Phase box rivets

There are a variety of plastic rivets available, but Ratchet Rivets,
a large double-headed style, in natural colored nylon 66, works well
for string ties on paperboard.  This style is available in several
lengths, but intermediate lengths can be successfully created by
slightly shortening the shanks of a longer size with a very sharp
electronics-type end-nipper (wire cutter).  This rivet design uses a
single component, two of which snap together by hand or with a light
hammer tap.  They can be removed (with some difficulty)  and usually
re-used.

Small quantities at somewhat high prices can be ordered conveniently
from McMaster-Carr Supply Co., 708-833-0300 (Chicago), Fax:
708-834-9427. They do ship worldwide.  Prices for ratchet rivets
range from U.S.$12.72-13.85/hundred parts (50 pair), price depends
on grip range, 0.235-1.375" (sorry, I haven't worked out the metric
equivalents).

These Ratchet Rivets and Snap Rivets (another large-headed
snap-together style in nylon) are manufactured by ITW Fastex,
Chicago, 847-299-2222. In the UK, contact ITW Fastex England,
Basinstoke, Fax: 125-684-3678.  In the U.S., they sell only through
distributors who usually have a minimum quantity requirement of 1000
units.

McMaster-Carr also carries brass "Slam Rivets", probably the same as
others referenced for this topic, at $14.96/100.  They also carry
brass semi-tubular rivets (usually seen in the leather trade only in
copper-plated steel) in a wide variety of sizes:  head diameters
5/l6"-1/2", shank diameters 9/64"-1/4", and lengths of 1/4"-1" (grip
range would be somewhat less).  Rivet tools are also available for
these rivets.

Geoffrey Brown
Curator of Conservation
Kelsey Museum
University of Michigan
313-647-0439

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:56
                Distributed: Tuesday, December 10, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-56-006
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