Metric rivet snaps.

[Kevin Tomkinson]

Hi all,
Does anyone know where I can get my hands on a pair of rivet snaps for 2.5mm rivets.Apparently metric rivets have a different head standard to imperial rivets. I can get any amount of imperial snaps but when I tell them what it is for they all say no imperial are different and will not do.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
All the best
Kevin.

[Fabrice Le Roux]

Hi Kevin,

2.5mm is the same as 1/8" in practical terms.
Well done you finding 2.5mm rivets at all, as the continental suppliers don't seem to list 2.5mm as a standard size.
Get a pair of 1/8th snaps for a fiver each. Any dimensional difference with vanish in a couple of gentle hammer blows .

If using copper rivets, should you find they are bending, not deforming, you can heat them up to anneal them, then try again. The hammering will work harden them. Ditto Alu rivets (max 400 degrees). Would avoid steel as more likely to bruise plate by over hammering.

The rivets on our beloved models are decorative, occasionally structural, but never to boiler-making specifications, so if you can't get a snap into a tight corner, just superglue the rivet in place.
No-one will ever know!

cheers
Fabrice

[Kevin Tomkinson]

Hi Fabrice,
Many thanks for your advice. It is deeply appreciated. It has been driving me nuts trying to get these things and all the time coming up against a brick wall. Maybe now I can get on with building my 251!!
Thanks again for your help.
Kevin.

[Chris Hall]

The rivets on our beloved models are decorative, occasionally structural, but never to boiler-making specifications, so if you can't get a snap into a tight corner, just superglue the rivet in place.
No-one will ever know!

cheers
Fabrice

Now I'm on my second Mark IV build, I can fully appreciate the wisdom of this statement !

An amused,

Chris