With tongue very firmly in cheek 
There is/has been the occasional time when I get called a rivet counter. But since there are not enough rivets to count around here, something needed to be done about it.
So I ordered a small bag from one of my Swiss buddies - he has a machine that cranks them out - for those occasions when needed. Are there really 1000 in that bag? Probably close to it, but I didn’t count them.
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/Rivets01_s.jpg)
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
With tongue very firmly in cheek
There is/has been the occasional time when I get called a rivet counter. But since there are not enough rivets to count around here, something needed to be done about it.
So I ordered a small bag from one of my Swiss buddies - he has a machine that cranks them out - for those occasions when needed. Are there really 1000 in that bag? Probably close to it, but I didn’t count them.(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/Rivets01_s.jpg)
Yeah, I’ve done that before, many times. Talked about it here at least four times, the first being in 2006. You’re welcome to use the idea.
Steve Featherkile said:
Yeah, I’ve done that before, many times. Talked about it here at least four times, the first being in 2006. You’re welcome to use the idea.
Thank you! Quite possible, but these are high-precision metric rivets. 
Touche`
Bob the dating site is beginning to work!
John Caughey said:
Touche`
Bob the dating site is beginning to work!
John,
There’s one more connection I have to rivets, dating back to HO days. One of my buddies — in those days a professional model builder — called one day and asked could you/would you build a rivet embosser that can be accurately adjusted for impression depth i.e. used for various sizes and materials. I built two, one I kept.
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/Embosser01_s.jpg)
The throat was kept that large to adapt to many work piece sizes either of us anticipated using. The collar on the weight guide can be adjusted to reduce the impact. The punch and die are inserts that can be exchanged for different sizes. The punch assembly is mounted on a leaf spring with just the right thickness. It isn’t high-tech but it works.
John Caughey said:
Touche`
Bob the dating site is beginning to work!
Mmmmm not so much. I just find it interesting that within days of an extensive discussion of copyright…
I built those embossers long before I had a 'puter and not every drawing coming off the board got saved. Just went through the “Drawings Mechanical” hanging folder, hoping it was there.
Nope it isn’t, but there’s a lot of other good stuff that is … and I had forgotten about.
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
John Caughey said:
Touche`
Bob the dating site is beginning to work!
John,
There’s one more connection I have to rivets, dating back to HO days. One of my buddies — in those days a professional model builder — called one day and asked could you/would you build a rivet embosser that can be accurately adjusted for impression depth i.e. used for various sizes and materials. I built two, one I kept.
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/Embosser01_s.jpg)
The throat was kept that large to adapt to many work piece sizes either of us anticipated using. The collar on the weight guide can be adjusted to reduce the impact. The punch and die are inserts that can be exchanged for different sizes. The punch assembly is mounted on a leaf spring with just the right thickness. It isn’t high-tech but it works.
Neat tool, I just use a pin vise with a blunted nail in it. Low tech solution but it works.
I have a confession to make I don’t use napkins for my plans.
I use beer coasters, because all my good ideas happen when I am at the pub.
I don’t count rivets either.
Am I allowed to stay still?
Please
Graeme Price said:
I have a confession to make I don’t use napkins for my plans.
I use beer coasters, because all my good ideas happen when I am at the pub.
I don’t count rivets either.
Am I allowed to stay still?
Please
Sure! Your in good company…
Vic Smith said:
Neat tool, I just use a pin vise with a blunted nail in it. Low tech solution but it works.
I am definitely NOT a rivet counter, but I have used a sewing pattern wheel to simulate a row of rivets in sheet metal flashing.
You guys are close … but until those bags contain Numbered Rivets they are no use.
Not the number of, either.
Keep at it the patent awaits
John Caughey said:
You guys are close … but until those bags contain Numbered Rivets they are no use.
Not the number of, either.
Keep at it the patent awaits
John,
As long as I can get rivets when I need some I’m OK. If someone else needs some let me know. 
I’ve always just made them as I needed them; Drill the holes, chamfer the out side corners. Bead one end of the wire, my oxy/acet makes that a quick job. Slide the wire through and mark the cut depending on the rivet head desired. I can use a ball pein or rivet head hammer or my Fordham jack hammer hand piece. Flush rivets are cut a fraction longer than flush and round heads are a radius + the brain’s tad more. It’s a reflex… I gits a feeling, checks the napkin and cuts.
Finish with the rotary hand piece… Stamp with it’s #
Graeme Price said:
I have a confession to make I don’t use napkins for my plans.
I use beer coasters, because all my good ideas happen when I am at the pub.
I don’t count rivets either.
Am I allowed to stay still?
Please
Yes but you MUST stay still…don’t move, not till we tell you it’s OK to move again.
Was doing a little research into the origins of napkin building and discovered it was six years ago to the very day …
Greg
Yup, so the napkin drawing became sort of joke.
I was curious, and he wasnt just an ass here. He’s made quite a reputation on other sites too. Here’s a thread from 2007 with the same attitude.
When I look at the caliber of the projects in Miks 2020, as just one example, however, I have to say that The Revenge of the Napkin Builders has been accomplished …
Bob McCown said:
I was curious, and he wasnt just an ass here. He’s made quite a reputation on other sites too. Here’s a thread from 2007 with the same attitude.
Geez, Bob, and I felt dang satisfied with myself when my detective work led me to PDFs of the architectural drawings of my build this year. I can see where that wouldn’t have been nearly, not even nearly, good enough for You Know Who, since I don’t have the original blueprints from the original railroad that built the original tower.
