Riveting is a great way to join things, if the product design lends
itself to this.
No solder, no heat, no flux, no pickle no finishing! I use it a lot,
even make a feature of the rivets.
You need to google for riveting and click on Wikepedia, theres a
good article on all the different types and ways of setting them.
As I said before when exploring any technique do all your research
first, as know how is the key to making whatever quickly and
efficiently.
Using nails to set rivets however is a bit crude, rivet sets made
from small, say, 4/5 in long center punches is a much better way.
anneal the ends, file flat, then using a bur make a half round
depression in the end. re harden and temper.
you will need 2 of each for each rivett head size. I dont think your
ready to make these punches by the reverse hot forging technique.
Well worth making as they will last you all your life.
When you have placed the rivet through the 2 pieces of material and
set it, with a hollow punch, find a pair of wire cutters with the
right jaw angle. Clip of with the jaws in touch with the material
leaving the right upstand to the rivet.
Then put on your rivet set and strike down. a perfect domed rivet
tail to match the rivet head.
The second rivet set is clamped in your third hand. This should be a
leg vice secured to a proper workbench.
A silver smiths tool as in hammer work, not really a jewellers tool.
For tubular rivets, look up automotive brake lining riveting tools,
the set for these is quite different.
for deviding the rivet tail using what in fact a chisel, made from a
nail, it depends if thats the appearance you want in addition wether
it will meet its design /strength requirements. A bit crude in my
opinion.