Working With Split Rivets

Make sure to order your brass or chrome nameplates from Fennell’s. We always include proper attachments and you can even pick from options when you have the need. Click HERE to browse our selection of nameplates. Don’t be shy, order a halter, lead shank, bridle or belt along with it and we’ll do the attaching for you!

For attaching a nameplate to your halter or other larger tack piece, we usually include split rivets and use those ourselves to attach halter plates. They’re the easiest to use when attaching at home. See how HERE.

Sometimes your attachment needs are different.

  • Want to change plates easily? We offer Chicago screws for that job. Check back soon for a link to our Chicago screw how-to.
  • Have trouble keeping plates on your horses’ halters out in the field? Yes, there are plenty of places for your turned-out stock to work a plate loose. If you’re finding that you’re losing plates off field halters, the most secure attachment is with solid copper rivets.

Along with that security comes a bit harder task in attaching name plates using solid rivets.

As you will soon be able to watch in an upcoming video,

  1. Push the rivets through the bottom side of the leather,
  2. Put the plate over top of the protruding rivets,
  3. Use nippers (or side cutting pliers will work) to cut the excess rivet, leaving just the right amount to make a mushroom head. (Practice makes perfect!),
  4. Use a cobblers or similar fine-peened hammer to (slowly!) begin to round out that mushroom head,
  5. Once you’ve made a head large enough that it holds the plate on, it’s time to clean up your work,
  6. We have a riveting tool (it’s oh so riveting!) with a divot that makes it easy to finish rounding out the head.
  7. Presto! You’ve attached a plate (to stay!) using a copper rivet

Our nameplate holes are pre-drilled at 1/8″ for using split rivets. Available, properly-sized copper rivets for attaching halter plates are a shade thicker. Our halter plates will need to be drilled out to 5/32″ if you’re using our copper rivets to attach. We provide that service when sending plates with copper rivets so they’ll fit snugly in the holes in the plate.