I was fooling around, trying to figure out a way to make rivets. I was going to buy tiny brass rivets and drill a hole for each one, then drop in a brass rivet....but they are pricey.
So here's what I cam up with. Heres what you need:
• drill gauge
• aluminum foil (regular kitchen type)
• ball-point writing pen
Using this technique, you can make domed rivets for various scales for next to nothing, accurately and consistent. I paid USD$11 for my drill gauge. They are used to size up drill bits, mine for sizes 61 through 80. You can see mine, when you buy yours, make sure its steel (tempered/hardened).
Another thing to consider is your ball-point pen. The ball size of the tip will increase or decrease your desired dome curvature.
Heres what you do:
1) Lay your foil over the drill gauge, determine your diameter and locate it by rubbing the pen around the vicinity until you locate the hole.
2) Once you are on the hole, press down firmly and wobble the pen.
3) Lift the pen/foil off and your dome will be pressed and cut inside the drill gauge hole....just pop it through. Easy. Once you buy a gauge, your rivets cost virtually nothing and look good too.
The rivet "domes" (0.016" and 0.020" shown) should be easy to attach to a wet surface or with Future, Elmer's, Cyano or whatever. You can make just about any size of rivet you want!
I hope this will be a useful breakthrough for someone around here! Enjoy...
Eric J.
So. Cal "Model Geeks"
