Recommendations for pop riveter that actually grips 6mm monel rivets

[dunedin]

Been trying to replace a mast step which broke. How difficult can it be drilling out and replacing 5 rivets? Failed so far!
Have ancient cheap pop riveter from dinghy sailing days. It worked perfectly for 2 rivets, but only works up to 3/16 or 4.8mm.
For the 6mm rivets I brought two other riveter with me.
The Lazy-tongs ones are completely useless. Never yet managed to grip a rivet. Got a refund but supplier didn't want them back.
The other set managed to get in one rivet eventually, but the pin got stuck in the riveter. Dismantled to remove and got a second rivet started, but then list grip entirely.
Any recommendations for a decent rivet gun that can grip 6mm rivets - and ideally can be Anazon Primed as can't get to a shop.

 

[pandos]

I know how you feel....

I threw aside my lazy thongs in favour of one from amazon and bought another smaller on in a local took supplier.. I managed about 10 rivets with the two new ones until I had to resort to the lazy thongs..

I took it apart and put in a piece of a spring from the cheapo from amazon, so that the jaws really gripped, and then had to I tap the rivets into the top of the riveter with a hammer, I was also really careful that the maddrel dropped out the back because some of them seemed to be getting caught up inside and jamming up the works.

Its a bit tedious but it might get the job done..

 

[NormanS]

Mine looks a bit like your second example. Mine is by "Faithfull", and without any difficulty, I fitted mast steps using 6.4mm Monel rivets to both my masts. The masts were down and resting on trestles. It's somewhat more difficult, though not impossible to do, with masts up.
Edit: Have just checked on Amazon, and I'm pretty sure it'll be the HDLAHR model.

 

[ridgy]

I find that with my lazy tongs riveter sometimes you have to unscrew the bit a couple of turns to get the grip. Always does the job though.

 

[dunedin]

I find that with my lazy tongs riveter sometimes you have to unscrew the bit a couple of turns to get the grip. Always does the job though.

Thanks. Saw that idea in an old thread. Tried that, still zero grip,from lazy tongs. They are going in the recycling.

 

[jwfrary]

Take a couple of the "rows" of the lazy tongs out and they are less prone to bending on the big rivets.

I put some 6mm in our boom the other day, little bits at a time but gets there eventually

 

[ridgy]

Thanks. Saw that idea in an old thread. Tried that, still zero grip,from lazy tongs. They are go8mg in the recycling.

Assuming that you have the correct bit in...I have also found that sometimes you need to give in 3 or 4 pumps with the rivet in to get it going.

 

[Praxinoscope]

I have the Lazer 3736 heavy duty pop riveter set from Machine Mart, have used it successfully for both pop rivets and rivnuts for the last 10 years.
Certainly handles 6mm stainless steel rivets perfectly, had to replace one of the rivnut mandrills last year but spares were still available.

 

[Norman_E]

Mine looks a bit like your second example. Mine is by "Faithfull", and without any difficulty, I fitted mast steps using 6.4mm Monel rivets to both my masts. The masts were down and resting on trestles. It's somewhat more difficult, though not impossible to do, with masts up.
Edit: Have just checked on Amazon, and I'm pretty sure it'll be the HDLAHR model.

I have the same riveter https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-...04&hvtargid=pla-421602835643&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 and it seems pretty good. The biggest monel rivets I have used in it are 4.8mm and it was good. The only issue is that it needs a strong squeeze of the two arms, with two hands, which would be difficult half way up a mast.

 

[lustyd]

Assuming that you have the correct bit in...I have also found that sometimes you need to give in 3 or 4 pumps with the rivet in to get it going.

Also they don’t seem to work if you go slowly, I found I needed to use a bit of speed to get them gripping

 

[dunedin]

Take a couple of the "rows" of the lazy tongs out and they are less prone to bending on the big rivets.

I put some 6mm in our boom the other day, little bits at a time but gets there eventually

Thanks, but doesn’t help if there is zero grip on the rivet. Found that last time I tried to use them also. Junk.
And yes using correct size bit in. Done countless rivets successfully previously with ancient pop riveter, just can’t find one to do the 6mm ones

 

[dunedin]

I have the same riveter Faithfull HDLAHR Heavy-Duty Long Arm Riveter : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools and it seems pretty good. The biggest monel rivets I have used in it are 4.8mm and it was good. The only issue is that it needs a strong squeeze of the two arms, with two hands, which would be difficult half way up a mast.

The 4.8mm ones are easy. But unlike the lazy tongs, this one got one 6mm rivet in successfully. But then, even though had correct bit, after breaking off correctly the pin got jammed. Cleared that and managed half the second one and jammed again - this time before breaking off. Riveter stuck to mast. Eventually freed off but 1 and 1/2 of three rivets done :-(

 

[Skylark]

I have the same riveter Faithfull HDLAHR Heavy-Duty Long Arm Riveter : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools and it seems pretty good. The biggest monel rivets I have used in it are 4.8mm and it was good. The only issue is that it needs a strong squeeze of the two arms, with two hands, which would be difficult half way up a mast.

Another vote for this brand. I have one, too ?
Not used it up to 6mm and can imagine that 3 Wheatabix for breakfast would be prerequisite ?

 

[dunedin]

I have the Lazer 3736 heavy duty pop riveter set from Machine Mart, have used it successfully for both pop rivets and rivnuts for the last 10 years.
Certainly handles 6mm stainless steel rivets perfectly, had to replace one of the rivnut mandrills last year but spares were still available.

Thanks, that certainly looks a more serious piece of kit. Laser 3736 Heavy Duty Riveting Kit : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Do I bite the bullet and spend £125 to put in the last rivets. If it works it is better than more £30-40 tools that don't work.

 

[Neeves]

Coincidentally I used a rivet gun like your lower model, but with longer arms. The rivets were hardly large, 2mm, but I really struggled to apply and break of the pin. Our riveter came direct from China. There was nothing wrong with the riveter - the operator needs to eat more steak.

My wife turned up a device, which has been mentioned on this forum previously, which is an attachment for a drill People on that, historic thread seemed to like the device - I only mention it so as to possibly broaden your search. But using a battery drill up a mast will be much easier than a rivet gun.

Jonathan

 

[Praxinoscope]

Thanks, that certainly looks a more serious piece of kit. Laser 3736 Heavy Duty Riveting Kit : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Do I bite the bullet and spend £125 to put in the last rivets. If it works it is better than more £30-40 tools that don't work.

A bit cheaper at Machine Mart £107, but yes I can understand your quandary. All I can say is that I have used it on rivets up to 8mm without any problem.
Shame you aren't close by, would be happy to loan you my kit.

 

[Gixer]

I bought one of these a few months back and did 6.4 monel rivets with no problems.
S-18HHR Long Arm Heavy Duty Double Handle Hand Riveter Gun Tool Rivets 3.2-6.4mm 5903246521030 | eBay

 

[BobnLesley]

...Do I bite the bullet and spend £125 to put in the last rivets...

I wouldn't, unless for some reason you're regularly going to be putting big rivets in, otherwise borrow, rent or at worst pay the man with a good quality, professional rivet gun to put them in. I'm perhaps fortunate in having bought a concertina type pop riveter in a job lot box of tools at a farm sale 40+ years ago (no idea what make and it might well've been 40 years old then?) for about £2; free really, as it wasn't one of the items in the box that I was specifically buying it for. It's never failed to get a pop rivet in for me, but when we went cruising it wasn't one of the tools that we carried - too big/heavy for the amount of likely use and if you don't own one already, too expensive to make it worth buying as well. We did carry a couple of spare parts which would need a good rivet gun to fit them and indeed the rivets that they'd need, but we relied on borrowing/hiring/employing a suitable tool when we needed one (Once in Trinidad and again in NZ) So, prepare everything other than the riveting, pay the man who can £20 or £30 in cash to pop them in for you and invest the balance in beer.

 

[dunedin]

It is amazing what you can do with a decent quality tool. Was able to borrow a lazy tongs from the marina, an old set which looked very similar than mine but older and heavier. 2 minutes and the job was done. Price one bottle of red wine.
No markings to see what make, but clearly better mechanics internally than the one I had bought.
Might still look at investing at leisure, though equally have kind of proven the BobnLesley approach can work.

 

[Greenheart]

Do I bite the bullet and spend £125 to put in the last rivets? If it works it is better than more £30-40 tools that don't work.

I wouldn't, unless for some reason you're regularly going to be putting big rivets in

It is amazing what you can do with a decent quality tool.

My use of rivets is minimal, and very occasional, but my process is always careful and thorough...but despite following all the advice I can find, my success rate is never better than one out of two. Perhaps "Rusty Mandrels" would be a good name on the forum?

If there's a tool that guarantees success every time, I would buy it, even though I might only use it eight times in a decade...

...the frustration, expense on monel rivets, effort and wasted time, are a greater burden than the cost of the cure, if it really works.

All that said, I don't know yet what the professional's pop-riveter is...did we find a name/model number for it, here?