another problem with POP rivets ...

[Brian Duff]

Another gripe came up today, had to refasten to be happy...

When installing hardware on a mast, it is normally impossible to achieve any sort of clamping pressure to get the work piece as tight to the mast as a the rivets make it when 'popping'. Of course the fittings need to fit well in the first place, but on a curved mast this is not always the case. This means that the first rivet 'popped' ends up loose after the ones around it are set (or the first few rivets if working around a curved mast surface out from center of fitting). Sounds like I'm talking about popcorn, not rigging!

What I end up doing is getting all the rivets in their holes in the fitting (normally do this before popping any anyway), and then proceed by moving around the fastener pattern adding tension to all rivets evenly (load to just before popping pressure) and then once they were all on the edge of parting the mandrel, I finished popping the lot of them. Seemed to work ok, but I still think machine screws would have been better.

Much as I don't like rivets, sometimes you just have to use them, or convince the client to pay to install backing plates behind the thin mast wall on such small rigs, which this guy wasn’t up for...

Open to input, but I might argue back! LOL

I love the way these forums will really let people speak their minds, often with less inhibition than they would express in person...

[Douglas]

Hi Brian ,,,, T Y , for that "popcorn" riviting tip .

I love this forum, especially, because of the difficulty of getting such hard-to-get rigging information, on distant shores, and away from our home ports.

Here in Singapore, there is not one dedicated rigging shop.

The nearest un-completed as yet rigging shop, is in Phuket, Thailand, at Rolly Tasker, and a smaller shop at Boat Lagoon.

I have already been helped on this forum, by sooo many replies to my queries, and excellent replies those were too.

T Y , too , Brian, for setting up this Forum.

Douglas

[Brian Duff]

You mean thanks be to 'BRION' for hosting this haven for rigging nerds !

[Douglas]

Hi Brian ,,,, soo sorry, for that,,,, you are entirely correct, that I miss spelled your name in-advertantly for Brion's name,,,,,

Shame on me !!!! at least 10 demarits or more ,,,, but you both are cut from the same sailmakers/ riggers cloth, at least !

I will be more carefull in the future !

Douglas ,,,,