Rivet washers?

[DaMScampers]

Are Rivet Washers a good or bad idea?

I've never used them but saw them today and liked the idea of them for the application of fiberglass. Yet I ask for your collective wisdom.


Sent from my iPad using Fiberglass RV

[Donna D.]

You need the plastic washer for the caps to "snap" onto and make a water tight seal. Snap Caps & Plastic Washers

[Steve L.]

I like them, especially for relatively crushable materials such as fiberglass. By crushable I mean that the hole in the fiberglass can be made bigger (crushes outward) as the bulge moves toward the head thus not letting the rivet clamp on both sides of the joint. Used on the end side of the joint, not the rivet head side. Can make installing the decorative acorn nuts more fussy to install. But not all trailers use them. You also would probably need a longer rivet to make sure the rivet extends long enough to bulge beyond the washer.

The snap cap base goes right under the rivet head, but I think you're referring to small aluminum washers they intend for the other side of the joint.

[Borden]

ordered a 100 neoprene rivet washers used to make a water proof seal at trailer wall and head of pop rivet; also got water proof closed end pop rivets for our trailer, look original, are used on fiberglass boats and airstream trailers as well

[VB_in_BC]

Originally Posted by DaMScampers

Are Rivet Washers a good or bad idea?

I've never used them but saw them today and liked the idea of them for the application of fiberglass. Yet I ask for your collective wisdom.

It sounds like you're talking about using a backing washer for the rivet to grip on. On fiberglass this is definitely a good idea. Rivets can pull through soft materials, especially if the hole wasn't drilled cleanly. I used them when I replaced the fridge vent covers on my trailer. A couple of the old rivets had pulled through the fiberglass.

[Darwin Maring]

A rivet washer on the inside will distribute the forces so as to not shatter the fiberglass and make the holl larger. I think it is a must to use but a pain to do because someone needs to be inside to install and hold the washer. Good Luck.

[Borden]

Pics of closed end water proof pop rivets, we purchased 5/32 closed end pop rivets with neoprene washers and 3/16 closed end pop rivets; the 5/32 use a washer and 3/16 are a cup head design no washer needed, 100 = $25 approx.

Notice the nail head is not showing on end shot

The 5/32 stainless with stainless mandrel showing the 3/16 is aluminium with steel mandrel. most rivets on the boler are the 3/16 aluminium we got two lengths the shorter ones 19.95 a 100 and the longer ones 24.00 per 100

hope this helps

P.S. also got stainless backup washers for the rivets

[Borden]

The 3/6 closed end rivets, installed with neoprene washers and broke 3 pop rivet guns. The Titan 15050 did the job well and easy. The are definitely water proof.

Also doing clearance lights.
We have used a neoprene washer at the inside wall to make a water tight connection to hold and connect the power. "all other old holes have been filled in"

P.S. took some of the 5/32 rivet washers and used a leather punch to make the hole 3/16 and placed them under the head of the rivet worked great. Also the boler rivets go into steel brackets on the inside was a two person job.