Basic riveting stuff

[plankton]

I'am hoping to rivet a few bits and bats to my mast, conduit for new wiring, lights, spreaders etc
I wish to know if the broken off piece of the pin should be left inside the rivet body? maybe adding structural strength?
Also if there is any rule of thumb regarding the suitable length of rivet body for the thickness of joined materials?

 

[boatbuilder]

As long as you use monel rivits you are ok leaving the end in the mast. Don't forget Duralac for a barrier between disimilar metals.

 

[William_H]

The pop rivet needs to have at least 4mm length excess over the material it is going through. Longer is good. The knob on the end of the pin expands the rivet body along its length until it meets the bottom layer of material where it can't expand the rivet any more. At that point the pin is stretched until it breaks.
If the rivet is too short it may stretch and break but not right through all layers. So not hold anything. You can get pop rivets in various lengths.
If you can't get them long enough I suggest you drill and tap the hole and use metal thread bolts of an appropriate diameter and length.
Tapping is easy if you get the right sized drill for the hole. And use lots of duralac.
good luck olewill

 

[cliff]

The rivet shank should be 3/32" to 1/8" (but in any case no more than 1 rivet dia) longer than the combined thickness of what you want to rivet so a 1/4" plate riveted to a 1'8" plate with 1/4" rivets would need an 1/2" ~ 5/8 long rivet. Longer is NOT better when it comes to riveting.

Whe fixing to your mast you do NOT want long pieces of rivet shank inside the mast to foul and snag on halyards etc. so aim of the minimum required to give spread end.

The ball on the end of the shank should just enter the rivet body ½ way before breaking off - any more is a waste of energy and does not add anything to the strength of the fixing. The ball can then be punched out easily and a plastic plug or some sealant pushed into the hole.

Google pop rivetting and you will find a number of authorative guides on the subject
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