Monel rivets

[nosarb]

Can anyone tell me if there is an easy way to identify monel rivets. I ordered monel rivets from a supplier and have used them to fix mast steps. They now say that they are unable to verify that they are monel. They are hard and non magnetic.My worry is they are stainless steel. Thanks

 

[Gordon]

I think monel rivets contain some nickel, in which case they should be magnetic

 

[VicS]

Yes Monel is an alloy of copper and nickel (about 67% Ni – 23% Cu). It does not necessarily follow that is is magnetic though.

Iron is magnetic, stainless steels are iron alloys but they are not all magnetic. Interestingly it is the high nickel ones that tend not to be.

I have been trying to find out if monel is magnetic but so far no luck!

Given a very elementary chemistry laboratory, a Bunsen burner and some concentrated hydrochloric acid would be enough it would be easy to test for the presence of copper. That would ID it I reckon.

 

[MoodySabre]

I just tried some monel seizing wire and that was non-magnetic.

 

[earlybird]

I've just tried a monel rivet and it's definitely magnetic. A reference I've found says the Curie point of monel is 35 deg C, so if you're in the tropics, then it won't be magnetic, but here in Cumbria it is!

 

[PetiteFleur]

Monel rivets are usually a grey colour and stainless rivets are stainless colour - well all mine are anyway!

 

[Poignard]

Could it be that the centre pin is mild steel but the outer is monel?

 

[earlybird]

[ QUOTE ]
Could it be that the centre pin is mild steel but the outer is monel?

[/ QUOTE ]
Correct, but the rivet had a small amount of free movement along the mandrel, say about 1 mm, and the magnet pulled it that distance.
Add:- I've just tried a bit of 5mm monel rod, it's attraction to a magnet is quite weak, much less than, say, mild steel.

 

[Poignard]

'twas but a thought.

How about a spark test? Compare the sparks from known samples of s/s and monel with those from the rivet.

 

[nosarb]

Thanks for all the comments. I think I will have to drill them out and start again

 

[vyv_cox]

What's the problem with stainless steel ones? If you had screwed them on you would have used stainless bolts or self-tappers. They will be of similar strength to monel ones, similar corrosion resistance. I can't see any reason to discard them.

 

[Poignard]

Especially if you use Duralac compound.

 

[nosarb]

Good point.Thanks