Rail lining rivet block

Hammer rivets are an alternative to welding or threaded connections. To keep them securely, you need to choose them correctly. Standard rivets are not always suitable, so sometimes it is preferable to make them yourself. For this, there is a special rivet block that can be made in a garage or workshop. It allows you to create high quality rivets of different lengths and diameters.

Materials and tools

To make a block we will use:

• steel plate with a thickness of 1 cm or more;
  
• 2 bolts with nuts;
  
• oil;
  
• set of metal drills;
  
• grinder with cutting wheel;
  
• drill or drilling machine;
  
• vice;
  
• grinding machine.

Block assembly process

An old railroad lining will be used as the base for the block. It is very thick, so it will fit perfectly. The smooth side of the slab needs to be sanded. Since the steel is good, it is difficult and time-consuming to do this even on a machine.

Next, use a grinder to cut off the embossed edges of the lining. The central blank is cut lengthwise into 2 more identical halves. They need to be folded in half, smooth sides inward.Having aligned the 3 sides of the plates, they are clamped with a clamp or vice.

The folded pieces are drilled to be held together with a pair of bolts. The drill gets hot, so you need to periodically add oil and sometimes stop to let it cool. Having made two holes, the plates are tightly tightened with bolts.

With the folded block on its end, the long, flat side up, you should make molding holes for the rivets. You need to drill in the center at the junction of the plates. For this, drills of the diameter required for the rivets are used. The depth of the holes will correspond to the length of the rivets. During drilling, you will need to periodically tighten the plates, since the bolt threads are loosened by vibration.

Having made the required number of templates for the rivets, the block should be disassembled to clean out the chips. Having assembled it back, you need to sand the end with the holes, achieving one plane of the folded slabs.

How to use the block

A rod made of mild steel, brass or copper is inserted into the hole for the rivet of the block. Its thickness should correspond to the diameter of the template. Next, the rod is cut slightly above the surface of the block. The length of the protruding tail should be 1.5 times the diameter of the rod. Having rested the block on an anvil or block, you need to hit the rivet blank with a hammer with a rounded head. Its soft metal is deformed, forming a cap. The finished rivet falls out when the bolts between the plates are loosened. If desired, you can use an engraver to sign the diameters of the holes on the block.
Original article in English