Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Viral_Jim]

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. 

[aaronjb]

Do you have a compressor? If so, get an air powered one.. you'll never go back.

[Viral_Jim]

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...

[cam.in.head]

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

[aaronjb]

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.

[Kevin Wood]

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.

[aaronjb]

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 

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! )

[Kevin Wood]

<Goes off the count the rivets in a Westfield, 'cos I'm sure it's more than that>

<May be some time>

[Viral_Jim]

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 

Apparently the father has an old britool one lying around which will do me in the meantime   

[biggriffin]

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, 

[aaronjb]

<Goes off the count the rivets in a Westfield, 'cos I'm sure it's more than that>

<May be some time>

  It felt like we were putting a million of the things in at the time..

[Webby the Bear]

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