MTFCA Forum

I’m going to be rebuilding the Top Bows for my 27 Roadster. I’d like to use solid aluminum rivets instead of original steel type. Any ideas where to find solid aluminum rivets ? Everything I find local is to short.

I just used a flat head bolt without a nut. They are covered by the wrap on all bows anyway, so they don't show.
Norm

Gary, WW Granger has alum. rivets in various lengths. They have a store in W Knoxville. Look up WW Granger on the net and query solid rivets.

I used these on my 1924, they were aluminum, I was able to squeeze them in my bench vise. To be sure, you can call Lang's first to make sure.

https://www.modeltford.com/item/3897XR.aspx

Aircraft rivets - Try Aircraft Spruce

I do not know where to get aluminum rivets, but steel rivets are easy to find, easy to peen by hand, very strong, and better than aluminum rivets in my opinion. You need a tiny little ball peen hammer, like a toy hammer. light taps with the ball end will make quick work of a steel rivet. Back up the head end of the rivet with a solid heavy piece of steel or very large hammer, peen it cold. It is easy and fun, one rivet and you will be an expert.

I use semi tubular rivets. I believe they are plated steel. As far as I know Ford didn't use solid rivets, at least in 1925!

Original Smith, I didn’t know Ford didn’t use solid rivets…learned something ! I have the solid rivets from Lang’s, I may try to find the semi tubular rivets. If not I’ll try like Humblej advised.

The aluminum rivet will react with both the steel and the wood, I would not recommend going that way!

Aluminum aircraft rivets are normally anodized for corrosion protection. They come in hard and soft versions. I don't know if they would be a good choice in this case as I'm not sure exactly what GG needs rivets for as I have a 1917 Touring whose bows are quite different. Fortunately I have a pneumatic rivet gun from my aircraft building past so am well equipped to set rivets of whatever type. In many cases I'd think alternative fasteners might make sense.

Go to your local hardware store and ask for shovel handle rivets. They should have them in a jandorf box somewhere. These work great for felloe plate rivets on early wheels.