Replacing Plastics with Rivets

[Renvil]

Hi folks.

I’ve managed to source a full set of plastics for my TF Pro.

Started with an ‘easy’ part being the all spark and notice that there is a few rivets on it.

How on earth do I go about replacing these? I don’t mind damaging old plastics, but stuck at where to start.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[russdx1]

Probably best bet is to send them to someone with a rivet press.

 

[JT.]

Drill into the rear side of the rivet to remove it, then re-rivet with a pop rivetting tool/gun (or at a push, maybe a small bolt and nyloc nut).

 

[AlanJ]

nylon bolt and nut. bolt head to front. you can then sand, shape or cut the bolt head as needed

 

[Renvil]

Could anyone recommend a rivet gun or whatever equipment I need to get a factory finish? Happy to go at it myself but need the right tools

 

[russdx1]

I went down this route

Cheap Tubular Rivet Press From an Arbor Press

Cheap Tubular Rivet Press From an Arbor Press: I work on Pinball machines and it seems that there are a lot of tubular rivets involved in holding things together. They are used to hold ramps together and secure the faces on stand up targets. The rivets need to be low profile and strong; they h…

www.instructables.com

it was pre built by pinrestore (now closed) But you can buy the press in the uk, then would need to get the dies.

 

[Renvil]

Revisiting this if anyone has the tooling I could borrow to get a ‘as new’ a look as possible.
Happy to pay for the pleasure.

 

[calvin12]

Drill into the rear side of the rivet to remove it, then re-rivet with a pop rivetting tool/gun (or at a push, maybe a small bolt and nyloc nut).

Don't use a pop rivet it will look bad. The OP can either get a rivet press, a hand squeezer, or just the dye and hammer them manually. There is (was maybe) a press on rivet from pinbits that worked well.

 

[calvin12]

Revisiting this if anyone has the tooling I could borrow to get a ‘as new’ a look as possible.
Happy to pay for the pleasure.

This isn't cheap but this is the hand squeezer I use. I also have a press.

https://a.co/d/hn1IzaP

 

[JT.]

.

 

[Ruaraidh]

I've always just used a rivet punch with a light hammer, care is needed to fully support the plastic but for occasional use it's easier than going to the trouble of getting a small press.


Appropriate punches are available - This is what I use: https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/77-6663