Tank Dimple Dies

[Tony Spicer]

Before anybody starts making specialized dies for pulled rivets they need to have a look at the rivet specs.

http://www.afsrmarson.net/uploads/pdfs/ ... ochure.pdf

Head height (E) for all stainless is .040, for alum/steel .031, and for closed end .050.

No clue what head height currently available dies are designed to fit. My tank rivets are slightly proud, but the only way I can see it is by laying a straightedge across a rivet head. Take the straightedge away and they're just fine.

Tony

[MikeS.]

I contacted Cleaveland last March about providing a 1/8” Substructure Dimple Die and the reply was “New” ideas would be considered once back orders were filled (due to a breakdown of a major shop tool). Unfortunately, I doubt Cleaveland will create one any time soon (they might consider it to be a limited market for the time being).

As for 100-degree vs 120-degree – a 120-degree pulled rivet fits in a 100-degree dimple just fine. My rivet samples actually exhibited better anti-twist results by doing so (which was an eye opener), and the rivet sat more flush (which is an aesthetic benefit).

Both dies would be nice to have in 1/8” and 100-degree would be acceptable to me.

Mike

[jsteere #39]

I recently learned that Cleaveland Tool is producing a new dimpling die designed specifically for fuel tank skins called “TankDies.” This die produces a dimple that is 0.007” deeper than the normal die, to allow room for the sealant (ProSeal) between the skin and the rivet. This prevents the rivet from standing proud of the skin due to the sealant thickness, eliminating the need to shave the rivet heads to end up with a truly flush rivet.

I called Steve at Cleaveland and asked if this die was appropriate for the pulled-rivets used on the Panther. He reminded me that the “Tank Dies” were designed for solid rivets with a 100-degree head, while the pulled-rivets have a 120-degree head. He immediately concluded that he needed to design a pulled-rivet version of the “Tank Dies,” but told me it would be about two months before they would be available.

They also have a “Substructure Dimple Die Set” that enables a normal skin dimple to mate much better with an underlying dimpled structure, such as a rib. It would take me several thousand words to explain this, so I will simply refer you to a video on the Cleaveland Tool website that explains both of the new die designs. http://www.cleavelandtool.com/Tank-Skin ... O5EreN0wtY
I am not certain of the merits of these new designs, but I will let you know when I receive and update from Steve.

If anyone has an opinion or knowledge on this topic, please jump in.