Copper rivets

[Lakc]

Recently, I have been rather unsuccessful with some copper rivets, until I tried annealing them first. Do you always have to anneal rivets, or just the ones that have sat around too long and hardened?

 

[GWRdriver]

Jeff,
What was the nature of your unsuccessfulness?

 

[Lakc]

During the first swaging operation, instead of the body of the rivet expanding when "hammered into itself", it just wanted to bend over.

 

[misfitsailor]

When I copper riveted a PMR boiler I had to anneal repeatedly.

 

[Jasonb]

I've never found the need to anneal them but I don't use multiple tools just set the rivit then straight onto the end with the snap and a few good blows.

 

[Lakc]

When I copper riveted a PMR boiler I had to anneal repeatedly.

Yep, wound up laying each rivet on a firebrick and torching until a pretty golden color made them nice and soft. Only took a few seconds for each one.

I've never found the need to anneal them but I don't use multiple tools just set the rivit then straight onto the end with the snap and a few good blows

I had these rivets laying around for a few years. I dont know if they age harden, but annealing certainly made working with them much more enjoyable.

 

[wackyvorlon]

Some copper alloys do age harden. Depends what they're made of.

 

[abby]

This thread is about copper rivets , apart from brass I have never come across "copper alloy" rivets , what would they be used for ?
Copper work hardens and will be in that state after the rivets are manufactured , like any other copper anneal them before use by heating to red heat and cooling.