Blacksmith Belt Buckle

[Gene C]

[Bob Johnson]

Hi Gene,

Good timing on publishing your article; I just got a fly press from Renato Muskovic in Surrey, BC. My wife wanted to know what I am going to use it for and now I can show her your buckles. Might even make some! Can you tell me a bit more about the rivet set tool? I would guess the #30 hole depth is a bit less than the exposed length of the rivet to upset a donut? Did you cut or clip them off, and then use the other set tool to form a button? Did you have any problems with work hardening the copper rivet on the second operation?

[Gene C]

The rivet set tool is just shy of 5/8" deep, although it could be deeper, 1/8" in diameter. The turned end compresses the ssteel around the rivet locking it in place. The tool is made from automobile lug wrench, quenched in pariffine, (sprelling) then tempered about 700 degrees by burning off the quench oil in front of the forge.

I use 1/8 X 5/8 soft copper dome head rivets, Jaycee Rivets company. part number CO12500625, I used to have multiple length rivets but finallly setteled on 5/8" length and just nip them off with a pair of diagonals, file the end smooth then bend with the rivet set tool. The copper is dead soft and easy to work. When I sold them the buyer could cut off the rivet to fit the belt thickness they were using.

http://www.rivetsinstock.com/rivet60...FQdMgwodRSXiHQ

Nead any more info, I can photograph the whole sequence.

Good luck, buckles are fun to make. Yeah, it's important to make the wife think your are making money.

Good timing on publishing your article; I just got a fly press from Renato Muskovic in Surrey, BC. My wife wanted to know what I am going to use it for and now I can show her your buckles. Might even make some! Can you tell me a bit more about the rivet set tool? I would guess the #30 hole depth is a bit less than the exposed length of the rivet to upset a donut? Did you cut or clip them off, and then use the other set tool to form a button? Did you have any problems with work hardening the copper rivet on the second operation?