rivet gun strong enough to mount scanstrut radar platform?

Mrnotming

Mrnotming

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Hi all, I'd like to get the Furuno 1623 operational for next season and I would also like to own a blind rivet puller strong enough for say up to 6/8mm and for monel metal rivets, as I think these are stronger than aluminium and harder to set.
Any forumite had success in obtaining a better tool than the usual cheapies that snap off the handle?
Good PBO'ing to all! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
You need a 'scissors' type rivet setter. Lazy-tongs I think they are called. You will need these for rivets 6mm or larger. The last time I did 6mm I borrowed the boatyard one - this was for rivetting on a gooseneck. Very efficient and quick, but don't trap your fingers in the 'scissor' action! You must use Monel rivets as they are much stronger than Aluminium and also use Duralac paste between the mast and any fittings. You can also get cheap lazy-tongs off the internet which will be OK for the few times you will use it.
 
I have a lazy tongs riveter which does up to 1/4" or a little over 6mm. I think they all stop at this size. But it works well and packs small enough to keep on the boat.

However my Kemp mast and boom seems constructed entirely using 8mm rivets. I suspect you need one of those expensive long handled tools for rivets of this size. Worth checking what your mast uses.
 
My friend A*** was using a long handled riveter to fit new spreader fittings on the mast .
The mast was horizontal in the mast shed. He huffed and he puffed as these big rivets are really tough but all of a sudden it did the business and his fists crashed into his head. Oh how we laughed!!!!
Moral of this story is not to put your head between the handles when riveting with a long handled riveter.!!
 
I fitted a wind generator a couple of years back on my mizzen mast using a Draper 'pantograph' type riveter and monel rivets.
The Genny is on a large aluminium gantry sticking out the front and as its an Air-X it produces a large amount of torque when it really gets going. Rivets will do your job no problem. As said dont forget the Duralac.
I got my riveter from one of those Draper Tool Stop Shops near where I live...but I think you can purchase on line from Draper as well.

Nick
 
Hi
Fitted a Sitex radome on a Scanstrut mount a couple of months ago. Bought a long handled rivet gun off ebay for £17. Worked perfectly with the monel rivets supplied. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
I have a pneumatic rivetter it does the 4mm monel no sweat. At the time I got it the cost was not much different to the lazy tongs type. If you have an air compressor it sure makes rivetting easy. consider.... olewill
 
A word of warning, look carefully at the specs for lazy tongs type riviters, a lot these days do not cover anything morte than 4.8mm, but I got a decent set on E-Bay for less than £15 delivered, though a decent local rigger will often lend them to those he considers decent customers.
 
Wow!what a quick rsponse! thanks loads folks! that's all good advice and much appreciated.At least the boat is on the hard, so a ladder is an option instead of bosun's bottom pinching chair!
Good boating to all! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Wow!what a quick rsponse! thanks loads folks! that's all good advice and much appreciated.At least the boat is on the hard, so a ladder is an option instead of bosun's bottom pinching chair!
Good boating to all! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

From very recent experience, on a bosuns chair near the top of the mast, the shock as the rivets shear (with lazy tongues) will make your teeth drop out.

Doesn't anyone make a hydraulic one (compact car jack type)?
 
You could use either a pantograph rivet gun, or get, as I have done, a long-handle one. Both available from any good tool-shop. The long-handles ones are simpler in operation and you're less likely to have distorted rivets, but probably need more effort.

Incidentally, if you are using monel rivets, you won't need the Duralac. If you use SS, which are harder to pull, but stronger, you definitely need Duralac, and would be well advised to get the ones with an insulated head, that the better riggers use
 
I bought a cheap pop rivet gun from Wilkinsons and extended the handles by about 4" with some tube. I used then to pop rivet a scanstrut bracket up the mast. Its still up there two years later !
 
What a fantastic resource YBW forums are!

I was looking for a rivet gun "man enough" to rivet a new end fitting on spinnaker boom and .....

....A quick google search looking for a rivet gun that could pop 6mm rivets turns up this thread.

Problem solved! :D
 
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