One indication is that they are very hard work to set by hand!

For the cost of known copper rivers I wouldn't risk using unknown material.

Monel rivets were used to rivet aluminium alloy to stainless steel in aircraft of the 60's – VC10s, 1-11s. I don't remember them being annealed though. Typical use was the interface between stainless and later titanium jet tube and aluminium structures.

Al Alloy Rivets were coloured – Black for Aluminium, Purple for Al Alloys, Green, Gold and self colour were predecessors to the purple rivets used pre VC10 era (Viscounts, Vanguards etc). The Green, Gold and self colour had to be annealed before use and could only be set during certain hours of the day – instant dismissal if wrong colour at wrong time of day. Reason –

Green would be annealed and would grow "harder" after 6 hours and could not be 'set'.

Gold would be annealed and ready 6 hours later than Green.

Self colour another 6 hours later.

I don't remember the exact timings and the above is just an example of timings. Any rivets that had 'gone off' were returned to stores and re heat treated. If I remember correctly, rivets for a job were called up the day before use, each job had its work sheet identifying material, size and shape and quantity.

I worked on VC10 wing build for a short time during my apprenticeship, the riveting noise of 20 fitters or so was loud by todays standards and no ear muffs were worn by anyone (1964). My collection of rivets came from the floor sweeping once the completed wing was taken out of the jig.

Follow this link if interested in Monel rivets on a/c

monel rivets

Edited By Speedy Builder5 on 27/08/2021 21:09:26