ORIGINAL: abufletcher
I've also considered the idea of using the cut-off heads of sewing pins (the flat metal type). This would be awfully slow but you'd have perfectly uniform rivets (if this is the type of rivet you are attempting to replicate).
Good idea, but I think the mrs. would not take it kindly if she went to use the pins and the heads were missing!
You are right, that would be very slow, plus I would lose a lot of the heads! hahaha