No, they do work. I've used brass split pins. The only problem is the more you bend them the weaker the brass becomes and eventually they break. They're also very light weight and don't dry out the cymbal like a heavier rivet would, but they're useful substitute. I actually asked in not one, but two of my local hardware store and they had none. Unbelievable! I should probably be looking in a stationery store for those?

Is that a Paiste 602?

Riders on the storm band2

Not a 602. Late 1950s Avedis Zildjian 20". A nice light 1990g.

Nice! I had a 19" late 50's 1941g. Another one of those cymbals I regret selling.

I just used a Philips screw driver to spread the open end. The light-weight brass rivets I bought at Home Depot spread easily with a couple taps of the hammer. A few did split a little at the ends though, but that's fine. As long as they can't pass back through the holes. Maybe the Zildjian rivets are heavier weight though than the Home Depot rivets.

Mike

Zildjian rivets are steel and much harder to spread than brass.