 | Home > Off Topic > Can anyone recommend a budget rivet gun? Or user error? |
 
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| Ianb Member Since: 25 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 392   
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Hey all,
I suppose maybe I should ask if I'm the error in this situation first... I have a Forge steel rivet gun (from screwfix years ago) and a box of rivets (again screwfix) and I cant for the life of me figure out whether it is just pure dung, I'm dung at using it, or a combination of both? Admittedly whilst roughly knowing the concept, it's not something I have done before (with much success) but I find my rivet gun, I have to "pump" it like an absolutely lunatic to the point where you need to have great ape like strength.. then it "pops" and the little metal bit is stuck inside the 'rather irritating device' which means I have to calmly and collective, remove part of it to shake it out again... As I value my surrounding area and my neighbours most likely wouldn't appreciate a blue cloud and an airborne rivet gun, I'm hoping for advice.... The Yeti - 110 Camper https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic90308.html Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@YetitheDefender Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yetithedefender/ |
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16th Jun 2024 3:30pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4209 
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The manual squeeze type rivet guns do take a fair bit of muscle power to work, bigger the rivet, the worse it is. Just make sure you have the right size collet in the end so that it is grabbing the rivet properly. The metal bit that pops off should fall out of the back of the head if you tip it up, but if they do get stuck just putting the next rivet in should push it through .The lazy tongue type use much less muscle power, can do bigger rivets, but are slower. If I had a lot to do I'd be looking at pneumatic of electric one. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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16th Jun 2024 4:58pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20356
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When the pin does pop you’ve got to be careful of the body of the rivet tool chipping or damaging anything too, which is why masking tape around the rivet part is a good idea or a cloth with a hole in it to clear the rivet.
Only when the pin finally breaks away it’s difficult to keep the tool still. I expect a power tool one would be far less of an issue with that. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R 🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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16th Jun 2024 5:49pm |
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| rustandoil Member Since: 08 Sep 2012 Location: Cotswolds Posts: 738  
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I thought the Milwaukie cordless riviter was a bit of a lazy gimmick.... Until I got one, good grief it's good 👍🏻👍🏻
But on the other hand if you are just doing a few lazy tongs is the way to go |
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16th Jun 2024 6:00pm |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3414  
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Done that, perhaps too often too 
What I do now is when I feel it is about to pop the mandrel, I pull on the tool, so I dont hammer it against the bodywork. Never had problem since. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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16th Jun 2024 6:40pm |
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| julian Member Since: 17 Feb 2017 Location: Devon Posts: 106 
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I remember putting in rivets to the roof of my 101FC -
I taped a block on the tool so as I could kneel on it to tension the rivets! Many years later, I sometimes put in 200 rivets in a session for work. I just pull the trigger on the pneumatic gun and it's done. I have a back up pneumatic gun, in case the main one breaks, and it's a rush job. Putting them in with a manual tool isn't a job you really want to be doing! |
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16th Jun 2024 6:52pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17374 
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My go-to Armstrong riveter is a long-handled one similar to this:
https://ffx.co.uk/products/draper-draper-2...ool-110913 I can't remember what make it is (it's a reasonable one, not a budget one) but it saves so much effort over them small ones (and the lazytongs ones are hopeless). Not long ago I used it to fix a new deck on a flatbed trailer with about 80 6mm rivets and no exhaustion, no RSI. If a Milwaukee one is out of budget, a long handled one is the next best thing. Last edited by blackwolf on 16th Jun 2024 8:37pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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16th Jun 2024 7:00pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1782 
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Anyone using a lazy tong type - please keep your pinky finger out of the mechanism.......
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16th Jun 2024 7:36pm |
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| Ianb Member Since: 25 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 392
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Perhaps I need to check what size rivets I'm using, but I guess the riveter I have is something like this: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/324079942127
I'm certainly no worlds strongest man, but I don't consider myself incapable when it comes to strength tests, I just feel like I'm going to blow something, gasket, blood vessel, fuse or just plain hand disintegration trying to rivet with the above, then there is the added fun when you nearly burst, it finally "pops" then the whole thing falls out because it didn't set properly or something?!? Maybe I should just nut and bolt things  The Yeti - 110 Camper https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic90308.html
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@YetitheDefender Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yetithedefender/ |
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16th Jun 2024 8:35pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17374
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That is the most common type but really isn't much good on anything but the smallest aluminium rivets. Gets one with long handles, it's transformational.
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16th Jun 2024 8:40pm |
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| Ianb Member Since: 25 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 392
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I'll have a hunt about for long handle ones then
The link above for £22ish seems pretty good. Or I hold off one more week and find a robot that can rivet from any angle in the middle of lidl for £15 The Yeti - 110 Camper https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic90308.html
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@YetitheDefender Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yetithedefender/ |
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16th Jun 2024 8:42pm |
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| lohr500 Member Since: 14 Sep 2014 Location: Skipton Posts: 1316 
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I have one of those similar to the Draper model shown in the link.
It works well and came with a selection of different ends to suit different rivet stem diameters. It isn't the best quality and I think if I was using it on a daily basis, then I would want something more substantial. But for occasional use it is fine. |
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18th Jun 2024 11:48am |
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| Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 722
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I bought this earlier in the year: LSDZHK Electric Rivet Gun Adapter... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BZPSP42H?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share A little fiddly at first. But worked really well once I got the hang of it. Best thing is there is no jolt/jump when the rivet “pops”. So no risk of damaging any nearby paint. |
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18th Jun 2024 12:18pm |
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