Model Train Journal

Opening boxes that haven't seen the light of day in decades. These items need to go to someone who will use them.

But, right now I'm looking for information about a Riveter I bought from this company back in 1994. I answered an ad in MR and learned in subsequent telephone conversations (pre-internet) that he was in the aviation business (as was I) and we hit it off. I have used his LT-200 test stand many times, but never used this riveter or the clamp mentioned in the letter. In fact I don't even know where the clamp is. And, unfortunately, I never went back to buy the additional rivet sets......so I have only the one that came with it.

So, I was just wondering if anyone has one, used one ore even seen one and can comment. I lost track of Mr. Anderson in the late 90's and read he had passed and his company sold to Roberson Machine Co., who still manufacturers aviation parts in Bland, MO.

Due respect - a good rivet machine will enable exact spacing as well as an easy way to move the dies together. I have not perfected the latter, but the spacing is easily done with sharp-edged female dies. I have described my machine many times in the O Scale magazines - it is just a small Harbor Freight cast iron drill press fitted with an X-Y table for the female die. The table has provision for movable fences to get straight lines of rivets.

The easy way to move the dies together (to actually make the impressions) would be a foot pedal, or a push button servo. I just use the drill press handle - my left hand is all I have to hold the brass to be "riveted."

Jerry Snow made a wonderful rivet machine that used a "one-way" bearing. It was genius, but unfortunately was too complicated for my work.

Clamp? You simply cannot have enough clamps. They come in infinite varieties. When using a drill press to drill holes, especially in brass with un-modified drill bits, always clamp your work.

Clamp? You simply cannot have enough clamps. They come in infinite varieties. When using a drill press to drill holes, especially in brass with un-modified drill bits, always clamp your work.

Oh yeah, using clamps can not be emphasized too much. And trying to support brass items that aren't flat without scratching, crushing or distorting them can be a challenge. I'm a shameless rookie at this, but sometimes you gotta use good old Yankee ingenuity to make it work....who cares how silly the clamps look as long as they work and are safe.

I bought a cheap Proxxon XY table and mounted it to a nylon cutting board I cut down so I could use clamps to this assembly on the drill press table and then Rube Goldberg showed up.....but it worked.