Pop Rivet gun

[Certified Drunk]

I bought some of these 3/16" multi grip pop rivets for a project I have...
They seem to be a little too much for my 80's Craftsman gun.. I have use both hand and the pin gets stuck inside.

Anyone recommend a good handheld pop rivet gun.

Thanks

 

[cgrutt]

They wouldn't happen to be stainless rivets would they? I know those can be a bear. They make a heavier version of standard rivet gun with two handles that looks like a small pair of bolt cutters (handles not business end). I think they have them at the big box stores. I bought the HF version for some 3/16 stainless rivets and while it worked much more easily than the standard size I wound up breaking the jaws first time I used it (after about a dozen rivets). It wasn't inexpensive either just the rivets are pretty tough. I never had a problem with standard rivet gun with 3/16 aluminum or steel though.

ETA this is style I'm talking about and its not as expensive as I thought:

 

[RTM]

I've got this Astro Pneumatic, I have not tried it with stainless steel rivets though.

Amazon.com

 

[Certified Drunk]

They're aluminum with a steel nail.

 

[danielbuck]

If you use pop rivets alot, and you have shop air, I would get a pneumatic pop rivet gun. they are pretty fast to use, good if you have alot of them to do all the time. Can be used with 1 hand, which is often times handy if you're having to hold something else in your other hand (the work piece, a beer, whatever)

I have the astro, but I imagine most brands are similar: https://www.astrotools.com/product/air-riveter-3-32-1-8-5-32-3-16-and-1-4-capacity/

 

[FigN⋅m]

I've got this Astro Pneumatic, I have not tried it with stainless steel rivets though.

Amazon.com

These do work well with stainless rivets.

The pneumatic guns can be somewhat finicky with stainless - in fact we have products at work that
state to not use guns for installation due to this very reason. We use ours heavily for aluminum rivets though.

 

[danielbuck]

I've never had a problem with steel or aluminum, but haven't ever used stainless.

 

[tarbellb]

OP is your 80'c CM gun the standard issue stamped metal style?
If yes then just about anything will be a upgrade starting with

- Marson manual gun, cast handles and plenty of copy cat models to choose from
-Astro/Doyle lopper style for hd cases
-Astro drill operated tool, chucks into your battery drill for doing lots of rivets
- Huck $$ air operated or copy cats for less $

 

[JOE.G]

I have the Air gun listed above, When I work snowmobiles the tunnel is all rivets and some of them are pretty tough the air really makes it go quick. Getting into some spots can be a pain but overall I think its a must have, I have 2 of them.

 

[MoonRise]

Check out Astro. https://www.astrotools.com/

They have handheld rivet tools, ones that are used with a drill, and pneumatic ones.

My general rule-of-thumb is to NOT use a tool at its max 'rated' capacity.

So for use on 3/16" rivets, get a tool 'rated' for use on the next size larger rivets. So that means a tool 'rated' for use on 1/4" rivets.

And if you are really set (no pun intended ) on using a handheld rivet tool on 3/16" rivets, get one with longer handles as opposed to the short compact handles. Leverage from the longer handles makes it MUCH easier to use compared to a shorter handled tool, even if the shorted handled tool is 'rated' for use with that size rivets. If your space is so constrained that you can't fit the longer handled tool into the working space, you will be getting a workout squeezing the shorter handles!

Handheld 1/4" short handled Astro #1423 rivet tool, with compound leverage:

1/4" Heavy Duty 13" Hand Riveter | Astro Pneumatic Tools

Patented structure increases power and reduces shock Shortest long arm riveter which can operate up to 1/4" (6.4mm) stainless steel rivets Shorter hand ...

www.astrotools.com

Handheld 1/4" longer handled Astro #1426 rivet tool:

1/4" Heavy Duty Hand Riveter | Astro Pneumatic Tools

Extra long handles provide excellent leverage Includes 5 nosepieces: 1/8-inch, 5/32-inch, 3/16-inch, 7/32-inch, 1/4-inch Spent mandrels are collected in the ...

www.astrotools.com

Astro #ADR36 drill-powered rivet tool:

Blind Rivet Drill Adapter Kit | Astro Pneumatic Tools

Item is no longer available Easily convert your cordless, pneumatic or corded drill into a power pop riveter. Includes nose pieces and works on 3/32", ...

www.astrotools.com

Astro #ADR14 drill-powered rivet tool:

XL Blind Rivet Adapter Kit - 1/4" Capacity | Astro Pneumatic Tools

Easily convert your cordless, pneumatic or corded drill into a power pop riveter Includes nose pieces for 3/32", 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 7/3 ...

www.astrotools.com

Astro 3/16" pneumatic rivet tool:

Air Riveter - 3/32", 1/8", 5/32" & 3/16" Capacity | Astro Pneumatic Tools

• Includes the following nosepieces: 3/16"" (4.8mm), 5/32"" (4mm), 1/8"" (3.2mm), 3/32"" (2.4mm) • Performs well at ...

www.astrotools.com

Astro 1/4" pneumatic tool (almost twice the pulling force of the 3/16" rated pneumatic riveter):

Air Riveter - 3/32", 1/8", 5/32", 3/16" and 1/4" Capacity | Astro Pneumatic Tools

Includes the following nosepieces: 1/4" (6.4mm), 3/16" (4.8mm), 5/32" (4mm),1/8" (3.2mm), 3/32" (2.4mm) Flip over tool to access re ...

www.astrotools.com

 

[Wamsutta]

If I had it to do over again, I'd get the Astro 1423.

 

[bb29510]

its not the gun, its the rivets. mine does it too, and the gun was bought in the 70's

 

[Certified Drunk]

OP is your 80'c CM gun the standard issue stamped metal style?
If yes then just about anything will be a upgrade starting with

- Marson manual gun, cast handles and plenty of copy cat models to choose from
-Astro/Doyle lopper style for hd cases
-Astro drill operated tool, chucks into your battery drill for doing lots of rivets
- Huck $$ air operated or copy cats for less $

Yes, its a 80's stamped steel...

I'll have to try the Astro 1423

Thanks everyone.

 

[Wyoming09]

I don't use them much but I have a couple. An old Craftsman that still is going strong and a Marson in a kit the I found at a flea market years ago. $5 I thnk it was.

 

[bonneyman]

I got by for years with the throw-away stamped steel hand guns. Then stumbled upon a brand of industrial grade Emhart's (like the one on the far right of the pic) and never looked back. Forged aluminum body so lighter weight, solid fulcrum system for popping the rivets so less hand strain. Total game changer!

I thought they had been discontinued but just found them for sale. For $235! Yikes!

PRP26A Pop Tools (Pop)

POP PRP26A Hand Rivet Tool; 3/32 Inch, 1/8 Inch, 5/32 Inch

www.baysupply.com

 

[RTM]

Trying to get away from the cheap guns, I bought a package deal of the astro linked above, and a standard shaped one. (Guy was upgrading to pneumatic) turns out the second one is silly expensive. Gesipa NT X

 

[WhataTool]

They wouldn't happen to be stainless rivets would they? I know those can be a bear. They make a heavier version of standard rivet gun with two handles that looks like a small pair of bolt cutters (handles not business end). I think they have them at the big box stores. I bought the HF version for some 3/16 stainless rivets and while it worked much more easily than the standard size I wound up breaking the jaws first time I used it (after about a dozen rivets). It wasn't inexpensive either just the rivets are pretty tough. I never had a problem with standard rivet gun with 3/16 aluminum or steel though.

ETA this is style I'm talking about and its not as expensive as I thought:

A plastic riveter body is not a good move IMO

 

[IRQVET]

I got this off eBay for $15 bucks, haven't had a chance to use it yet. Plan to restore some old tool boxes with it.

 

[PCustoms]

I got this off eBay for $15 bucks, haven't had a chance to use it yet. Plan to restore some old tool boxes with it.

I've had the same one, minus the fancy case and the shine. Grandpa gave it to me when we were working on something...

Damn thing kills my hands.

 

[IRQVET]

I've had the same one, minus the fancy case and the shine. Grandpa gave it to me when we were working on something...

Damn thing kills my hands.

I hear you, getting old *****. But I'm not riveting aircraft with it . . .

 

[GeoBruin]

I have a couple different sizes of hand squeeze guns but I bought an old Airstream and the number of rivets I pull went through the roof. I splurged for the Milwaukee m12 riveter and it is a godsend. Just throwing it out there.

 

[Ohio Andy]

They wouldn't happen to be stainless rivets would they? I know those can be a bear. They make a heavier version of standard rivet gun with two handles that looks like a small pair of bolt cutters (handles not business end). I think they have them at the big box stores. I bought the HF version for some 3/16 stainless rivets and while it worked much more easily than the standard size I wound up breaking the jaws first time I used it (after about a dozen rivets). It wasn't inexpensive either just the rivets are pretty tough. I never had a problem with standard rivet gun with 3/16 aluminum or steel though.

ETA this is style I'm talking about and its not as expensive as I thought:

I just wanted to say that I have this unit and I love it

 

[tarbellb]

^^^ Same reaction to the HF Doyle lopper style- good if not excellent

Also have old USA Marson, HUF hydraulic, all have there place but the Doyle are versatile

 

[msharley]

I bought some of these 3/16" multi grip pop rivets for a project I have...
They seem to be a little too much for my 80's Craftsman gun.. I have use both hand and the pin gets stuck inside.

Anyone recommend a good handheld pop rivet gun.

Thanks

For 3/16" rivets....

The one pictured above is good...

If? You have a lot of them? The pneumatic rivet tool is the bomb! Simply press trigger & it does all the work...