Rivet hole size

[dbdevkc]

Here is another one I also posted to the sonextalk list. I notice that the ccp-42 rivets are ever so slightly loose in the holes made by the #30 drill bit. Is there a reason we do not drill them with a 1/8 bit instead?

[Andy Walker]

It's probably just to make aligning holes and inserting rivets easier. I don't know for sure, but it might be possible to have the rivet/hole mating be "too" tight. I could envision that could cause cracking in some circumstances (just speculation of course). Nobody has complained about Sonex joints getting loose, so it's probably unnecessary to re-invent the wheel on this.

As an aside, when I have to drill out a rivet, I use a 1/8" cobalt bit. Cuts through the SS rivets like butter, and even if I drill right through (I try to stop short and pop the head off with a punch) the slight undersize compared to the #30 leaves the hole unmolested. So that could be one advantage of using #30 for your holes.

[Bacon8tor]

I'm just starting my project and want to get this straight. Do we use the #30 (or 1/8 inch) bit for both the CCP 42 and CCP 44 rivets? I assumed the #30 was for the CCP 44's and the #40 for the CCP 42's but the 42's don't fit in the #40 holes even though they are both 3/32 inch diameter. I'm confused.

[sonex892]

I'm just starting my project and want to get this straight. Do we use the #30 (or 1/8 inch) bit for both the CCP 42 and CCP 44 rivets? I assumed the #30 was for the CCP 44's and the #40 for the CCP 42's but the 42's don't fit in the #40 holes even though they are both 3/32 inch diameter. I'm confused.

The only difference between CCP 42, CCP44 and CCP 46 is length. They all use a final hole size of #30.

1/8" is actually slightly smaller than #30

[Bryan Cotton]

None of our rivets are 3/32. That is just the size of the pilot holes. There is a table of these rivets at A/C Spruce.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/h ... nrivet.php

[Bacon8tor]

Thanks, guys. I get it now. Didn't mean to hijack your post, Kevin :-)

[Sonex825]

The CCP/CCC/AAP-3X rivets are 3/32

[rizzz]

None of our rivets are 3/32. That is just the size of the pilot holes. There is a table of these rivets at A/C Spruce.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/h ... nrivet.php

Some are, they generally are used to attach things like nutplates.