For a repair using two pieces of .0625 inch aluminum drilled for 1/8 inch rivets, what is the length of the rivets to be used?

To determine the appropriate length of rivets for a repair involving two pieces of .0625 inch aluminum drilled for 1/8 inch rivets, it's crucial to consider the thickness of the materials being joined and the standard practice for selecting rivet lengths.

Each piece of aluminum is .0625 inches thick, and since there are two pieces, the total thickness is .0625 inches + .0625 inches, which equals .125 inches. When selecting rivet length, it is standard to add a little extra length to accommodate the material thickness and to ensure the rivet can adequately form a shop head after being driven.

In the case of 1/8 inch (0.125 inch) rivets, the general formula for the rivet length is to account for the combined thickness of the materials (in this case .125 inches) and then add an additional amount for the grip of the rivet. A typical rule of thumb is to add about 1/16 inch to ensure a proper fit and allow for the deformation during riveting.

Thus, if we start with a combined thickness of .125 inches and add approximately .0625 inches (1/16 inch), we arrive at a necessary rivet length of about .1875