Forging rivet headers - blacksmithing tools

[@LunchboxNinja]

Every time I start a project, tool build, etc, I always check your page first. "Lemme just check to see if Black Bear has a video before I get started..." NINE HOURS LATER..... project delayed haha

[@michaelhayes1678]

Lame joke coming..... This is definitely a way to get "a head" in our riveting game. :D Thanks for the video! Great, great work!

[@freemandavy9868]

You Know you are a real inspiration to us newbes out there I find your videos well explained clear and concise When a mistake crops up you keep calm and move on I have been a welder for 40 years plus But really it is very little help to the art of blacksmithing So many thanks to your desire to share your knowledge/ ability

[@IthBombgard]

Your videos have been very helpful and inspirational for me as a new hobby blacksmith. I hope to see many more to come! Cheers!! :)

[@brynelequire4158]

Another great video! For the final rounding of the tool, I actually ended up using a ball bearing and a couple good whacks to set it. Worked like a charm, still using it to this day.

[@clydeulmer4484]

You've gotten really good at explaining *process*, John. And this is one of your best -- enjoyed it. Clyde

[@MrCubflyer]

A rivet driver for a rivet gun would work well also they are very hard

[@rolliekelly6783]

Another good example of things riveted together is the Titanic.......er maybe not too good. Could steel balls be used in conjunction with a press?

[@jamesmcmillen4828]

I'll be making a rivet header in the morning. Great refresher!!

[@adrewdio2694]

Thank you. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for communication, capacity, how to tips, extras. A pleasure to learn from you and I will be creating my own, from hardened stock. Cheers!

[@FunHobbies225]

i need to make some now i see how was gonna use a drill bit to do it

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hello John 2 years old but still brand new Very usefull i like it Yours Frank

[@TAS1303]

Nice. VideoWhen I built mine for setting the rivets in my Ken's tongs I drilled a hole in some plate then rounded it out with a rivet. I held mine with some scrolling tongs tho and bent the crap out of the rivet in the process. Had to straighten it out three or four times. Didn't think of building a monkey tool to hold it.

[@bentoombs]

I was waiting till I could get some better tool steel. Like you said they take a beating and I finally found some. Great video John I'm going to have to watch it about three more times probably

[@twsdlbh]

Is the header tool an easy to make tool? I've been using a piece of leaf spring to do the same thing but don't have the top part for making the other end of the revit.

[@BlackBearForge]

Harder than making a punch, but not bad

[@waynelewis881]

Wonderful video, John. Your selection of subjects and your teaching style are great. In fact, in all my years in schools, only one professor in my freshman year in college was as good as you are, and I appreciate you as much as I appreciate him. Thank you!

[@BlackBearForge]

Wow! Thank you

[@larryking606]

Great Video ! I have a Project In the next few Weeks . The first one , The first one I Need is the 1/4 " Rivet ! Thank you again for the Knowledge and Inspiration ! Be Safe and Take care ! Keep Hammering

[@wyoblacksmithtools3097]

Good practical video. Thanks for posting. Jerry

[@joergwiesmann4261]

....thank YOU very much !!! You evxplain always soooo good !!! kind regards from Switzerland !!!

[@PaulFontaniniArtist]

Riveting video mate. 😜

[@trknust]

I just love your Straight Forward way of discussing things. Funny enough I was Just watching Kens Custom Iron when I noticed this on the follow up recommendations Wish we lived close.

[@insperatus]

Made a rivet and riveted my first pair of tongs made for round stock tonight - it was quite a pain in the butt without a rivet header! It would certainly have come out much better with one, I'll be making a set of these very soon, thanks for the video!

[@ArmySoldier1972]

John, I have been scouring the TUBE looking for videos on tools to make, when I finally get my milk barn turned into a shop... This Video is an oldie but goodie. I hope others check it out. I can't wait to make rivet headers of my own. (I have succor rod sitting in the corner) Army SE Oregon

[@jackdawg4579]

thanks John, last set I made, I ground the head of a bolt to the shape I wanted the rivet head to be, and used that the same way you used yout ball end punch!

[@coreymerrill3257]

Fordom makes a small drill press station that is angle adjustable for both the work and the tool( handpiece). A 6mm-6.5mm chuck (.244-.248 inches) will allow a vast selection of burs and bits. the tool even allows for wet cutting,so you can cut hardened metal without ruining it , grind and polish glass , gemstones , ect. There is even a gravers tool for decorating like doing inlay and a hammer tip for burnishing ,swaging and peening. ...or work requiring a VERY small jackhammer. Like cleaning up a gold nugget from hard rock matrix . I recently saw a set of dies for cutting inlays , basically it's a flat sheet of tool steel, with the outline of the image secured flush onto wood or soft metal ,or some stones like jade . A set of spring steel cutters are made so they have a flat cutting surface with scooped sides like a flat shovel shape, extends beyond the plate to 1/8th inch or whatever you need, a plain round shank spans the die and a toolstop/ depth gauge rides the die face. The pair are connected at the opposite end and spread about an inch at the cutters, and a shank is made to go into a Jacobs chuck On a drill . Whatever shape the die is , complex with both angular and rounded edges or simple , straight cuts, they will follow it and cut the shape. Obviously the harder the material intended to be cut will require harder cutting surfaces . If anybody that reads this concept has interest, I will point you to the video to show it being made and at work.

[@Resto-Rob]

Thanks. This has been very helpful. Very much appreciated!!! 👍

[@caseyoutdoors3897]

Thank you I'm just starting out God bless

[@richardbryant7972]

Great video as always and very helpful, thank you sir have a blessed day

[@nppjbrown]

I moved to an anvil with a 30mm hardy hole and I found some square tube to put a sleeve on the hardy tools to bring them up to 30mm. Worked well for me and would be easy to reverse.

[@Tom-hz9oc]

I’ve got a set from Ken’s Custom Iron that are fantastic! I’ve never thought of making them with different head designs, so I guess I’ve got a new project!

[@bogomir67]

riveting tools - somehow I saw THAT one coming! ;-)Good idea, though - I need to make at least one set for tongs, and I need to make a wrench for my angle grinders. I believe in English they are called "adjustable face spanners" (?).

[@paulorchard7960]

Thomas Bögel If its the tool i’m thing of I call them multi grips!

[@steffenmeyer2416]

Hi, I live in South Africa, I have been watching your video's and enjoying it so much that i want to start my own blacksmith home shop. Is it possible to give the mesurements in metric as well as I dont ( as many ) dont understand imperial. Thanks Steffen

[@chuckdavis7740]

great vid! i now have to go make some tools! always a good way to spend a sunday. learn in the morning and make in the afternoon

[@d.pretorius453]

Very nice . What about aluminium rivets ? Show me to make aluminium rivets please .

[@gamernick1533]

I have what looks like a little rivet set in the end of my bick already. I figure that is what it would probably be for but its right at the end of my flat bick in a fairly awkward spot! :D

[@prestonfunkhouser1301]

Thank you, Sir. This is exactly what I needed for my current project.

[@wallstreetcrash1]

Thank you KCB 👍 (Carpenter) aka wannabe “cooper” UK🇬🇧

[@AndTheCorrectAnswerIs]

You have great instructional videos. Glad you are preserving and sharing this knowledge with others.

[@dariussutherland4247]

The that's still a little hot so I'm going set it back down had my sides splitting 😂😂

[@jacobhutchens277]

I love these videos, so informational. Thank you!

[@edwarnock4534]

I have rounded a drill in a pinch and was careful to grind a bevel similar to the original drill angle. It worked pretty good and in the drill press did not chatter as I had relieved most of the material from the cut. If you are going to cut rather than forge, a ball cutter is the best as it's geometry is made for both plunge cuts and milling cuts. I also have made elliptical and tear drop depressions that were used to form sterling silver for riveting to fancy horse bit cheeks. Essentially by doing exactly what you did for the rivet set then cleaning the recess with a creep tool and crates point, followed by felt point with polish compound.

[@lenblacksmith8559]

Liked that john, have made one for myself but still picked up some good points.

[@beni2094]

Another great video. The most comprehensive channel. All the good stuff is right here! John you rock!

[@billtalkington664]

You taught me something today. Thank you

[@patmiddleton3947]

Great vid,loads of useful info!👍

[@rustbeltmachine]

Your videos are awesome John. Thanks for all you do.

[@christopherconkright1317]

Could you not weld a piece of round bar to the small piece so it fits in the anvil doesn’t roll away

[@standaffern6595]

Love the tool making videos. Videos on tools for making art type work, as in eyes, veining, and punches for dragons heads, rams heads etc. Would be nice too.

[@christopherconkright1317]

I bought steel balls I plan to heat up what i am making the tool from and using the steel ball to make the half dome

[@bj20715]

Great video. I was going to ask about rivet length just as you started to cover it at the end of the video.

[@yorkshirejoinery2869]

Will be on with making a set of these tomorrow! Great video, thanks for uploading!

[@dennisw7350]

1/4 inch carriage bolt? to form header.

[@standaffern6595]

Just bought 4 used jack hammer bits from my friend for 0$, that my friend got at a swap meet. Ready to forge that Bick. Waiting for video so I can copy procedure without screwing up!

[@BlackBearForge]

I will plan on doing that this week

[@dingodog5677]

Thanks again John. I’ve been wondering how to make these for the last few weeks. I don’t have any bought rivets, so I was wondering how to get the right depression in the punch. I’ll just make a round punch to punch the header punch and bottom. Natmat

[@BrianDaleNeeley]

The Titanic was built with rivets too! So rivets should work fine, as least so long as you don't have to deal with icebergs.... 😝

[@BlackBearForge]

True, but so were lots of other ships.

[@michelrodrigue3739]

very good video sir thank you.

[@thebabylon2933]

Truly wonderful and useful video

[@leperejoe1536]

I am going to make some of these. Great video.

[@adambrown3634]

Great video. Thanks

[@stanervin7581]

@ 12:40 like I say "don't take long to look at"

[@brittinghammerforge9441]

I found this riveting... see what I did there.

[@lonnywalsh]

Very handy, thank you!

[@donrobinson1856]

ball nose endmill works for me

[@brettsayers7768]

Great little tool, will be making one soon.

[@GarageKnight]

Thank you, this was nice and useful video

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@grandadz_forge]

Been looking forward to this video! Loved it.

[@ЯнаШарикаева]

Спасибо очень нужное видео!

[@arthurdibbartistblacksmith6096]

Excellent video... Any chance you could make a video on how to make an anvil horn rivet set for riveting scrolls and hard to reach places?

[@BlackBearForge]

Great suggestion!

[@tylerjenkins91]

This video was really good i couldn’t look away you might say it was.........riveting......

[@billwessels207]

I like the bandaid on your finger. Makes it appear as though you actually work for a living. Not just make videos for profit. Great video. Enjoyed it.

[@BlackBearForge]

I will mention that to the costume designer.

[@billwessels207]

You should thank your costume designer for coming up with that. Keep up the good work Sir.

[@ThomasMcRaeCopland]

Well done Blackbear forge, That will be my next project. I got some coil springs so a few chissles and other punches will be a project for whenever i reciver from my stomache op....

[@davidferrett818]

I ment rivet headers

[@jetblackstar]

Sorry to ask a dumb question. But I'm presuming you don't need to hardening the rivit setting tools? Since you didn't cover it here. Thanks. Great video, I kept wondering how to make these. Surprisingly simple.

[@DavidGrassSr]

NIce video, as usual ,love those tongs, hope your finger gets better,saw where you changed the bandage couple times.you always get cut , mashed finger,burned.its part of the job, See Ya

[@thingmaker3]

I respectfully suggest the rivet was not "wasted" but rather was "invested."

[@danbell3827]

I actually just made a few bottom rivet sets this week, before seeing this. I thought I would share a couple of my tricks I came up with. For the bottom sets, I found a bunch of structural connection bolts at work, meant for bolting together red iron in construction. The ones I have are 3/4" by around 2" long, grade 5. I ground the markings off the heads, then drilled a divot into them and rounded it like you suggested. I have an old gear with a 3/4" shaft hole that I use as a "washer" to drop them into, then into the hardy hole so they don't slide around too much. I could probably find 1" bolts, too, but they're less common. My second tip is for making rounded ends for punches or forms. If you make them from round bar small enough to fit a drill chuck, you can use the drill to spin them against a grinder while moving the drill side to side. Essentially using the drill like a lathe. It takes a bit of practice, but works great for shaping round punches, drifts, etc.

[@DogGuy19]

Good video as always I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. I noticed you had stock sitting right on the screw box of your vise & hit it with a hammer. I'd think that would not be healthy for the vise?

[@yoerim360]

any link to formula so i cancalculate how long the rivet needs to be for a perfect dome? had some info on it 2 years back but seems it is unfindable

[@BlackBearForge]

1 1/2 times the diameter of the rivet sticking out of the hole for each head. Thats just a starting point and should be tested and fine tuned.

[@R_Arizona]

Thank you John

[@doylerabjohn3435]

Great video

[@JF-fx2qv]

Good info.

[@cogpastorc]

Thanks John.

[@JesusisLord-7A]

I'm hoping to see a new hammer in your shop soon.

[@BlackBearForge]

Sounds like I better go and watch

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Good Fun, thank you for sharing.....

[@xxxclampgodxxx5511]

When the rivet is done correctly is it water proof. Will it seal the hole completely or do u need something in there to seal it

[@divernon2672]

Fabulous !!! Very, very, very helpful, thank you !

[@wolfsforge1]

I have a question. Can I make a riveting tools from coil spring that I have? The coil spring I have has never been put on a car.

[@BlackBearForge]

Yes, that should work

[@wolfsforge1]

@@BlackBearForge Thank you

[@1m2m1m1]

👍👍

[@JustinTopp]

Been looking to make a rivet header this is just the video that helped me! Thanks

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Thanks for the info and lessons...

[@daffeogbillan]

Hey I am gone make some tongs what size on the rivet should i go for ? lenght and size ?

[@BlackBearForge]

5/16 - 3/8. length 1 1/2 times the diameter longer than needed to go through the hole

[@daffeogbillan]

@@BlackBearForge Thank you for the answer

[@charlesbrasil2837]

Thank you very much !!

[@SirFuseable]

You mentioned grinding a drill bit and wondering how well it would drill. When grinding the round end the trick is to have no "dead" spot in the centre of the bit by grinding just slightly asymmetrically. Also drill at slower revs than what would normally be recommended for that size drill and material. In another life I used the same principles to sharpen tungsten carbide drills, as used for masonry, for drilling into hardened tool steel for those times when a toolmaker forgot to dill a hole before sending the tool for hardening. It's slow work but a lot faster than annealing and re-hardening.

[@BlackBearForge]

Thanks, I will need to try that

[@kengamble8595]

Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍

[@stephenmcfadyen1385]

Hi John, a great presentation once again, I have gotten a series of ball bearings in differing sizes an I drive that into center punch hole. Bearing suppliers charge cents for the balls or one can smash apart old ball bearings wrapped in a cloth in the vice so you don't lose the bearings

[@BlackBearForge]

I was comparing the bearing one suppliers had with the rivet head sizes and they didn't quite match, but they would come very close.

[@Smallathe]

Lovely demo!!!

[@bxb590]

Thank You, well done.

[@fortpecktim6846]

"Rosie the riveter"

[@WildBoreWoodWind]

Another great video 👍

[@davidferrett818]

Sweet rivet setter.