Faux rivet heads

[Scratch]

A while back ago I was looking for a source for faux rivet heads for projects. Well I now have a project where I need some of them. I know I can buy them online but they are like 1.75 each! Way too spendy for this fat, old cheapskate.
Well I figured out a way to make them quick and on the cheap so I thought I'd share my method.

First off go to your local hardware store and buy carriage bolts with the head size you like, in the cheapest bulk they have. These are 1/4"x 1" zinc plated bolts that have a 1/2" head on them. Perfect for my project. I threw a bunch in my bag and after counting them at home, I ended up with 51 of them for $1.16 with tax. Even I can afford that!

a.jpg

Then put one of them in your cordless drill. You could go a little shorter, but these were about as short as I wanted to go in my drill.

b.jpg

Now use a cut off saw to carefully remove the head. I made an angled platform from a small sheet of aluminum and a 2x4 so that the bolt was angled up and to the right.
This way if... or in my case, when... I got lazy during the cutting process, the abrasive blade wouldn't dig into the visible portion of the "rivet head".

c.jpg

I spin the drill with one hand, and use the other hand to work the chop saw. It's a delicate tricky process, but even my broken brain can handle it so you can too! Here you can see how the head is almost off.

d.jpg

I took this one out of the drill to show a better pic of it before it breaks off.

e.jpg

If you're careful, the heads just fall slowly straight down, once you grind enough. And in my case, most of them fell right through the slot in the chop saw bed. Not one of them fell off the table and into the Abyss of Despair. (That's what I call my dirt floor) This process took about 15-20 seconds for each head once I got my groove on. Then I threw them in a cup of acid for a minute to remove the zinc, and washed them off.

f.jpg

I drilled a good sized hole in the piece I want the rivet head on, so I had plenty of wiggle room.

g.jpg

Then plug weld it in from the back.

h.jpg

And the finished product! Not bad for a little over a buck and a little bit of time.

i.jpg

When my project is finished, I'll post pics. Might be a while though, I'm waiting for an electronic gadget for it and it's on the slow boat from China right now.

[Ironken]

Well played! Looks sharp.

[plasmanewbie]

Genius! What a great tip, thanks Scratch

[SeanP]

looks great, good idea!
I quite often use battery drill like that but with the skinny cutoff blade in the grinder.

[acourtjester]

I think there is a company the sells Faux Rivet heads, it seem I saw that on a welding blog. Some ornamental iron company was the source.
https://www.ballardforge.com/product-pa ... e-to-order
https://www.etsy.com/listing/223781403/ ... p-header-2

[Scratch]

I think there is a company the sells Faux Rivet heads, it seem I saw that on a welding blog. Some ornamental iron company was the source.
https://www.ballardforge.com/product-pa ... e-to-order
https://www.etsy.com/listing/223781403/ ... p-header-2

Yeah, I've seen that guys rivet heads also. But he sells them for 1.75-5.25 each!!

[acourtjester]

If you want to make your own rivets, Interesting but not practical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBctd88yzPw

[plasmanewbie]

If you want to make your own rivets, Interesting but not practical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBctd88yzPw

Very cool video and awesome skills but yes that's a lot of work for some rivets!