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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Viral_Jim on 30 May 2017, 09:11:39

Title: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: Viral_Jim on 30 May 2017, 09:11:39
I have a couple of jobs coming up that will require the drilling out and replacement of some rivets. I've had a look online for a decent pop rivet gun, but all seem to come with mixed reviews, even the ones costing up to £30-40.

I'm no adverse to spending a bit on good tools, but I like to know I'm actually getting good value for what I'm shelling out. So any recommendations would be gratefully received.  :y

Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: aaronjb on 30 May 2017, 10:06:23
Do you have a compressor? If so, get an air powered one.. you'll never go back.
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: Viral_Jim on 30 May 2017, 10:17:08
Sadly not. But I am planning on getting one once we move, so maybe hold off and get one later. Wonder if I know someone I can borrow one from in the meantime...
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: cam.in.head on 30 May 2017, 10:34:21
To be honest theres probably not that much difference between them realy when it comes down to it i suppose some of the unknows can sometimes get a rivet stuck inside .i had a concertina type as well as a hand type which made larger and stainless rivets easy.it was a 'king klik' never went wrong
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: aaronjb on 30 May 2017, 10:39:39
Yeah - what CIH said; the standard (plier grip) type are all much of a muchness.. my Lidl one works just as well as a Silverline one works just as well as .. they all come out of the same mould, I'm guessing.

These are easier to use for large or stainless rivtes: https://www.manomano.co.uk/riveting-pliers/faithfull-heavy-duty-long-arm-riveter-1382855

These are really easy to use but need nine miles of space: https://www.manomano.co.uk/riveting-pliers/silverline-tools-lazy-tong-riveter-32-64mm-69140

I also have one of these (not this make, not this shop, but looks identical albeit red): https://www.manomano.co.uk/air-riveter/heavy-duty-air-pneumatic-pop-rivet-gun-riveter-rivet-gun-with-4-tips-varan-motor-177355

Works just as well as the much more expensive German one (which is better - adjustable force, big catch cup etc) I acquired, in reality.
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 30 May 2017, 10:47:11
It depends how much riveting you're going to be doing, really.

If it's just a handful, get one of the hand ones. A concertina type can be easier, but, as said, they struggle to get into tight places, I find. I think mine is a cheapish Draper one. I lost count of how many rivets it put into the  Westfield when I was doing my build, but it was quite a few! You end up with a firm hand shake after a couple of weeks of solid riveting!

Most of the complaints appear to be that the discarded stems jam in the riveter. There is a bit of a knack to avoiding this - don't choose a collet that has too tight a fit on the stem and make sure the riveter is held square on to the rivet - essentially, practice makes perfect.

If doing a kit car build again, I would probably be tempted by an air riveter (now I have a compressor) but I've never used one in anger so can't really comment.
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: aaronjb on 30 May 2017, 12:31:13
If doing a kit car build again, I would probably be tempted by an air riveter (now I have a compressor) but I've never used one in anger so can't really comment.

Load, pull trigger, bang  :y

No way I could have got all ~180 rivets in to the Dax bodyshell to hold it to the chassis before the Wurth adhesive went off without one (actually two! ;D)
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 30 May 2017, 13:42:55
<Goes off the count the rivets in a Westfield, 'cos I'm sure it's more than that>

<May be some time>
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: Viral_Jim on 30 May 2017, 13:49:43
Thanks chaps, on balance I think I will wait and pick up an air one as aaronjb suggests. I didn't even know they existed but they look like the way forward  :y

Apparently the father has an old britool one lying around which will do me in the meantime   8)
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: biggriffin on 30 May 2017, 17:18:28
When doing a lot of riveting, an air riveter is the way to go, for half a dozen now and again, a hand riveter is adequate.

Wouldn't want to do 20ft of load-loc track buy hand, 
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: aaronjb on 31 May 2017, 07:37:00
<Goes off the count the rivets in a Westfield, 'cos I'm sure it's more than that>

<May be some time>

 ;D It felt like we were putting a million of the things in at the time..
Title: Re: Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 31 May 2017, 18:32:08
I've never used a decent hand rivet gun. They're all shite imo (well the ones I've used).

I've heard the air rivet guns are great....... but so are self tappers  :-X :y