Copper or Bronze Rod Recommendation

[jjkeefe]

Hi,

This is my first post to the WBF but I have enjoyed it for a long time lurking in the backgroud. Now, I would like to ask a question of the experts.

I need to hand rivet together bronze hawse holes, flange and body, which go through the bulwarks of a sailboat. I need to use a type of metal rod that can be hand formed as a rivet and that has a diameter of 5/16". The length of the rivet is about 4". Is there a grade or type of metal that is recommended for hand riveting? Would a copper rod be used or strictly a bronze rod? The original rivets used have a copper tinge to them.

Thanks for your help!

[Thad]

copper

[Gold Rock]

Actually, you can use either. Copper is fine particularly as in this application the rivets shouldn't be experiencing significant tension. Bronze works well too, though. Higher copper content means easier forming, i.e. silicon brz. easier than manganese which is easier than alum. nickel brz., etc. The trick is in forming the rivet. Proper support of the rod and the use of the proper tools and sets is important. Bronze rivets will be stronger, and if you use the same alloy as the hawse holes, you've got the best of all worlds.

[jjkeefe]

Thank you very much for the information. Would you happen to know where the needed tools and sets could be purchased? Also, is the subject covered in any boat building books or articles anywhere?

[ssor]

Originally posted by jjkeefe:
Thank you very much for the information. Would you happen to know where the needed tools and sets could be purchased? Also, is the subject covered in any boat building books or articles anywhere?The tools needed are a heavy steel block to back the rivet and a light ball peen hammer to peen the end of the rivet to form the head.

[Thorne]

The book _Planking and Fastening_ published by our hosts shows some of this in the article on copper rove riveting by English builders. But mostly that covers peening the rove (copper washer) and then just a little on the end of the rivet.

Really you just support it *firmly* and then peen around the end in a circle to get an even shape.

[Bruce Hooke]

If access is not a problem, I've used a small sledge hammer as the backer to support the opposite end of the rivit. A ball peen hammer should be available at any decent hardware store.