What can you tell me about Rivet tools?

[jgromada]

So i had to do some riveting recently in trying to fix up some of my vent work. (building custom shaped heat vents). It became pretty evident that my Rivet tool just plain sucked. It would either partially form rivet head or the head would end up mis-shapened etc.

So i started to look into what would be available and think i can eliminate something like the Milwaukee M12 tool or any pneumatic type riveting tool as just too expensive or unwieldy with the compressor.

So i'm wondering what people here would recommend? Has anyone used any of these tools that are attachments for drills? any good? Is there a hand operated model that doesn't hurt your hands after 10 rivets?

 

[Ign]

Can you tell us exactly what you were using?

I've had decent luck with basic pop rivet manual tools. I don't see how one would cause the finished product to be mis-shaped; either it's pulling the stem or it's not.

The final shape of the rivet seems dependent upon proper manufacturing of the pop rivet itself and yield of the stem when fully compressed.

Maybe I'm wrong???

 

[jgromada]

i am using a cheap no-name pop rivet tool but with Emhart brand rivets. I am using what i think is 18 gauge ductwork and trying to manipulate that.

For the pieces of have been making i have been using sheet metal that may be prebent or i may bend up a piece using a handheld metal seamer. I was bending into the shape i want overlapping the metal and then drilling a small hole for the rivet to be inserted. Some of the rivets had to be redone like 3 or 4 times and like i said the head would never mushroom out properly. So i am looking for a better tool to replace this. Like i said after just a small number of these my hands were really sore and so i was wondering if a drill powered one might be better. Or at least a hand held one that could give me better leverage (mine is maybe 5 in in length)

as for the stem i know what you mean. The stem is supposed to break off which it does but the head is what is messed up.

 

[aka Larry]

A pancake compressor and pneumatic rivet gun will make it sooooo much easier than you can imagine. If you have a decent quantity to do, it's almost a must IMO.