Star Wars pop rivets

[edwoodjnr]

I recently powdercoated all of the metalwork on my Star Wars because some areas were a little rusty or a little scratched. The powdercoating looks great and most parts are screwed on with coach bolts or button head screws which I also replaced with imperial UNC fixings.

The one part that is more difficult to do is the speaker grille as it is riveted on. For this you can either apply new rivets or use threaded wood inserts with matching button head screws.

I spotted a post on KLOV and I ordered some 3/16" black pop rivets that are the exact same size as the ones Atari used. The seller (Joey Cuda) sells them for $0.25 each is the same guy that supplied the black repro cardboard bezels from my earlier post. Here is the link to the rivets:

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=267698

I also got a new pop rivet gun off ebay for £5.

The only recommendation I would have is to put a piece of black electrical tape over the end of the rivet gun hole, pierce it and then insert the rivet so that the black paint stays on the rivet when it breaks the mandrel.

Here are the rivets and my Star Wars after riveting the grille back on. Believe me it does look a lot better than in the photo due to the flash:

 

[Alpha1]

Wow very nice work dude. What's next to it?

 

[Deathrow]

Wow, you guys pay real attention to detail.

A great touch, nice one!

 

[edwoodjnr]

Next to it is my Gyruss

 

[Alpha1]

Yeah, I knew what it was but didn't want to spoil it by saying, nice cabs those Centuri ones. I have a Phoenix and Aztarac.

 

[edwoodjnr]

Yes they are superb cabs.

For this post I had the following coated:

- air vent at the back
- speaker grille
- marquee metal strip
- control panel
- coin doors and frame
- reject coin flaps
- yoke handles
- yoke cover
- yoke frame

If you are considering powdercoating as part of your restoration then I would highly recommend it as it makes the metal work look like new.

 

[Alpha1]

I've always thought powder coating is a million times better than spraying it yourself. Did you do the coin door too? They always come up lovely.

Ah I see you have - pix of the entire front please!

 

[edwoodjnr]

I am happy to do so but the CP is still with the powdercoaters so I will post when I get it back next week. I have all of the other bits and yoke rebuilt.

 

[Russ J]

Were thinking about doing my speaker grill when I restored my SW but tbh the grill wasn't that bad and didn't really warrent a restore...Handy to no that black rivits are available though

I had all my metal pieces on my upright powdercoated (Coin door,flaps,full Yoke,CP etc)...and they look brand new

...replaced all the 'worn' hex bolts with nice new UNC new ones as well...

Russ J2013-03-30 16:30:57

 

[Equites]

I'm waiting on some of these rivets from Joey too. Nice to know the outcome of using them.