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Offset rivet set/ Crooked tails

rv6builder

rv6builder

Well Known Member
Folks- I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been driven crazy by offset rivet sets. I'm riveting the forward top structure on my -6 and for some reason a lot of my shop heads have mushed over crooked, to the point that the edge of the hole is still visible around part of the rivet tail. Checked and double checked we are holding the gun straight, bucking bar is straight, rivets are the right length (even tried a few slightly shorter). Any ideas from the experts out there??

Cheers,

Alex
 
Offset rivet sets are inherently very difficult to use. Make sure your work is extremely well supported. If your not making smiley's on the factory head, there is something else wrong. Too little air pressure at the gun, bucking bar not heavy enough, etc.... would be things to look at.
 
JonJay said:
Offset rivet sets are inherently very difficult to use. Make sure your work is extremely well supported. If your not making smiley's on the factory head, there is something else wrong. Too little air pressure at the gun, bucking bar not heavy enough, etc.... would be things to look at.
Click to expand...

Is this what you're saying: If the problem was that the offset set was hitting the heads at an angle, he'd be getting smilies. If he's not getting smilies, the problem isn't directly related to the offset rivet set.

Excellent point.
 
Two other contributing factors are:

- Rivet not 100% straight in the hole due to slight misalignment of the layers. So even if the bucking bar is normal to the surface, there is a misalignment between the force from the rivet gun and the bucking bar.

- Rivet a little too long.

Most of my crooked rivets are a combination of the two above.
 
another common problem is the offset rivet set trying to turn during riveting. Use electrical tape and securely tape the set to the gun so that the set can not swivel.
 
Tom Martin said:
another common problem is the offset rivet set trying to turn during riveting. Use electrical tape and securely tape the set to the gun so that the set can not swivel.
Click to expand...

Or hold it with your fingers if another person is on the bucking bar.
 
All good discussion regarding an offset rivet set, but as mentioned, if there is not visible damage or influence to the manufactured head, it is not likely caused by what rivet set you are using.

Rivet length, enlarged holes or bucking bar technique (or a combination) are more likely causes.
 
Alex,

What everybody is dancing around, is that an 'offset rivet set' is a tool with at least one; usually two, bends in it, that is inserted in the end of your rivet gun. The posts describing 2 people holding one rivet gun are talking about that. I'm pretty sure they were created by guys looking for a good deal on a slightly messed up pre-owned kit.

A shop head that sets off-center or bent ('clinched') is likely what you're asking about. As others mentioned, bucking bar alignment is important, but keeping the bar from 'wiping' across the shop head is also important. If it moves sideways during riveting, it can move the shop head with it.

Charlie
 
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The problem with the longer rivet sets is that they have more mass than shorter rivet sets. I had to really bump up the air pressure whenever I used an offset rivet set. Try using 75 psi on some scraps and see if it helps get the rivet bucked quickly. If you have to pound away at it with lower pressure, the rivet will work-harden and then the tails will tip over instead of smoosh smoothly.
 
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