go ahead, call me crazy !

[dave campbell]

still a very slow grind on project Y. work, weather, and lack of hands ---but still fiddle-faddling with rivets. i had to modify the rivet hammer because the rivet tops were so small the hammer would have done nothing but dent the aluminum. i stuck the bit on the lathe and took a grinder to it as it spun--then touched up the dish with a dremel. i found that the slightest imperfection transfers right onto the rivet-cap. also----air pressure is very important. it's easy to tell which rivet i drove with the highest pressure (about 100 psi). the nicest looking one was set with about 70 psi, and after i practiced a few times. they are so small that the slightest error in angle of approach or a heavy trigger finger results in ugliness.

here's the rivet hammer

rivet tool orig.JPG (50.68 KiB) Viewed 1794 times

here it is after some fixin

rivet tool mod.JPG (31.65 KiB) Viewed 1794 times

guess which is my first attempt ?

rivet test.JPG (62.17 KiB) Viewed 1794 times

[Greg M]

For me it would be the left one. Then I'd get cocky and do the lower right

[sincere01]

For me it would be the left one. Then I'd get cocky and do the lower right

Ditto

[dales133]

Another option for cutting /shaping your aluminium that you didn't mention would be a trim router with a bearing bit around a template.
Ive been using one recently with google results.
I see your a tiler too, cool

[dave campbell]

Another option for cutting /shaping your aluminium that you didn't mention would be a trim router with a bearing bit around a template.
Ive been using one recently with google results.
I see your a tiler too, cool

yup a tiler---45 years old and still grovelling for money !! been tiling for almost 25 years now. i do have a router, but have never really used it. i prefer grinders and drills. not sure why i never got into the router but it's there when i'm ready......on the tile front, and i'll try not to muddy up the build thread again---here's where i'm at with it these days around the house--

the 'goth mahal'.....step out the bedroom door and i'm under that light.

tile 1.JPG (53.22 KiB) Viewed 1625 times

the back deck.

tile 2.JPG (66.85 KiB) Viewed 1625 times

the 'barffice" it's an office--it's a bar

tile 3.JPG (44.61 KiB) Viewed 1625 times

and holy moly i've been away for so long that i dropped onto page two !!

[dave campbell]

finally a little progress-----
i guess my brain had to chew VERY silently on this phase. yesterday i felt the first glimmers of trailer energy bubbling up from the ground and today the massive shadowy hand of trailer god reposes before me. will it grab me from the safe confines or will i slip through it's grasp for a while longer ?

that's GE silicone 2. good stuff i think. not much more to say---3/32 holes--deburred. 7/8 spacing. about the same from the edge

laid a bead.JPG (42.01 KiB) Viewed 1741 times

very light anodizing comes off and is a good indicator of set-ness. great silicone placement--it spread well in all directions although less cleanup along the edge is preferable

squelch.JPG (35.63 KiB) Viewed 1741 times

about three quarters of the way down, the skin will be curling under the chassis. not apparent here are the five or six places i screwed the skin to the frame---either end in the cut-off zones and the top edge---where the hole will be covered if it is not removed. also happens to be where the skin and frame touch. i will remove these screws when the skin can drape over the spine, and re-consider the anchor points

row 3.JPG (33.5 KiB) Viewed 1741 times

[dave campbell]

last shots of the night

sin inside outside.JPG (46.85 KiB) Viewed 1740 times

lots of anchors for the spray on insulation to grab

skin inside.JPG (45.68 KiB) Viewed 1740 times

[dales133]

Good stuff dave and love the tiling.
Did a fair bit of out there tiling mysef.

[S. Heisley]

You are quite talented! Thanks for sharing!

[KCStudly]

The tile work looks great. I like the snow flakes (small white squares) on the winter deck scene, and the decorative treatment with the hubcaps.

Looks like you are over the hump on the trepidation moving on with the very complex stage of covering. Totally understand that issue; I get that, too.

My current distraction is flying gourds.

[OP827]

Great looking tile work! And it looks like you will be an expert with setting the rivets before you know it. I am really looking forward to see some closeup of final riveted surface on outside skin. Love it!

[dave campbell]

Good stuff dave and love the tiling.
Did a fair bit of out there tiling mysef.

thanks dales---still tiling ?

[dave campbell]

You are quite talented! Thanks for sharing!

thanks heisley !!

[dave campbell]

The tile work looks great. I like the snow flakes (small white squares) on the winter deck scene, and the decorative treatment with the hubcaps.

Looks like you are over the hump on the trepidation moving on with the very complex stage of covering. Totally understand that issue; I get that, too.

My current distraction is flying gourds.

ok---i'll bite---what the heck is a flying gourd ?

[dave campbell]

Great looking tile work! And it looks like you will be an expert with setting the rivets before you know it. I am really looking forward to see some closeup of final riveted surface on outside skin. Love it!

thanks op8----i'll post a close-up as soon as i can rivet a section good looking enough to fill a photo