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
here it is after some fixin
guess which is my first attempt ?