I'm planning to build a 17'x8'x18'' sign frame using steel studs and have seen one fastened together with rivets. I've used the little pop rivets many times but I think it needs something heavier. What kind of rivets do I need and what type of gun? Will a hand riveter work? Is there a type which makes it's own hole? Will I need an air riveter? Thanks
[ November 04, 2002, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by Joe House (Member # 3110) on :
Wayne, these are usually an angle iron frame welded together with a sheet metal skin riveted to the frame work. If you plan on doing many of these types of sign cabinets, I'd invest in an air rivet gun. More and more though it seems that aluminum extusions are taking over these large cabinets. Is this going to be internally illuminated? If so, an extrusion cabinet will be a lot easier to build (if you have a radial arm saw and aluminum welding capabilities.)
Good Luck,
Joe
[ November 04, 2002, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: Joe House ]
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Hi Joe, This is going to be .040 aluminum panels with an internal metal stud frame with diagonal bracing. Once the aluminum is attached, it should be very strong.
I bid the job two ways: Internallly lighted cabinet with pan formed faces or just the boxed in frame with aluminum faces.
If they go with the lighted sign I will just sub it out and install it. If they go the all metal route I plan to build most of it in the shop and then transport it to the jobsite. It might be kinda heavy but I think it will be easier to build in the shop.
Posted by Steve Nuttle (Member # 2645) on :
Wayne before I spent years in the saddle cowboying and before I came into the sign business a year and a half ago, I worked on aircraft as an A&P mechanic. I have done quite a bit of riviting in my day. If this is something you are going to do alot of in the future then invest in a good pnuematic rivet gun along with several different tips for different size riviets. I have never seen a rivet gun that makes it's own holes so you will have to drill holes. The size of the hole must exactly match the size of the rivet. They are usually numbered bits typically #30 or #40 depending on the size of the rivet.
There is also another part to this that makes it a whole lot easier. They are call Clecos(sp?). They come in various sizes to match drilled holes and are spring loaded. Once you have drilled your first hole you stick a cleco in it. They make cleco plyers to insert and remove your clecos. Then as you drill your next holes you keep adding clecos. This keeps the skin or panel tight. Once all your holes are drilled and clecoed. Start at the beginning with your rivets and replace the clecos with rivets. I just realized I am making this sound hard but it's really not that difficult.
I don't think that you mentioned what your frame will be made out of but be careful mounted alumiuim to steel or you may have a problem with dissimilar metal corrosion. Use alum. frame with alum. panels and alum. riviets and you should be fine. If you need more help or info email me at sunttle@wyom.net.
One last thing, you might take a trip to you local FBO and visit with some A&P mechanics. They are a lot like Letterheads, willing to help and share knowledge. You might also look in to renting a rivet gun and some clecos. Good luck.
Steve
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Wayne go to a body shop that does buses,they have the best rivet guns for aluminum.
Posted by Richard Bustamante (Member # 370) on :
Steve, Man, I hate TLA`s! (three letter acronyms) What the hell is a "FBO"?
FYI, I've heard of the FBI, and the FCC, FAA, FFA, FDA, and the PTA, But what the hell is the FBO?
Is it...Female Body Offerings ????
If it is, Can you tell me where my local one is?
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
I use stainless steel pop rivets and an air rivet gun
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Thanks for the replies everyone. So far, it looks like my client is leaning heavily toward the cabinet with pan-formed faces. I was looking forward to building this one in my shop but will file this valuable information away on my hard drive for next time. I guess that I won't have to buy that pneumatic riveter, at least not right now. Thanks again!
Posted by Steve Nuttle (Member # 2645) on :
Sorry bout that! FBO is Fixed Based Operator. It's usually the small operator that rents private planes at an airport.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)