How long should aluminum rivets be kept in refrigeration to remain soft?

Aluminum rivets are made softer when stored in refrigeration, which helps prevent them from becoming premature hardening due to heat exposure. The general recommendation is to keep them refrigerated for several days to maintain their malleability. Refrigeration not only slows down the aging process but also helps retain the desired characteristics of the aluminum alloy used in the rivets, ensuring that they remain workable and can be effectively shaped and driven into place during the assembly process.

Storing them for a few hours might not provide sufficient time for the refrigerating process to be effective, while one week might be excessive, going beyond what is typically needed to maintain the rivets in a soft state. Saying they can be kept indefinitely is misleading; while refrigeration can significantly extend their usable life, it is not a permanent solution without a loss of properties over extended periods.