Rivets/eyelets for PCB repair

[bodzio_stawski]

Hello!

I am looking for PCB eyelets/rivets for PCB repair, but in local online and global stores (like Aliexpress) I see many offers, but only made of brass, not a clean copper.

https://pl.aliexpress.com/af/rivet-pcb-copper.html?trafficChannel=af&d=y&CatId=0&SearchText=rivet+pcb+copper&ltype=affiliate&SortType=price_asc&groupsort=1&page=1

Anyone have a nice store with real copper eyelets?

[jpanhalt]

This is what I use and links therein.  The site I bought from originally is no longer alive. For me, 100 seems to be a lifetime supply.  They can be set with home made tools, if you have a lathe.

http://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/863.16/doc/tutorials/PCB_Rivets/

Edt:  Here's a link to Circuit Medic, which used to and maybe still does supply them:

https://www.circuitmedic.com/

Edit #2:

Will a piece of tinned copper wire, like 24 awg to 30 awg work?

[bck]

reichelt (from germany) is selling some from bungard.

https://www.bungard.de/en/consumables/consumables/rivets

0.4mm https://www.reichelt.de/de/en/can-of-1000-0-4-mm-hollow-rivets-for-bel-favorit-nieten-0-4mm-p100391.html
0.6mm https://www.reichelt.de/de/en/bag-of-1000-0-6-mm-hollow-rivets-for-bel-favorit-nieten-0-6mm-p33804.html
0.8mm https://www.reichelt.de/de/en/1000-0-8-mm-hollow-rivets-for-bel-favorit-nieten-0-8mm-p33805.html
1.0mm https://www.reichelt.de/de/en/bag-of-1000-1-0-mm-hollow-rivets-for-bel-favorit-nieten-1-0mm-p33847.html
1.2mm https://www.reichelt.de/de/en/bag-of-1000-1-2-mm-hollow-rivets-for-bel-favorit-nieten-1-2mm-p33848.html

[PaulAm]

Rembrandt electronics in the Netherlands is selling copper eyelets on Ebay.  You can get a nice assortment of various sizes for around $22 USD.  They also sell small lots of one size.  Just search for TH eyelets

[Alex Eisenhut]

Why would you want them made of copper? It corrodes in air and makes soldering harder. I've only ever seen PCB eyelets made of brass, which seems to stay solderable forever.
Unless you're repairing the drive electronics of a Tesla, I doubt the difference in resistance makes a difference.

[mightyohm]

Rembrandt electronics in the Netherlands is selling copper eyelets on Ebay.  You can get a nice assortment of various sizes for around $22 USD.  They also sell small lots of one size.  Just search for TH eyelets

It looks like the Rembrandt store is down due to family health issues - that doesn't sound good. Does anyone have a good source for inexpensive rivet assortments, or knows where Rembrandt was sourcing their rivets? I could use a handful in the smaller diameters and it looks like the Aliexpress rivets are larger.

[jpanhalt]

Just drill a smaller hole and use a piece of wire.  Cut flush.  Works great, and it's hard to beat the price.  Attached is a poor picture of a couple of projects.  Both sides of the board are shown.

[indeterminate]

lots of choices
https://au.rs-online.com/web/c/esd-control-cleanroom-pcb-prototyping/pcb-tools/pcb-rivets-riveting-tools/?sra=p

[mightyohm]

Just drill a smaller hole and use a piece of wire.  Cut flush.  Works great, and it's hard to beat the price.  Attached is a poor picture of a couple of projects.  Both sides of the board are shown.

I've done this before. Several years ago I had access to an LPKF PCB mill and resorted to doing this in order to make double-sided boards.

However, the wire method doesn't work for my present use case, which is repairing damaged plated through holes in 2-sided PCBs. I need to be able to insert a component lead through the hole.

[mightyohm]

lots of choices
https://au.rs-online.com/web/c/esd-control-cleanroom-pcb-prototyping/pcb-tools/pcb-rivets-riveting-tools/?sra=p

I'm not seeing assortments here - it looks like the min order for the smaller (eg. 0.4mm ID) rivets is 1000 pcs, so that's $98 per size plus the tool!

[jpanhalt]

However, the wire method doesn't work for my present use case, which is repairing damaged plated through holes in 2-sided PCBs. I need to be able to insert a component lead through the hole.

Why not use that component lead as the "wire?"  Sounds like your mind is made up, so get out your checkbook.