Rivets

[Darrell O'Neill]

Im just about to fit the aluminium sheets to the trailer canopy Ive made...  

Am I right in thinking I should use sealed large flange rivets to fix it?

Im struggling to find sealed rivets with aluminium mandrels (the centre pin) would the steel ones rust in time?

ALso if Im fitting 1.5mm ali to 2mm steel box, what length of rivet?  8,10 or 12mm? would it make much differnce?

Ive anyone knows the cheapest place to buy these, I could do with the advice...

Thanks

[adamnreeves]

IMHO the large flange rivets are used to spread load say for fixing GRP so no point with ali sheet. Get sealed ones as this will help prevent water getting into the chassis. Regarding the length depends on the thickness of the box section but I would have thought 8 or 10s would be fine. In fact the ones used for attaching panels to westfields should do the job, 9.5X4.0mm.

[pistonbroke]

For rust free you need monel metal rivets but there not as cheap as normal steel ones .

I would put a good mastic on the joints to seal them , just like the wessy chassis panels .

[Darrell O'Neill]

IMHO the large flange rivets are used to spread load say for fixing GRP so no point with ali sheet.

Are you saying that normal 6mm flanges will be OK? Would'nt the larger flange help to hold the ali sheet flatter?

[adamnreeves]

IMHO the large flange rivets are used to spread load say for fixing GRP so no point with ali sheet.

Are you saying that normal 6mm flanges will be OK? Would'nt the larger flange help to hold the ali sheet flatter?

Yes. Using sufficient rivets with an even spacing will hold it down nice and flat. Like it has been said here using a sealant, silkaflex or just a good quality silicon sealant. Apply sealant across the rivet holes.