The Ford Barn - Brazier head rivets

The Ford Barn (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/index.php)

- Model A (1928-31) (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=3)

- - Brazier head rivets (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146439)

Brazier head rivets

As most model A people know, Ford used brazier head rivets to fasten a lot of sheetmetal parts together like quarterpanels to subrail, seat frames to subrails, etc. I have looked for some longer 3/16" brazier head rivets, 1/2" or even 5/8" to rivet 3 or 4 pieces of metal together in a few spots. I can't find these lengths of steel rivets any place including BigFlats, McMaster-Carr, Granger, Ebay and some other internet sites. There are aluminum rivets in these lengths, but I have heard not to mix dissimilar metals. I don't know why some people say not to mix metals. If anyone know where brazier head rivet in these lengths can be purchased, please post a response. Also, if anyone knows whether aluminum rivets can be used on painted steel (model A metal), please post the information.
Thanks for any help.
Rusty Nelson

Re: Brazier head rivets

Hanson Rivet and Supply
13241 Weidner St.
Pacoima, CA 91331
818-485-0500
800-777-4838

Re: Brazier head rivets

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrndln (Post 924291)

As most model A people know, Ford used brazier head rivets to fasten a lot of sheetmetal parts together like quarterpanels to subrail, seat frames to subrails, etc. I have looked for some longer 3/16" brazier head rivets, 1/2" or even 5/8" to rivet 3 or 4 pieces of metal together in a few spots. I can't find these lengths of steel rivets any place including BigFlats, McMaster-Carr, Granger, Ebay and some other internet sites. There are aluminum rivets in these lengths, but I have heard not to mix dissimilar metals. I don't know why some people say not to mix metals. If anyone know where brazier head rivet in these lengths can be purchased, please post a response. Also, if anyone knows whether aluminum rivets can be used on painted steel (model A metal), please post the information.
Thanks for any help.
Rusty Nelson

The way way simplistic answer is if they get wet they form a "battery" and corrode the metals.

Others will post here soon with tons more on galvanic action of dissimilar metals.

Re: Brazier head rivets

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida (Post 924466)

Others will post here soon with tons more on galvanic action of dissimilar metals.

Knowledge expands to fill available information.

http://www.corrosionist.com/Corros1.gif

Note here that in an electro-chemical couple, the uppermost metal tends to be sacrificed. Aluminum and Ferrous metals are not close so there is considerable electrochemical potential here to set things in motion corrosively.

I have a pickup bed that is apart for restoration currently (can't seem to get back to it.) I've bought the rivet kit - ALL the rivets necessary to bring it together. I may have bought it from Hansen although it was a while ago and it might have been somewhere else.

Some of the larger brazier head rivets are aluminum.

"How shoddy" I thought when I saw it. Either the supplier is trying to compensate for the difficulties in setting the rivets by offering a non-standard softer material, or they simply can't get rivets in that size in steel. (or they're cutting corners and substituting commonly found aircraft rivets?)

Joe K