Riveting

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Neeves

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Despite the title this is not about anchors :)

I have two types of riveter like the one here

https://www.banggood.com/Hand-Pop-R...AYYAyABEgJ6lfD_BwE&ID=514801&cur_warehouse=CN

I have a long handled one and a short one - I don't know who made mine - but they were made in China.

I know of big concertina types, but have never actually seen one.

I don't find the 2 I have to be particularly clever is there anything better.

I want to install quite large rivets and the small type of riveter that you get in every hardware store (and most must be made in China) I find are pretty useless (or I'm not strong enough). But the jaws that grip the shank don't seem man enough for even a small rivet. The longer handled version are better, but not much.

What do people use who rivet a lot?

Its not essential - but some form of compact device, easy to use up a mast would be ideal (but my current needs offer plenty of space and I'll be using 'whatever' standing on the ground - but I don't want something that needs full body weight to operate (I have a small body :) ). In the fullness of time I'd like to think I could use it up a mast (and I'd like it to be manual).

With thanks

Jonathan
 
Lazy Tongs are better for larger rivets and doing lots of riveting.

If you can use a compressor then there are Air powered ones.
 
I use either lazy tong riveter but more likely an adapter that fits my drill, look at eBay 382653474882, very simple and quick
 
If you need to react a 6mm rivet the lazy tong gun to get is the Eclipse 2750HD you see a number of Eclipse/Spiralux 2750 and other models around but they are only rated for smaller sizes. They are now made in the Far East.
The lazy tong was popular, being quick in use and very portable in industrial applications, however 6mm monel rivets are a big ask and you really need to have the workpiece in a handy position

Apart from that, Daverw's puller seems the way to go though I have never used one myself.
 
As an aircraft engineer, hand plier type riveters for one or two small rivets, lazy tongs for a few bigger rivets, or pneumatic gun if you are going to do a lot !
 
paulajayne said:
Lazy Tongs are better for larger rivets and doing lots of riveting.

If you can use a compressor then there are Air powered ones.
Click to expand...

+1 having worked in my youth in a garage I had to put large sheets of aluminium on sides of luton vans which needed riveting, lazy tongs handled the biggest and baddest rivets with out to much effort
 
My son is a project manager in the curtain walling & sheet metal decking industry & his subbies place thousands of rivets. He has several battery powered riveters & says the subbies use loads of them. Expensive though.
I have lazy tong ones bought 45 years ago for a roofing contract. It is OK but no good for up a mast as one has to get behind it to push & it needs a hard push to start it off. When the rivet shears the nozzle jumps & could easily whack you in the face if using at height up a mast.
Has interchangeable jaws
 
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Thanks all.

I had hoped I had missed something but it appears mostly not. Big rivets obviously need to be handled on terra firms and or you need some help from something other than ones own power.

I have never applied rivnuts - I should have a look and I also need to look at something on a drill.

Jonathan.
 
Slight thread drift, but any tips as to how to control a lazy tongs riveter at the point where the rivet sets and the mandrel snaps off? With mine, I invariably end up denting the surrounding area somewhere
 
West Coast said:
Slight thread drift, but any tips as to how to control a lazy tongs riveter at the point where the rivet sets and the mandrel snaps off? With mine, I invariably end up denting the surrounding area somewhere
Click to expand...
Hold onto the head end with a thick pair of leather gloves
 
Practice - you need to 'push' less as the rivet forms and by holding both the head and handle bring them together rather like you are trying to compress the mechanism. That way you actually have outward pressure on the head so you move away from the work as the mandrel shears. Kind of hard to explain, but.....
 
For the last few years I have been using the Laser 3736 heavy duty riveter from Machine Mart. I comes as a kit and will happily handle large stainless steel rivets as well as rivet nuts. The kit isn’t cheap £104 but with all the options it offers it’s well worth a look.
 
A Milwauki cordless riveter is about £200 and I would buy one, it would be easy to sell on aferwards if you ever wanted, and do any rivet, of any material to be found up your mast, with no effort or pushing.
Being 12v, you could also run it off the boat batteries if you wanted, by connecting some wire to the inside of a dead battery, having removed the dead cells of course.
If it just has to be manual, answers above ^^
 
I had a quick look and an adaptor for a drill appeared cheap (though I am cautious of cheap).

Lazy tongs seem unwieldy up a mast, but invaluable if you are addressing a mast on a trestle (which I am not). Iv never used them.

I don't know, have never heard of, an adaptor to attach to a drill to apply Pop, blind rivets.

If it is powerful, simple (which might then make it cheap), - it would be ideal for mast work.

Any hands on experience (I note an earlier post suggesting positive usage)

Jonathan
 
When I wanted to set dozens of 6.4mm monel rivets, for mast steps, I bought the kind with two levers. I think they're called Faithfull. They managed that size of rivet with no problem. I dropped my masts to do it, but for a handful of rivets, could have done it up the mast alright.
 
NormanS said:
When I wanted to set dozens of 6.4mm monel rivets, for mast steps, I bought the kind with two levers. I think they're called Faithfull. They managed that size of rivet with no problem. I dropped my masts to do it, but for a handful of rivets, could have done it up the mast alright.
Click to expand...
After asking this question on a previous thread the Faithful was recommended. Santa brought me one and it seems an impressive, strong, well made bit of kit. Not used in anger yet but a couple of try outs in the garage and it worked very well.
 
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