Soft iron rivets

I have been searching for small snap head rivets in ferrous metal and would prefer soft iron as these would make it easier to form the head. They are difficult to find, but I have been offered steel which has been annealed after manufacture which I am told would be a good substitute.

Is this a true claim? It would be helpfull if anyone could tell me how I could test a steel rivet to know whether it is annealed or not.

Bernard

Hello Bernard,

What size of rivets are you thinking of using ?

If steel rivets have been annealed they will more than likely have some form of "scale" on the surface of them, where they have been heated to a red heat and allowed to cool slowly,

I'm sure you could do this yourself if you are concerned about them,

Why not buy some and give them a try, they might be OK

Richard.

If they have been annealed in a reducing atmosphere (as they should be) then they will be scale free and soft. Ask for a sample and try to set them cold. Make sure you have the correct length. I was taught to use material thicknes + rivet dia x 1.5 for the length of rivet. It is important to start with the cut end of the rivet perfectly square with the shank, and use a heavy hammer and strike the rivet no more than 3 times. More than three times and the steel will have work hardened - same true for aluminium !

I have just bought a load of copper rivets from Sapphire products co uk and they were a nice bunch to deal with.

Good luck