---
title: How to Install on Rivets - The Poke/Lance Method
description: The set of rivets on the left have less tenting than the set on the right.  TIP: Use the squeegee drag method in the picture above to “close” the rivets in.  3. Continue squeegeeing the film over the
---

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# How to Install on Rivets - The Poke/Lance Method

#### Rivet Brush Method

1. Remove release liner and drape the whole panel on the surface.  
   ![51-C1-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C1-web.jpeg?width=388&height=285&name=51-C1-web.jpeg)
2. With a medium-hardness squeegee, firmly apply the film over the rivets and flat areas. The squeegee must pass over the rivets with firm pressure as if the rivets weren’t there.  
   ![51-C2-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C2-web.jpeg?width=385&height=283&name=51-C2-web.jpeg)
3. Continue squeegeeing the film over the rivets until the whole panel has been installed.  
   ![51-C3-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C3-web.jpeg?width=385&height=269&name=51-C3-web.jpeg)
4. To release the air trapped between the rivets and film, use a poking tool to create pinholes over the tented film.  
     1. Needle Point Wheel
        
          ![51-C4a-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C4a-web.jpeg?width=316&height=296&name=51-C4a-web.jpeg)![51-C4b-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C4b-web.jpeg?width=294&height=275&name=51-C4b-web.jpeg)
     2. Retractable Air Release Tool
        
        ![51-D4c-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D4c-web.jpeg?width=293&height=298&name=51-D4c-web.jpeg)![51-C4d-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C4d-web.jpeg?width=316&height=296&name=51-C4d-web.jpeg)
     3. Multi-Pin Air Release Tool  
        ![51-C4e-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C4e-web.jpeg?width=303&height=284&name=51-C4e-web.jpeg)  ![51-C4f-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C4f-web.jpeg?width=306&height=287&name=51-C4f-web.jpeg)
        
        5.  Without heat, reduce the tenting (or halo) with a rivet brush spiraling inward on each rivet.  
        ![51-C5a-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C5a-web.jpeg?width=319&height=299&name=51-C5a-web.jpeg)   ![51-C5b-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C5b-web.jpeg?width=288&height=270&name=51-C5b-web.jpeg)
        
        The set of rivets on the left have less tenting than the set on the right. 
        
        ![51-C5c-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C5c-web.jpeg?width=357&height=261&name=51-C5c-web.jpeg)
        
        5\. For a “painted on” appearance, each rivet has to be applied three times increasing the heat in each pass. For the first pass, apply a “kiss” of heat on a rivet.   
        ![51-C6-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C6-web.jpeg?width=357&height=262&name=51-C6-web.jpeg)
        
        ***TIP:*** *Do not overheat the film. The film will be too soft and the rivet brush could catch the film and form wrinkles during application.*
        
        6\. Apply firm pressure with a rivet brush in a circular motion. Repeat steps 6 and 7 increasing the amount of heat per rivet in each pass until all rivets are applied.  
        ![51-C5b-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C5b-web.jpeg?width=359&height=336&name=51-C5b-web.jpeg)

**Foam Pad Method**  
1\. Remove release liner and drape the whole panel on the surface.  
![51-D1-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D1-web.jpeg?width=361&height=265&name=51-D1-web.jpeg)

2\. With a medium-hardness squeegee, firmly apply the film over the rivets and flat areas. The squeegee must pass over the rivets with firm pressure as if the rivets weren’t there.  
![51-D2-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D2-web.jpeg?width=363&height=266&name=51-D2-web.jpeg)

***TIP:*** Use the *squeegee drag method in the picture above to “close” the rivets in.* 

3\. Continue squeegeeing the film over the rivets until the whole panel has been installed.  
![51-D3-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D3-web.jpeg?width=374&height=274&name=51-D3-web.jpeg)

4\. To release the air trapped between the rivets and film, use a poking tool to create pinholes over the tented film.  
      A. Needle Point Wheel  
      ![51-D4a-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D4a-web.jpeg?width=358&height=366&name=51-D4a-web.jpeg)

       B. Retractable Air Release Tool  
       ![51-D4b-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D4b-web.jpeg?width=361&height=369&name=51-D4b-web.jpeg)

        C. Multi-Pin Air Release Tool  
        ![51-D4c-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D4c-web.jpeg?width=357&height=364&name=51-D4c-web.jpeg)  
   

5\. Without heat, reduce the tenting around the rivets by using a pad applicator on the rivets.  
![51-D5a-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D5a-web.jpeg?width=270&height=282&name=51-D5a-web.jpeg)   ![51-D5b-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D5b-web.jpeg?width=284&height=280&name=51-D5b-web.jpeg)

 6\. Heat a section of film which covers 4-5 rivets. As you apply heat, the film will wrinkle but will flatten out once it reached its optimum temperature.  
![51-D6-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D6-web.jpeg?width=348&height=255&name=51-D6-web.jpeg)

7\. Apply firm pressure with the pad applicator and wiggle it in a circular motion. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until all rivets are applied.  
![51-D5b-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D5b-web.jpeg?width=358&height=352&name=51-D5b-web.jpeg)

 

#### Squeegee Method

1\. Remove release liner and drape the whole panel on the surface.  
![51-D1-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D1-web.jpeg?width=373&height=273&name=51-D1-web.jpeg)

2\. With a medium-hardness squeegee, firmly apply the film over the rivets and flat areas. The squeegee must pass over the rivets with firm pressure as if the rivets weren’t there.  
![51-E2-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-E2-web.jpeg?width=375&height=270&name=51-E2-web.jpeg)

***TIP:** Use the squeegee drag method in the picture above to “close” the rivets in.*   
3\. Continue squeegeeing the film over the rivets until the whole panel has been installed.  
![51-E3-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-E3-web.jpeg?width=379&height=281&name=51-E3-web.jpeg)

4\. To release the air trapped between the rivets and film, use a poking tool to create pinholes over the tented film.  
A. Needle Point Wheel  
![51-D4a-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D4a-web.jpeg?width=377&height=384&name=51-D4a-web.jpeg)  
B. Retractable Air Release Tool  
![51-D4b-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D4b-web.jpeg?width=375&height=382&name=51-D4b-web.jpeg)  
C. Multi-Pin Air Release Tool  
![51-C4c-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-C4c-web.jpeg?width=377&height=353&name=51-C4c-web.jpeg)  
     
5\. Heat a section of film which covers 4-5 rivets. As you apply heat, the film will wrinkle but will flatten out once it reached its optimum temperature (180°F to 240°F).  
![51-D6-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-D6-web.jpeg?width=389&height=286&name=51-D6-web.jpeg)  
6\. Apply firm pressure with a hard squeegee (White) and go around the rivet. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all rivets are applied.  
![51-E6a-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-E6a-web.jpeg?width=221&height=219&name=51-E6a-web.jpeg) ![51-E6b-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-E6b-web.jpeg?width=220&height=218&name=51-E6b-web.jpeg) ![51-E6c-web](https://help.arlon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/51-E6c-web.jpeg?width=214&height=218&name=51-E6c-web.jpeg)  
[TIP\_\_51\_-\_How\_to\_Install\_on\_Rivets\_-\_Poke-Lance\_Method](https://help.arlon.com/hubfs/TIP__51_-_How_to_Install_on_Rivets_-_Poke-Lance_Method.pdf?hsLang=en)

 

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