Plastic Valance Rivets, and a neat little trick Options

[76-914]

I recently purchased some plastic rivets from one of our members (aka tod914). GREAT PRODUCT! Please follow Tods directions and use mine as a non santioned alternative, only. When I was re-installing my threshold trim I "forced" the plastic stems and in doing so basically ruined some rivets. Even though Tod suggested I order extras, I did not order enough extras! This is where the Mother of Invention kicks in. Necessity!!!!!!! I didn't have enough to finish. What to do? I couldn't possibly tell tod I had ruined the extras, much less wait another 3 days for replacements. So I look down at the aluminum rivet stems laying on the ground(read trash,these are the pieces left over from metal pop rivets). I held one up next to a plastic one and bingo. Same diameter. So I lighly tap one of these appx. 8mm into a plastic rivet body ,cut it with side cutter and tap the remaining piece in till flush. Once I noticed how well this worked I found that I did not need to trim the rivets, either. Really! All 4 legs can remain on the rivet and it seats so tight you wont believe it. BTW, I used aircraft grade pop rivets to secure my original metal valance where it attaches on top (the 6 rivets that are covered up) because the two pieces had small gaps in places and I wanted to pull them together. I noticed that the holes on the valance appeared countersunk (whether original or not) so I used these countersunk rivets that I had on hand. If your interested, the AN part number is CS4-4. Their dirt cheap. Aircraft Spruce sells them buy the pound. I wouldn't use any steel stemed rivets as they will rust. Anyway, I hadn't picked up my trash yet and that's why I had the stems right under my nose. I don't think this shit up.