The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

theyounggun · Newbie Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 13

hi everyone

im going to get a realy cheap steam engine (working or not)and see if i can take it apart and rebuild it (also may try painting).

this will be for experience for futre restoration projects.
so need to no how to take rivets out. and also do you need a certain riveter with the rivets bieng smaller.

im just learning so any hints or tips would be much appreciated.

_________________
im 14 and love steam engines

I think ive been born in the wrong era

toxx · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject:

Hi, young gun (I like that name!)! I've never replaced rivets, though the lads here on the forum will now just how to do that. On my vintage toys and steam engines, I replaced rivets with nuts and bolts, or with screws, after cutting a proper thread.
For instance: I use my Dremel to file a rivet's head away. Remove the rivet. Then, I drill a somewhat larger hole where the rivet was, and now use nut and bolt instead of the rivet. Or, after removing the rivet with the Dremel, drill a hole where the rivet was, and then cut a thread for a screw connection.
Alles klar?

Says Tom
_________________
Says Tom

... keine Wunder sind vollbracht.
No miracles ... yet.

Nick · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject:

Just drill the rivets out. Find a drill bit that is barely larger than that pin looking thing in the center of the head. You don't want too big of a bit otherwise you'll make too big of a hole for a new rivet. Most riveters will do different size rivets.

bessytractor · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject:

look up the instructions for pop rivetting on the net if your unsure, theres some brilliant sites about. Its really not too hard once you've started. One tip I would add is save the nails from the rivets when they break off. When you drill out rivets in the future and head falls off, you can tap the rest of the rivet inside off with this nail. Just be sure it doesn't distort the boiler (a gentle tap suffices) and also definitely make sure the pin doesn't go into the boiler so you can't get it out again!!!

shake the bits of rivet out the safety valve holes.

I always use a hand drill (I'm repeating advice given to me by that legend MM!) for drilling rivets, as theres less likelyhood of the drill slipping and going straight through the boiler! These rivets will come off in about 5 turns of a hand drill.

johnreid · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject:

Pop Rivets drill out, old fashioned rivets can sometimes be drilled out, sometimes the head needs to be filed or ground off, and sometimes a pair of diagonal cutters will nip the head off. It all depends on the situation. Plan ahead and consider if you are replacing hem with like rivets, or going to nuts and bolts or Pop Rivets etc. If you are unsure as to how to do it properly consider leaving them be as in some cases they do not need to be removed in order to clean or restore an engine.
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Roundy · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

I race hovercraft wich are held togeter with pop rivits lol- my advise it to drill them out with a 5 mm drill and to make sure u hv a good quality riviter- i had a crappy 1 4 a time and it kept jamming and drove me nuts- didnt last long!