Tissue box rivets?

[mnmfive]

I thought I would have my Studebaker tissue box re-chromed. The front chrome plate is riveted to the painted box. I thought I would remove the rivets, have the front part chromed and paint the rear part (box) and reassemble. I'm having a hard time finding a rivet that is so small and flat on both sides. Any suggestions?

[JBOYLE]

Try an industrial fastener shop or, and this is my favorite, the local airport and check with a light-plane repair shop.

[Retired]

Get small bolts w/the head of the same size as the rivit, remove unwanted bolt head material, file, grind etc. have chrome plated.

[Welcome]

>>>Any suggestions?

[barnlark]

Get small bolts w/the head of the same size as the rivit, remove unwanted bolt head material, file, grind etc. have chrome plated.

Same plan, except use stainless bolts or screws and buff when done. Zero chrome plating needed. The original rivets require a very expensive rivet tool and special rivets, same as the wind vent channels and frames. The stainless items just require labor and patience.

[mnmfive]

Thanks so much. The rivets for the vent window are larger. The tissue box rivets are very small. They seam to be hallow and just bent over on the inside. I find it hard to believe that no one has the answer to this! Very crazy. It almost sounds like no matter what you spend there is no solution to this? Can't be!

[jclary]

I know of a possible solution but I am not sure if one is made for the size you are seeking. There is a fastener called a "screw head rivet." They are often found holding samples of products such as conveyor belt material, vinyl siding, carpet, and in some cases loose leaf catalogs that need to be updated from time to time.

With a slot in one or both ends, you separate the two heads as one is threaded into the other. I know you are looking for an exact match for the ones you have, but you have to know that when those things were originally built, the components were supplied cheaply by the lowest bid. They were cheap and the people offering them had no clue that a half a century later someone would be stressing out over restoring it to its original condition.

So, never regret upgrading something so cheaply built with something more practical and service friendly. Besides, if I ever ran into a judge that was so anal as to penalize me for not having the correct looking rivet in my tissue despenser...you just might find me being arrested for peeing all over his Kia in the parking lot!

[jlmccuan]

Your friend is McMaster-Carr http://www.mcmaster.com

[Welcome]

>>>I find it hard to believe that no one has the answer to this! Very crazy. It almost sounds like no matter what you spend there is no solution to this? Can't be!

And I find it just as hard to believe you didn't find an "answer" on the Engineering blue print!!! Did you actually check it

[[[ #2.)]]]

[mnmfive]

Point well taken John. I'm not going nuts to find the exact rivet but something that works well, not pertruding to far down into the tissue box area. I'm going to look around for some of the things suggested. Thank you!

[mnmfive]

WOW! jlmccuan. I found the solution! Thanks much!