Dropped my Packard shutter and knocked the piston off

williaty

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Just as I was finally getting all the fiddling and restoration done to get my Packard shutter working the way I wanted, I managed to drop the damned thing while it was attached to the lens board (thankfully, the lens was not attached!). It landed right on the piston and knocked it off, popping out the two copper rivets that held the piston to the shutter case. Does anyone have any bright ideas for repairing this?
 

Luckless

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Is there any other noticeable damage? What size are the rivets and how are they set?

A trip to your local hardware store to look over solid core wire may find one of suitable thickness, and pick up a wide nail set to let you peen over the copper with more precision than trying to do it directly with a hammer.
 
OP
OP

williaty

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They're bloody tiny. Maybe in the range of 0.050" diameter. They've a large broad head on the outside to hold the bracket for the piston down. On the inside, they were flush with the inside of the case. I know they had to be peened in order to stay put, but somehow they were entirely flush with the inside of the case.
 

shutterfinger

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Use a caliper to measure the diameter of the rivet then find some solid core wire to match.
https://www.tedpella.com/company_html/wire-gauge-vs-dia.htm
Cut a length and secure it in a vise. Warm the copper then tap it with a ball peen hammer until a rounded head is formed of suitable size then cut to length for the application and install staking the end so that it stays in place.
Alternative:
Take the existing rivets, dress the stacked ends with a file so they just fit into the holes, reinstall, then stake with a center punch and hammer or similar.
 

darkroommike

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Contact Packard Ideal, guy that posts here just bought the company and I got some parts for my #6 shutter about a week ago.
 

John Koehrer

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Might be easier to hut the local hobby shop for some screws & suitable tap. Without straining too much it should be around 1-2mm
& you don't have to figure out how to buck the rivet with oversized hands. The other cruder method has to do with small amounts of epoxy.
 
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