penny headed rivets

got me an old 12' Sears,Roebuck canoe that Im redoing, the gunwales were riveted with a penny rivet, dont know if any one has seen this but I would like to replace them back when I get the gunwales done. Can I buy them or use solid copper rivets and drill the penny ??
one other thing what is the best way to remove tar from fiberglass??
Thank You

 

Google copper rivets. There must be a supplier someplace.

Several methods to remove tar. If it is thick, try ice bags to make the tar as cold as you can make it. Sometimes it will peel off. Worth a try. Mineral spirits is a solvent for most tars such as Blackjack, If that does not do it fast enough then laquer thinner will do it. Mineral spirits is the safer and cheaper choice. In either case keep any flame of sparks away from the wet solvent and the rags that you use.

 

Are you sure it's tar, as it could be butyl rubber, which is a common sealant found on older 'glass boats, particularly under the deck cap flange.

 

on the rivets most of what I found was for gutters, I may have to go another route,
with the tar someone tried to fix some leaks not good but want a safe way to remove so it dont mess up the glass, thanks will try the ice even though it only 101* here lol

 

Yeah its tar like roofing tar.

 

I could peel most of the tar off to find a crack in the side right on the curve of the bottom so it looks like I get to do my first fiberglass repair, did some reading and the u-tube thing and think its doable will, use the solvents to remove the rest of the tar film, still cant find the penny rivets so might need to go with something else there but still looking.
Thank You for the help

 

You may be interested to know only old pennies are solid copper. New ones are copper-clad zinc.

 

Thanks, didn't know that I'm thinking of finding something else ?? will be looking to see what I want/can do with the rivets. Just thought the penny's were neat and wanted to go back with them.

 

Copper rivets are here:
http://www.jamestowndistributors.co....do?pid=1920&familyName=Rosehead Copper Nails

Jamestown has several types besides the rose head, but I like the way they look, and that's what I use.

Regarding the pennies, if you must use them, punch the holes with a Whitney punch rather than drilling them. It's so much easier.

Otherwise, flat washers used to make rivets are called burrs, and conical washers are called roves. Both are available at the above link.

 

Thanks for the link, I see what your saying burrs/ roves, the nail look like what came out of the canoe now I know what to get when I go to replace them copper nails and penny burrs. I will use the holes that are there bight be a pain but what the hell.
Thank you for the help and info

 

Got the tar off with the help of W-D 40 worked well messy but clean up with dawn now to patch the crack, seen how its done step by step on youtube, I think I can do this.
A friend has some Brazilian wood for me will be picking it up today but it is 9' long, canoe is 12' so I will need to splice it for the cunwales, want to use it for the woven seats, yoke and decks. but I need to do something with the keel, Build it up or what? will look more into this seen the bed liner thing, and rope thing, I think that would look bad.
Another friend has some teal green auto paint and clear coat ??? I like free but will it work for my canoe?
Thanks for every thing