Posted by Laurence Monkhouse on March 31, 2005 at 06:42:25 from 82.7.160.13 user Laurence_.
In Reply to: Re: Mary Anne - Construction posted by John Nichols on March 31, 2005 at 01:21:30:
'Coots in the North' is the title of the book, published by Jonathon Cape in 1988. you'll have to try Abe books or a similar site.
If you can get to a lathe you can make a rove punch very easily for next to nothing to fit just what you want - harden the end and it will last for ever.
We also made our own tool, which I have never seen anywhere else - turn a 2" cylindrical bar of iron about 3" long with a half inch projection just the size of the nail head at one end and a socket for a short handle at the other. This is far easier to hold exactly over the nail head than the hammer which most people use.
Punch the rove down gently until the end of the head is through, then tap it home quite hard. Cut it off close to the rove - not more than one sixteenth of an inch.
Countersink the head - not much, it needs to finish exactly flush with the surface. Dont countersink the rove.
Don't tap too hard when rivetting it down or you will bend the copper nail.
Incidentally for steaming I used (after numerous not very satisfactory steamers powered by primuses) a wallpaper stripper which was just right. I don't know whether it will cope with your quite massive planks but it was perfect for oak ribs.
Good luck.