What you should know before using rivets

In this video I cover the basics of riveting, with 5 good tips to help you with your DIY projects.
What size hole to drill for rivets, how to chose the right sized rivet, how to change the gun's nozzles, how to drill out a rivet, how to avoid scratching the finished surface.

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The equation for working out the right length rivet goes like this…
Add your Material thickness (both pieces) eg. 0.5 mm + 0.5mm = 1mm
Plus 1.5 times the diameter of the rivet, 3.2mm rivet x 1.5 = 4.8 (approx. 5mm)
So I’d aim for a 6mm rivet, easy! If you have longer rivets, it’s not a problem it just may not look any good. But don’t go too short because it may not hold. I hope this helps you out with your riveting project.

The rivet gun I use is found here... I am not affiliated with this store.

The stuff and things I use and recommend, when clicked these links will take you directly to Amazon or an eBay site, InspireDIY is an Amazon associate/eBay Affiliate. Using these links does not impact the price in anyway for you, but InspireDIY may be able to earn from recommendations.

00:00 Rivet tips for DIY
00:19 What rivet gun to choose
00:43 What size hole do I drill fo a rivet
01:35 How to change the nozzle on a rivet gun
02:14 How to rivet two materials together
02:42 How to drill out a rivet
02:57 How to remove rivets from drill bit
03:11 Stop drill chuck from scratching paint
03:43 How to work out the right sized rivet

The boring stuff, these videos are intended to provide information and inspiration only. If you choose to imitate, duplicate or copy anything you may have observed in these videos, you do so at your own risk. Kent Thomas & Inspire DIY do not take any responsibility for any action taken as a result of the information or advice on this YouTube channel (or other platforms) and shall not have any liability in respect of any injury or damage that may result.
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Kent Thomas/Inspire DIY does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information available on this YouTube page or any other social media platforms. Nothing contained in or provided though this YouTube page, website or social media platforms is intended to constitute advice or to serve as a substitute for the advice of a building or construction professional, or local government, council laws and building codes. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.

[BackyardDogPark]

Checking in four years later. It was NOT the worst video I've ever watched, and thus felt compelled to give a thumbs up. :-)

[fullor]

Thank you for the short and concise basics of using rivets. I bought a kayak rigging accessory kit which includes rivets to attach them to the kayak. I hadn't used rivets before and this is exactly what I needed.

[patriotcarepackage]

Spot on! Have never used rivets. I picked you video first because the time was right. You nailed it. Only the information a beginner like me need and a pro type at the end. I wish all DIY videos were like yours. Only what we need to get back to the project and no more. Drive on buddy. You're on the right path.

[alanhumphries]

Hey! Not one of the worst videos, one of the best. Simple and well delivered. Thanks (I'm fixing a vent to the roof of a horse float)

[samdamti]

I wish I found your video 4 hours ago! It would have saved me a lot of time. Very instructional and succinct. Thank you!

[TheIronDuke]

Thank you! I am riveting an aluminum seat bracket to the hull of my canoe - I didn't think nuts and bolts would be the best approach - thanks to your video I will be a happy paddler. One more tip, a dab of silicone around the hole before you set the rivet helps for those projects that need to be water-tight

[payneangel]

Ty! For a girl who’s NEVER used one, I am thankful for these tips! I’m nervous enough but you made me feel more confident. Tysm

[rcdemoral]

Uh, this was probably the best instructional video I've seen - straight to the point, subscribed.

[johnkennedy]

So clear and practical. No gimmicks. Excellent DIY guidance. Well done Sir. JK in the UK 🦖

[beazleteats]

G'day from across the ditch. I've been a DIY dad for many years doing odd jobs (yes, even tiled out bathroom floor to ceiling) but I've never had the need for a rivet. My aluminium letterbox has just broken and a rivet looks like the answer...so thx heaps for such a great video. You're a good teacher and come across well on screen...maybe you should start your own DIY show on NZ TV. Go well mate.

[amandaclarke]

best rivet video! I'm now confident in tackling my project. Many thanks

[Nature]

i bought a cheap rivet thing @ lidl, never used it but now needed it. watched your vid and now know how! love the accent ;)

[dooleyfan]

This was very helpful today. I was attaching blinds to an aluminum gazebo. I decided to rivet the attachments the wrong way round initially so that I could practice how to drill out rivets (OK, maybe I didn’t decide that in advance). Excellent instructions, thank you from Canada!

[LotsToLearnNow]

Great video - thanks for the tutorial. You asked about the application for using them: I need to remove some rivets to pull the front of my wood burning stove insert off so that I can replace the blower motor and will then need to replace them. This makes me feel better about trying this out!

[ianwhitton]

Could also be a tip #6 to add... After you have installed all the pop rivets on a project use a new rivet of the same size & use the new stem to punch out the steel mandrel remains of the rivet that has been left when the rivet was popped... The reason for this is especially when item is use around fresh or salt water the piece of steel holds moisture & salt & rusts leaving stains & the like..This procedure also makes it very easy to remove a rivet if the need be some time in the future...I have done this procedure for over 60 years in all marine applications like yacht masts & fittings with no adverse effects of having removed the troublesome piece of steel left in the rivet..When using rivets in alloy boat masts its better to use Monel grade rivets instead of stainless as stainless can set up Electrolyse & subsequent corrosion....Adding a dab of Tef-gel can help stop corrosion in alloy items when using pop rivets 100% better than not using it..

[tinkerjae]

Entertaining, polite, and informative. Thank you for the video, and especially thank you for that equation.

[philipdove]

straight forward and tells you the important stuff. i would not have known how to choose the right rivet. Still don't know what I'm going to rivet but hey I've got the tool.

[kellypurinton]

I need to rivet a "composite" track to the side of a fiberglass dinghy hull (to attach a sponson - an air bladder to increase stability for small boats). So... softer than metal, and also thicker. This gave me a great place to start thinking about it. Thank you!

[tonydowling]

Thanks for that. Simple and straightforward

[benjaminskwirut]

Since you asked - I’m preparing to replace the fuel door on my 2005 Corolla. Calls for two rivets to be installed during the process.

Very informative video. Thank you.