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Al Bracket, Al Shelf: Use Steel or Al Pop-Rivets?

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racookpe1978

Nuclear
Feb 1, 2007
5,984
A friend has a portable electronics "kiosk" for recharging amplifiers and electronics gear he rents for concerts and exhibits nationwide: Lots of travel, lots of loading and unloading of the aluminum assembly, but it's only exposed to humidity and environment while being shipped. The rest of the life of the gadget (assume 5 to 7 years max) is indoor or in storage between trips.

The shelf holding several transformers and power supplies has busted. (The original vender's welds simply tore through -> Obviously, they weren't strong enough to withstand stress and shock and "handle with care" signs.)

I don't want to recommend simply re-welding the Al shelf: It seems that he would be better off adding a Al angle iron (1-1/2 x 1-1/2x1/8 (?) and some legs under the shelf to stiffen it up and better support the load. (The angle iron would go under the original shelf to replace the short "tack" that failed between the shelf and interior walls.)

Is there any real disadvantage to using 3/16 or 1/4 dia steel pop rivets rather than Al pop rivets.... Or am I trying to hard, and really doesn't matter? 8<) Back side of the interior wall is not accessible, so I'm left with trying to recommend a way to attach the reinforcements without using nuts or through bolts.
 
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Agree, aluminum rivet with steel mandrel.
 
No photo's available until this coming weekend.

Al pop-rivets are the consensus.
 
Aluminum rivets, but get the High strength, I think they're called, like McMaster-Carr 98778A501.

You might invest in a hydraulic puller, or one with really long handles.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
 
Aluminum or stainless steel rivets.
 
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