How can I reattach my mailbox door?
July 7, 2010 11:59 AM Subscribe
How can I reattach my mailbox door? It was originally attached with pop rivets (I think) but they rusted. It's a really nice mailbox, and we don't want to replace it.
I was thinking about getting a bolt the appropriate size, and then attempting to hack something together involving two nuts and a lock washer, but I suspect that way leads to frustration. I guess I could get a pop rivet gun, but that's a specialty tool I only need this one time.
I was thinking about getting a bolt the appropriate size, and then attempting to hack something together involving two nuts and a lock washer, but I suspect that way leads to frustration. I guess I could get a pop rivet gun, but that's a specialty tool I only need this one time.
Could you use a couple of those gold paper fasteners? You know, the things that you cram through paper and then bend the little metal arms back.
posted by bondcliff at 12:25 PM on July 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 12:25 PM on July 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: OK, I went to take some pictures.
Here's the broken side and here's the unbroken (but also rusted and soon to break) side.
And yeah, I should just get a rivet gun. I know. I do, really.
posted by ivey at 12:27 PM on July 7, 2010
Here's the broken side and here's the unbroken (but also rusted and soon to break) side.
And yeah, I should just get a rivet gun. I know. I do, really.
posted by ivey at 12:27 PM on July 7, 2010
Response by poster: But bondcliff has a much more exciting answer! Fake brass brads?! That can't possibly fail!
I'll try the machine screw + lock nut combo, and see how it goes. Thanks all.
posted by ivey at 12:36 PM on July 7, 2010
I'll try the machine screw + lock nut combo, and see how it goes. Thanks all.
posted by ivey at 12:36 PM on July 7, 2010
When your question involves replacing pop rivets you're probably not in the best position to criticize the answers you're given, especially the ones given before you've even made it fully clear what your problem is.
But yes, Odinsdream has a better solution.
posted by bondcliff at 1:17 PM on July 7, 2010
But yes, Odinsdream has a better solution.
posted by bondcliff at 1:17 PM on July 7, 2010
Best answer: Machine bolt and matching nylock nut. Make sure you buy stainless steel. (It's more expensive, but ... you had rusting before, you'll have it again.)
I would discourage you from applying your own pop rivets for three reasons: 1) it's a tool you'll just use once, 2) buying too-shallow rivets will result in an incredibly hard to open door, and 3) even with the right depth of rivet, consumer-grade pop rivets these days are aluminum, and the steel edges of your mailbox door will grind through it in fairly short order.
BTW, the original thing that rusted through is not a pop-rivet, it's a steel binding grommet applied by a fairly tightly calibrated punch machine. Not something you'll find in a shop.
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:47 PM on July 7, 2010
I would discourage you from applying your own pop rivets for three reasons: 1) it's a tool you'll just use once, 2) buying too-shallow rivets will result in an incredibly hard to open door, and 3) even with the right depth of rivet, consumer-grade pop rivets these days are aluminum, and the steel edges of your mailbox door will grind through it in fairly short order.
BTW, the original thing that rusted through is not a pop-rivet, it's a steel binding grommet applied by a fairly tightly calibrated punch machine. Not something you'll find in a shop.
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:47 PM on July 7, 2010
Response by poster: Not criticizing, bondcliff...I loved your idea. That's why I faved it. It was exactly the kind of answer I hoped to get, and I wish I had thought of it myself. I'm a little bummed that Odinsdream has such a reasonable solution to try.
posted by ivey at 1:58 PM on July 7, 2010
posted by ivey at 1:58 PM on July 7, 2010
If you want something prettier than a bolt and nut, you could try a Chicago screw. This looks rather like a double capped rivet, but it's actually a bolt and nut each with a flat face. The stems of each side screw together.
posted by galadriel at 7:44 PM on July 7, 2010
posted by galadriel at 7:44 PM on July 7, 2010
Response by poster: Stainless steel machine screw and a nylon lock nut, and it's all fixed. Got a spare for when the other side breaks. Thanks all!
posted by ivey at 10:19 AM on July 9, 2010
posted by ivey at 10:19 AM on July 9, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Surely the best answer is to borrow a rivet gun if you don't want to buy one. However, they're pretty cheap things - especially at tool specialists in the bargain bin.
posted by Brockles at 12:05 PM on July 7, 2010