When a riveted trailer is assembled at the factory, the inside walls are not attached until after the exterior shell is constructed. This sequence allows the factory to use solid head "buck" aircraft rivets in attaching the shell to the aluminum ribs. To install solid head rivets, you need to have access to the front and back of the rivet.
After the interior walls have been installed, you can no longer get to the back of the rivets used on the shell. To make repairs and replace those rivets while the interior walls are in place, the best solution is a solid head look-alike. Gesipa Fasteners developed the Olympic Bulb-Tite rivet for exactly this situation. It is the only rivet on the market that looks like a solid dome head rivet when finished.
The bulb-tite is a blind "pop" rivet that when installed--and shaved correctly--closely resembles a true solid head rivet.
To correctly finish the rivet, the mandrel (which breaks above the head of the rivet), must be snipped flush with the rivet head and then shaved with a specially sized shaver tool. When done correctly, the mandrel and very top of the head are shaved to form a solid dome.
Olympic bulb-tite shavable head rivets are unique. When properly finished, the heads of these blind "pop" rivets mimic the look of a solid buck rivet. There are no other rivets made that can pull off that neat trick. Because of this unique quality, they are the ideal rivet to use for quick repairs on the exterior skin of aluminum trailers. They provide a clean look that closely resembles the original rivets used by the factory. These rivets can be installed with most standard pop rivet tools after sizing the hole in your aluminum to just slightly larger than the rivet body diameter (see chart in Technical Specs section below pricing table).
The special shave tool for Olympic rivets (VTS-177) is required to finish to a nice domed appearance. If have just a small number of rivets to finish and want to try to avoid purchasing the shave tool, you may find a Dremel or mill file can do a decent job of smoothing the head. However, the shave tool will create a far superior finish.
The 5/32" diameter Olympics are the best for Airstreams because they are nearly identical in size and shape to the 1/8" brazier head rivets used originally. The 3/16" and 1/4" diameter versions are typically not used unless you have a special situation where a larger than 5/32" hole exists and you are trying to fill it. The larger diameters can also be used to hold heavier loads.
If you are buying the 5/32" diameter Olympics, don't forget to buy VTS-122E #20 drill bits.
For years, these rivets have been available with or without rubber O-ring washers under the heads. For 20 years we sold them both ways. Recently we decided that the version with O-rings are problematic and we stopped carrying them.
When using Olympic rivets on Airstream, Spartan, Avion, Streamline, or any other travel trailer, we recommend avoiding O-rings in all applications.
We believe skipping the O-ring provides a more reliable seal over time, and the rivet sits tightly against the skin for a more original look with no shadow. In addition, there is a real risk with the washer that the sharp edge of the hole in the skin may cut the rubber washer during road vibration if any part of the washer slips into the hole. If that happens, your rivet will be loose and no longer be water tight.
For a watertight seal, treat these like other blind rivets. Always squirt a little dab of premium Tremco U1600 or other quality urethane sealant in the hole and on the shaft of the rivet before installing it. This will provide the best watertight seal. If done correctly, a little extra U1600 will squeeze back out when you're installing the rivet. Just wipe it up immediately with a clean rag and a little mineral spirits. Using this method without O-rings washers will provide an excellent seal.
