Re: Boat rivets
Riveting video on youtube
Here is one example of many solid riveting videos on youtube. You'll find riveting info and supplies on aviation websites. All the old boat building companies seem like they were founded by ex-aircraft builders.
Depending on the location of the rivets you may need two people to install solid rivets.
Pop rivets (ie. Blind rivets) can be installed by one person but tend to come loose over time. Much more so than solid rivets.
If a solid rivet comes loose it can be re-hit to seal it. You can't do that with a blind rivet.
If you have to remove a rivet and redo it the goal is NOT to enlarge the existing hole. If the hole is too big you have to go up to the next rivet size to get a solid joint. If you don't it will definitely come loose again.
Removing a solid rivet properly is done by drilling perfectly in the center of the head just to the depth of the aluminum skin. Then use a pin punch or chisel to remove the head. Then a pin punch to drive out the rivet tail. This method is the best way to prevent hole enlargement.
Removing pop rivets involves punching out the pin in the center and then drilling off the head and punching out the tail. The problem here is that when you are drilling the head of pop rivets there is a tendency for the rivet to start spinning with the drill bit. If you haven't gotten deep enough then it is very difficult to get the head off the rivet without enlarging the hole. This coupled with the fact that pop rivets tend to come loose more means lots of problems down the road.
I have personally installed thousands upon thousands of solid and blind rivets.
Solid rivets are the better option in almost every application except when you do not have access to the other side of the rivet.
