of it.

One more thing about the shaving tool, it allows you to get a closer and 
very consistent head shape and height that appears very original if your 
looking for that detail.

--
Mitch Hill - K1FH
WBCCI 21960
'64 AS Ambassador International