What's the advantage of pop rivets (stainless) versus welding?


Modified by blaak-crx at 9:42 AM 7/21/2008

 

My dad owns a body shop. He once told me off a porsche rally team that he let rent a stall in the shop over the weekend, they rivited a entire front clip on the car. Then he said a few years later he saw the same car at a local event. Blew his mine, never second guessed rivets since then.

 

It depends if your using pop rivets or solid rivets, solid rivets are much stronger but they are a pain to use.

 

heat input/warping

 

standard pop rivets from lowes wont cut it on anything structural. you need to look into good cherry brand rivets from aircraftspruce, or some quality ones from mcmaster.

but rivets anyone can do, and can be more easily removed. both applications are stronger in shear so thats not an issue, but look at some riveting diagrams on placement.
or read carroll smiths nuts bolts fasteners book.