"Mike Spencer" wrote in message
...

......
Stop-gap: Very small flat-headed stainless bolt through the hole.
Thin stainless washers either side, leather or silicone washers
under
the metal ones & against the kettle surface. If the hole is in a
curved
surface, you have to shape the metal washers to fit before
installing.
--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada

I did that to a water heater tank used as a solar heater. I filed the
hole into an oval slot and located the 2 tapped holes in the larger
patch at the ends of the oval so it could be correctly positioned
inside the tank, using one protruding screw as the handle.

It was sealed with a sheet rubber gasket and rust-inhibiting LPS-100
grease. It lasted until the tank failed in other places about 2 years
later.

I wonder if a rivet and vitreous enamel frit would work:
http://musickstudio.com/process.htm

-jsw