Pop rivet tool

[Spyro]

I've decided it's time for a new pop rivet tool as my existing one hand riveter is not quite up to the job. Has any tried the drill attachment type riveters or could someone recommend another type. I've seen the tongs type that you push in or the bigger two handed ones. I've got some work to do on my mast so looking for recommendations. Thanks

 

[philwebb]

Hi Spyro, I had to fit a new boom a while back and my pliers type pop-rivet gun was not really man enough for the Monel rivets. I bought a lazy-tong type riveter from Screwfix (item no. 10461). It takes a few pumps to set the rivet but takes out the effort of doing it. It’s definitely kinder to your hands. I can’t say what it would be like to use up the mast, it could be a bit unwieldy, depends on how many rivets you have to set.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have had a set of the expanding type that I have used on roofing jobs for years. They are ok if you can get your weight behind them to start them off but if you extend them to full length & are working with your arm at right angles to them ( as when up a mast) they are hard to get going. In that case the trick is not to extend them too far so that the levers are better placed. Plus you have to push them rather than squeeze in the hand
Certainly good quality ones last for years ( I have had mine for about 40 years) & they come with different nozzle sizes for varying rivets plus nozzles for awkward positions.
However for casual use I would have thought lever ones better.
My son (works in curtain walling industry) has a couple of battery operated riveters ( Dewalt i think) & they are excellent with no effort whatsoever. Would be easy to use up a mast.

 

[earlybird]

Of the manual types, I'd go for the long-handled sort. Lazy-tongs work OK but, in my experience, it can be easier to scar the workpiece by inadvertent movement when the rivet breaks..
No knowledge of drill attachments.

 

[Praxinoscope]

I eventually bought the Laser pop rivet kit from Machine Mart, it will handle large stainless steel pop rivets, and also has the additional accessories to use pop nuts and blind nuts.
Not cheap but a useful kit to have, but it is a two handed device so not always convenient.
There are heavy duty single hand devices but I haven’t use one so can’t offer any advice on them.

 

[adamlang]

I've got one of these and it worked well for me:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-HDLAHR-Heavy-Duty-Long-Riveter

I heard the lazy tongs were difficult to use up a mast, so I thought these would give more flexibility.

Do you know what size rivets you'll be using, that will play a part?

 

[RichardS]

I've got one of these and it worked well for me:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-HDLAHR-Heavy-Duty-Long-Riveter

I heard the lazy tongs were difficult to use up a mast, so I thought these would give more flexibility.

Do you know what size rivets you'll be using, that will play a part?

We also use a Faithfull long arm riveter for use on cars and it works very well provided you have good access. Working under dashboards etc can be a struggle and we would probably be better off with the lazy tongue type for that purpose.

Richard

 

[Spyro]

Of the manual types, I'd go for the long-handled sort. Lazy-tongs work OK but, in my experience, it can be easier to scar the workpiece by inadvertent movement when the rivet breaks..
No knowledge of drill attachments.

Never thought about that but I can see what you mean

 

[Spyro]

The mast will be down on this occasion but may not always be

 

[rogerthebodger]

A friend fixed steps to his mast using a drill powered pop riveter and it worked great with his mains electric drill but his battery drill did not have the power.

Hy was using 4.8 mm stainless rivets.

I use the lazy tong type for big rivets but I plan to get the drill powered when I next need to do lots of riveting.

 

[VicS]

The mast will be down on this occasion but may not always be

I have an inexpensive lazy tongs type. ( from Toolstation IIRC )
It will set all sizes of aluminium rivet but not the larger Monel ones.

It is fine to use at ground level but would be very difficult use up a mast when you need 3 hands. One to hold the business end of the tool, one to hang on to the mast and a third to operate the tool.

I don't regret buying it. It did what I wanted to do at the time more cheaply than hiring one

BUT

If you might want to work aloft. or set the larger sizes of Monel rivets the long two handed variety is without doubt the one to buy.

 

[Skylark]

A few years ago I bought a cheap, Silverline, lazy tong riveter to fix a halyard diverter at the top of my mast. Two lessons learned. Firstly, Sir Issac Newton was correct when he deduced that there is an equal and opposite reaction to my forcing the riveter handle forwards. Undoubtedly amusing to the onlooker! A strop around the mast and my back was required. Secondly, another well known fact that we ignore too often, don’t buy cheap. Although it did the job, I had to disassemble the rivet jaws after each use to remove the mandrel.

 

[deep denial]

I don't follow the logic of saying that the tongs are difficult to use aloft because they require two hands, and then recommending 'the long two-handed variety' ! My experience is that the handled riveters are useless for anything but the smallest rivets, but won't cope with 4.8mm. Being a cheapskate I recently bought a pair which I simply could not get to work. So I had to buy a Draper lazy tong riveter, and the difference was extreme - no effort needed at all. (as they say, 'buy cheap buy twice!'). As I only needed a riveter for one job it is now for sale on ebay!

 

[DownWest]

I used a good two lever type up a mast with 6mm monel rivets. It was not easy and I had bruises to prove it. If I ever do it again, I would rent/buy a power tool or lazy tongs.

 

[Daverw]

Drill adapters work very well, I’ve used one for the last two years and will do Monel and Stainless easily, they cost about £18