machine_punk
Well-known member
Introduction to Solid Rivets 101
I've had a lot of requests lately for information on using solid rivets. In fact, I've had people from other forums join Garage Journal, where I host my main thread, just to 'private message' me about solid rivets. There really isn't a single 'clearing house' of solid rivet information on the web for the hobby riveter out there, so I guess it is time to finally start writing the long-promised "Solid Rivets 101" post. If you follow me on any of the Internet forums, you know me as Machine_Punk. I work out of the attached, 2-car garage at my home, in an artistic metalworking studio I call The Aerodrome Studio.
The moniker Machine_Punk comes from the combination of two different terms: Machine Shop and Steam Punk. While I am a pretty fair woodworker, I have always loved working in metal. After far too many years as a nomad, traveling and living all over the world, I recently settled down to one place and am able to apply myself to working in metal. While I was living in England, I went over to the Contour Autocraft basic metalshaping 5-day course. I did learn to TIG weld shaped-steel panels together to form whatever size of panel needed, but I learned something even more important. I don't like pretty, flat joints on sheets of metal. I like rivets, and lots of them. While I did originally start my foray back into metal fabrication with machine shop principles, I began to get restless to learn what I really wanted to do...joining things with solid rivets.
There are three main artistic influences in my work. The first is Art Deco. Centered around Paris in the 1920's, and the rest of the world in the 1930's, it is characterized by bold geometric designs, with influences from many of the world's major cultures, combined with Machine Age elements. The Chrysler Building, the beach-front buildings in Miami, and pretty much every classy movie theater you have ever been in are all excellent examples of the Art Deco style.
The second main influence for me are the Celtic symbols and knots. I haven't quite figured out how to apply that to my metalworking, yet, though I have made my own pen-and-paper-based contribution to Celtic symbols. I might have to share that with you some time.
The other major artistic influence for me is called Steam Punk. Do I hear you say you have never heard of it? Do a quick web search and you will find plenty of examples. I'd sum it up by saying that it takes modern modern conveniences, such as computers and telephones, and makes them appear to be steam powered contrivances of the Edwardian or Victorian eras--the 1800's. It was a time of steam power--with boilers and cogs and rivets (men, please feel free to insert a primal grunt here). There you go. Now you know why I took the name Machine_Punk. I suppose now you are wondering where The Aerodrome Studio got its name.
I spent a good month working on the name for the studio. I suppose I should start with the fact that it is a 'studio,' and not a 'workshop.' While I do work in there and a lot of metalworking happens there, I rarely ever build anything without considering appearance. Even if I am building a simple bracket, my goal is to build an artistic bracket out metal. The place where artists work is universally called a studio--whether that is a guitarist, recording the next hit song, or a painter, creating a masterpiece for future generations. That means part of the name is sorted. Whatever it is, it will definitely be a studio. I've still got the document of all the different ideas I thought of. I really wanted to use the word 'consortium,' but really, right now, it's just me. One person hardly makes a consortium. Hmmm. Strike that word.
Now, I know that I want to build aeroplane-like furniture eventually, once I get all my shop...errr studio...fixtures built. I also tend to like older stuff. Older versions of what we commonly call an airport in the United States were called aerodromes. In Europe, aerodrome is still a valid word for an airport, even though modern airports look nothing like their aerodrome predecessors. The original aerodrome was really just a large, grass field, with a flag in the middle. The early pilots used the flag to determine which way the wind was blowing, then just land whichever direction they needed to on the field. With the aeroplane reference, and the way the word 'aerodrome' flows off the tongue, I had found the name of my work space: The Aerodrome Studio. Of course, that means that now I cannot use the word 'air' in my threads...you will always see me replace it with the more European 'aero,' whenever possible. "Is it drafty in here? I feel some aer on the back of my neck." See, it doesn't always work!
The first few posts on this thread will be reference material--so you don't have to sift through the whole thread and comments to find 'that table with rivet sizes.' After that, I'll post the actual Solid Rivets 101 course, based on material and pictures I've been putting together for a while. Then, you'll have the chance to comment.
Machine_Punk
I've had a lot of requests lately for information on using solid rivets. In fact, I've had people from other forums join Garage Journal, where I host my main thread, just to 'private message' me about solid rivets. There really isn't a single 'clearing house' of solid rivet information on the web for the hobby riveter out there, so I guess it is time to finally start writing the long-promised "Solid Rivets 101" post. If you follow me on any of the Internet forums, you know me as Machine_Punk. I work out of the attached, 2-car garage at my home, in an artistic metalworking studio I call The Aerodrome Studio.
The moniker Machine_Punk comes from the combination of two different terms: Machine Shop and Steam Punk. While I am a pretty fair woodworker, I have always loved working in metal. After far too many years as a nomad, traveling and living all over the world, I recently settled down to one place and am able to apply myself to working in metal. While I was living in England, I went over to the Contour Autocraft basic metalshaping 5-day course. I did learn to TIG weld shaped-steel panels together to form whatever size of panel needed, but I learned something even more important. I don't like pretty, flat joints on sheets of metal. I like rivets, and lots of them. While I did originally start my foray back into metal fabrication with machine shop principles, I began to get restless to learn what I really wanted to do...joining things with solid rivets.
There are three main artistic influences in my work. The first is Art Deco. Centered around Paris in the 1920's, and the rest of the world in the 1930's, it is characterized by bold geometric designs, with influences from many of the world's major cultures, combined with Machine Age elements. The Chrysler Building, the beach-front buildings in Miami, and pretty much every classy movie theater you have ever been in are all excellent examples of the Art Deco style.
The second main influence for me are the Celtic symbols and knots. I haven't quite figured out how to apply that to my metalworking, yet, though I have made my own pen-and-paper-based contribution to Celtic symbols. I might have to share that with you some time.
The other major artistic influence for me is called Steam Punk. Do I hear you say you have never heard of it? Do a quick web search and you will find plenty of examples. I'd sum it up by saying that it takes modern modern conveniences, such as computers and telephones, and makes them appear to be steam powered contrivances of the Edwardian or Victorian eras--the 1800's. It was a time of steam power--with boilers and cogs and rivets (men, please feel free to insert a primal grunt here). There you go. Now you know why I took the name Machine_Punk. I suppose now you are wondering where The Aerodrome Studio got its name.
I spent a good month working on the name for the studio. I suppose I should start with the fact that it is a 'studio,' and not a 'workshop.' While I do work in there and a lot of metalworking happens there, I rarely ever build anything without considering appearance. Even if I am building a simple bracket, my goal is to build an artistic bracket out metal. The place where artists work is universally called a studio--whether that is a guitarist, recording the next hit song, or a painter, creating a masterpiece for future generations. That means part of the name is sorted. Whatever it is, it will definitely be a studio. I've still got the document of all the different ideas I thought of. I really wanted to use the word 'consortium,' but really, right now, it's just me. One person hardly makes a consortium. Hmmm. Strike that word.
Now, I know that I want to build aeroplane-like furniture eventually, once I get all my shop...errr studio...fixtures built. I also tend to like older stuff. Older versions of what we commonly call an airport in the United States were called aerodromes. In Europe, aerodrome is still a valid word for an airport, even though modern airports look nothing like their aerodrome predecessors. The original aerodrome was really just a large, grass field, with a flag in the middle. The early pilots used the flag to determine which way the wind was blowing, then just land whichever direction they needed to on the field. With the aeroplane reference, and the way the word 'aerodrome' flows off the tongue, I had found the name of my work space: The Aerodrome Studio. Of course, that means that now I cannot use the word 'air' in my threads...you will always see me replace it with the more European 'aero,' whenever possible. "Is it drafty in here? I feel some aer on the back of my neck." See, it doesn't always work!
The first few posts on this thread will be reference material--so you don't have to sift through the whole thread and comments to find 'that table with rivet sizes.' After that, I'll post the actual Solid Rivets 101 course, based on material and pictures I've been putting together for a while. Then, you'll have the chance to comment.
Machine_Punk
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