Help with 80s Les Paul case handle repair

Revolutions

The old handle was cracked so managed to pick up a NOS handle. I sawed through the rivets to get the handle off. All the suitcase videos I watched said you just hammer the new rivet in & it will hold. These ones are loose & not sure how to fix them.

I went to local key cutter/shoe repair - he suggested I use screw & bolt. I'd rather keep it vintage correct if possible. Without the appropriate tools, am I better off seeking professional help? If so, any ideas where I could get it repaired in London? Google is not helpful for luggage repairs.

SteveRobinson

Something like this maybe? 

Revolutions

SteveRobinson said:

Something like this maybe? 

Oh yeah, that looks pretty useful, thanks! I see the image is from Amazon - luggage screws! I'll see if I can match the size. 33mm is the shortest length which is a bit long but will be fine. Just need to make sure they fit through the holes.

SteveRobinson

I hate Amazon but
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Luggage-Screws-Accessories-Wheels/dp/B0CQ1HXND5

ICBM

You should able to peen the end of the new rivet over by repeatedly tapping quite gently on the edges of it with a small hammer - use a larger hammer as a stop weight at the head end. If the hole in the bracket is too large to make that easy, find a small washer which just fits over the rivet and put that on first.

Funkfingers

Once again, Steve and John demonstrate that old blokes rule.

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

Once again, Steve and John demonstrate that old blokes rule.

My dad died recently - he was 87 - and it’s the little things like that he taught me as a child which I will remember him best for. He was a very practical man - sadly there seem to be fewer of his kind today. I feel we (now) old blokes ourselves have a duty to pass on as many of these sorts of tricks and fixes as we can - none of it’s rocket science, but sometimes it’s not quite immediately obvious.

Revolutions

Thanks @ICBM & @SteveRobinson - few things to explore here

Jfingers

ICBM said:

Funkfingers said:

Once again, Steve and John demonstrate that old blokes rule.

My dad died recently - he was 87 - and it’s the little things like that he taught me as a child which I will remember him best for. He was a very practical man - sadly there seem to be fewer of his kind today. I feel we (now) old blokes ourselves have a duty to pass on as many of these sorts of tricks and fixes as we can - none of it’s rocket science, but sometimes it’s not quite immediately obvious.

I totally agree. One thing my Dad taught me that has served me well is that if you need to cut a bolt shorter, wind a nut down past the cut line so when you remove it it'll clean the thread up. So simple and useful but I bet plenty of people wish they had known it 'at the time' so to speak.

ICBM

Jfingers said:

One thing my Dad taught me that has served me well is that if you need to cut a bolt shorter, wind a nut down past the cut line so when you remove it it'll clean the thread up. So simple and useful but I bet plenty of people wish they had known it 'at the time' so to speak.

It also enables you to hold the nut in a bench vice, without damaging the bolt - that’s useful if the bit you’re cutting off is too short to hold firmly in the vice. You can do the same if you’re manually cleaning up the end with a file - you can clamp the nut firmly, but still easily rotate the bolt.