Spent another 1/2 hour goofing around with riveting, but had bought a 4 x 4 fence post (really 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"). Drilled a 1/2" dia. hole through the center of this to use as a stabilizer for the Avery rivet set (comes with the c-frame dimpler). This seemed to help some, but now the 4x4 needs to be stabilized. Spent another 1/2 hour or so just putting tools away. Seems like everything was out somewhere, and I didn't know where anything is (part of the problem with having both spars propped up on the work table - all tools collect below). In the rest of the time I had made .125 end plates for the 4x4 section and screwed it in place. Pressed 2 more rivets. Not flight quality, but getting closer. Spent the last hour or so drilling on the "practice spar". I'm hoping that the larger wheelbase of the practice spar makes the braced hydraulic press stable enough. It is SO easy to pump the handle a few times to smash a rivet. But if I get bad results on the practice spar, I'll buy my giant bolt and start hammering. Just for grins I used the Avery rivet set and a 4 pound hammer and set 2 pretty decent rivets - it gives good results, just takes a lot of arm strength.
Practice spar - same height as actual, with c-sunk .125 and .090 webs at root.
Rivet sample, done on hydraulic press. No good so far.
Modified press. .125 brace plates on 4x4 rivet set stabilizer beam.
