Technical Real News - Fake rivets

This was inspired by blind aircraft fasteners. But they come in limited sizes. So make your own. Trick is to weld a nut on the end of a long set screw. I use 18-8 stainless for the weldability. These are not strong. Don't use this trick on suspension bolts or any bolt that needs to be strong. Get the aircraft ones if you are doing that.
Pretty simple. Weld the nut on the end opposite the hex drive hole. Then grind the dome. I use a drill and grinder.

 

"Sometimes you feel like a nut...... Sometimes you don't."

 

Genius! Thanks!

 

Refreshing…in my world, usually it’s fake news and real rivets. Cool idea, thanks!

 

Recently I discovered that set screws do NOT like tension like a regular bolt does. I used set screws that I got new from a reputable fastener supplier with structural heavy nuts to bolt an adapter to the hubs on my vintage racecar project...... only to find that 3 of the the set screws busted!! It shot 3 nuts with half the set screw inside about 3 feet from where they broke. This was in a project so it was not moved or stressed in any way other than torquing the nuts!!!! So after finding this I cut grade 8 all thread and replaced them all for safety. I was very surprised by this... so just an FYI.

 

man, I just use ribbed neck carriage bolts.

easy

 

I've been making rivets out of bolts for 40 years

 

You can buy rivets with 10-32 threaded shafts. Look for places that make lockers. Cheap, too.

 

These have worked for me. You can turn the heads down to suit.
https://www.mcmaster.com/ribbed-neck-bolts/

 

I've been making them on the lathe since Moby **** was a minnow.