How to Peen a Rivet
If you do any metalworking, you may find yourself needing to peen a rivet. Rivets are used in many different kinds of armors, particularly replica suits of armor or large-scale replica armory projects. But unless you have access to a rivet gun, this is not always a simple task; even then you may prefer to re-create the metalwork as it was made, which is often not the easiest method possible. With the right tools and a little determination, you can peen your rivet and perfect your metalwork.
Things You'll Need
- Two metal pieces
- Metal punch
- Roofing nails
- Side cutters
- Pliers
- Peen hammer
- Anvil or durable metal base (steel beams work well)
Instructions
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1
Punch rivet holes in the two pieces of metal using a metal punch. The holes should be about 1/8 inch in diameter, or as large as your rivets (1/8 inch is a standard size).
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2
Push a roofing nail through both holes, and cut off the extra length of nail on both sides of the metal using metal cutters. The extra nail sticking out on the top side should be roughly half the width of the nail and come to a point at the top.
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3
Pinch the sides of the nail with pliers to create a sharper, more distinct point.
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4
Place the metal pieces on an anvil. Bring the flat end of the peen hammer directly down on the nail tip to flatten it out. Hit the nail from different angles to spread the metal as you flatten it, then square the head of the hammer with the nail top again, and work from the inside out in circles, forcing the metal of your nail to spread out.
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5
Turn the hammer over to the ball side, and repeat Step 4. You have now turned a nail into a rivet.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use rusting nails, as they will only lower the integrity of your rivets. Wear protective eyewear when cutting and molding metal.
References
- Photo Credit Photo courtesy of Orin Optiglot on Flickr
