Rivets or bolts... What rivet tool?

[Ohio Andy]

I have an old toolchest.
Current handle and fasteners are riveted in place.
I must replace one set of fasteners so I think I will replace all fasteners and the handle so they will all be the same.

Right now everything uses rivets. I have never used rivets. There will be no lock so not worried about that aspect

Any advantage for rivets over bolts? I assume rivets are lower profile and more difficult to remove..
And work loose.

Also, if rivets, what rivet tool?

 

[danski0224]

Rivet?

You are likely looking at 3/16" or 1/4" "pop" rivets to be strong enough to hold the handle on. Either of those will require something stronger than the basic "pop rivet" tool at the hardware store. Steel or stainless steel, not aluminum.

Other option is a "hard rivet" which is set using some type of hammer by hand, or an air hammer with a riveting tip, against a bucking bar (or other backing plate). Some call these aircraft rivets or "tinners rivets". These would be less expensive if you do not own something that will pull and set a steel/stainless 1/4" pop rivet.

There are various size Pexto rivet setting tools to dress up the "head" after doing the initial setting with a hammer to peen it over.

Bolts would be the easiest.

 

[Wrench97]

OEM are probably semitubular/Hollow rivets> https://www.rivetsonline.com/rivets/semi-tubular-rivets
For a couple of rivets the tooling cost would be high, I agree probably best to use bolts and loctite or lock nuts and cut the bolt off flush.

 

[danielbuck]

for mass producing things, light duty pop rivets are probably a lot cheaper than nuts and bolts and also have the advantage of not needing access to the back side of the part, that's probably why a lot of off the shelf stuff is riveted instead of bolted or spot welded. also when installed with a pneumatic pop rivet gun, they are super fast to install.

 

[64C10]

I’d just go with bolts. A nice stainless pan head bolt with a nylock nut will look nice and last forever.

 

[PCustoms]

I've never used rivots either

 

[Ohio Andy]

Thanks guys, I have been watching rivot videos and I realized that I would be looking at a more expensive rivot gun to handle the thicker stainless steel rivots to handle the pressure, and then I need to worry about getting the thickness right because I do not want a really long bit poking out inside the tool chest, especially on the lower part where there will be a fastener.

And part of me things "you can learn something new". I think I will look at bolts first. I know how to cut bolts to leave a minimal internal foot print.

 

[PCustoms]

Rivet.

See the red squiggles under rivot? That means it's not spelled correctly.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Rivet?

Fixed!

 

[Ohio Andy]

Rivet.

See the red squiggles under rivot? That means it's not spelled correctly.

Did it on my phone with a tiny screen.... and I spell poorly! My editors are turning in their graves that I drove them to with my spelling I am sure!

 

[RTM]

A fine threaded large head bolt would be ideal if you don’t use rivets. If you can find small *** bolts, (or binding head, or Chicago bolts), you’d get two finished sides. Only seen it done on one box.

 

[Ohio Andy]

A fine threaded large head bolt would be ideal if you don’t use rivets. If you can find small *** bolts, (or binding head, of Chicago bolts), you’d get two finished sides. Only seen it done on one box.

Had not thought of that... I have some of those that I used to repair a special type of book. Wood need something shorter (than I have in my connection of hardware) for this application...

 

[HenryAZ]

I’d just go with bolts. A nice stainless pan head bolt with a nylock nut will look nice and last forever.

Check out button head vs pan head. To me, they are the nicest looking.