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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    South Coast NSW
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    38

    Default Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun??

    Looking for a pop rivet gun which actually works.

    Avoided the cheapies, and been through 2 Stanley models, both of these fired less than 10 rivets before jamming and becoming unusable...

    Surely this is not normal nowadays??

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
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    71
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    12,746

    Default

    Some lighter units won't cope with steel rivets; only alloy. Check the pack carefully before buying.
    Cheers, Ern

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Sydney
    Age
    79
    Posts
    647

    Default

    Try a ships chandler, lots of rivets in boats.

    Cheers
    Peter

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Sunbury, Victoria, Au.
    Posts
    1,133

    Default

    G'day jimmyh!
    In my past employment I have used many types of pop rivet guns and rivets and believe me the old adage "you get what you pay for" has never applied more to your problem.
    The cheap guns, as rsser has said, are only good for aluminium rivets and only the 1/8" (AS4-4) size at that. Try anything bigger or steel or stainless steel and the cheaper guns just do not have the grip to pull the rivet and eject the stem.

    If you are doing a lot of riveting either get yourself and industrial hand pop rivet gun or an air gun you can operate of you home compressor. Check out this link for some examples. Rivet Tools - Products - AUSTRALIAN RIVETING SUPPLIES PTY. LTD

    No connection to above company or recommendation implied.
    Russell (aka Mulgabill)
    "It is as it is"

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    South Coast NSW
    Posts
    38

    Default

    As I said, I did not buy a 'cheapy', at least $40 is not really what I call cheap. The gun was supposed to handle steel rivets but could not even handle 1/8" ally.
    Stanley tools = absolute rubbish.

    Only want hand riveter, not air...

    I am looking for a brand recommendation really...
    Anyone used the Kincrome ones?

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
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    12,746

    Default

    Yeah, I'm using a Kingchrome and it's fine but only recommended for alloy and, from memory, small steel rivets. Tried it on steel a size or two up from 1/8" and it couldn't cope.

    HTH.
    Cheers, Ern

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Lambton, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    4,957

    Default

    Coming from a sheet metalworker apprentice ship many years ago all sheeties only used POP brand, now by Cooper tools I think. Blackwoods/Bakers or any good engineering suplies will carry them. The later ones aren't as good as the ones I had when I was an apprentice but I only threw out my old ones after they stopped making replacement jaws for them. They were about 30years old and had only had a couple of sets of jaws in them. They were used thousands of times and never let you down. I have the new pair but in this day and age of tech screws they don't get very much use.
    Instagram: mark_aylward
    www.solidwoodfurniture.com.au


    A good edge takes a little sweat!!

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Broome, WA
    Posts
    91

    Default

    My only recommendation would be to go a long arm riveter. I've had two short handled ones over the past couple of years (admittedly not the best quality) and they were useless from the get go...upgraded to a long arm riveter and haven't looked back. Handled stainless and larger rivets without a problem.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bendigo Victoria
    Age
    80
    Posts
    16,560

    Default

    My "go to" tool for pop rivets is an air operated one.

    Years ago I was building a house boat and had to pop rivet 100mm Al U channel right around the roof panels (100mm steel clad polystene ones as use din cool rooms etc). Using 3/16" pop rivets and quickly came to the conclusion that a hand help rivetter was for the birds. Went out and bought one of those air operated ones and now hardly ver use a hand rivet gun.

    Great tool, does steel and Al rivets with ease right up to 3/16", best $100 I ever spent.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Sunbury, Victoria, Au.
    Posts
    1,133

    Default

    Cannot recommend Kinchrome hand pop rivet gun at all.
    Could only handle 1/8" ally rivets. My service crew had one and literally tossed it away in frustration. It was replaced with and identical make and the cast handle snapped and so did the serviceman. If you must use a manual rivet gun, yes, a long handled one as desert oak suggested is a better option. But really an air rivet gun is not much dearer.
    Russell (aka Mulgabill)
    "It is as it is"

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    South Coast NSW
    Posts
    38

    Default

    OK, not looking good for the hand riveters..

    I will look at the long arm type and reconsider air-powered ones

    Thanks for the feedback

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    275

    Default

    For steel rivets I have an earlier model of this, I bought it from the same shop too. It works well but you wouldn't want to be in a rush.

    Cheers

    Horaldic

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Wodonga, Victoria
    Posts
    11

    Default

    As far as steel rivets go, I don't think any of the small hand riveters are really up to the task. The bigger type that Horaldic mentions would be a lot easier.

    I have one of these small Lobster riveters. They're Japanese. I think the quality is very good. (I had a good look around trying to find the best small riveter available.) Works well for smaller sizes/aluminium rivets, but hasn't had a great deal of use, so can't comment on longevity. I've been happy with the purchase, although they were fairly expensive, I think about $80 from memory, available from Alltools and Total Tools, I don't think Just Tools stock them any more.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Lambton, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    4,957

    Default

    Hi Jimmy
    You may have missed my post above but for small hand riveters POP brand (Cooper tools) are the best by far.
    Instagram: mark_aylward
    www.solidwoodfurniture.com.au


    A good edge takes a little sweat!!

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Adelaide South Australia
    Posts
    544

    Default

    definately a pop. All the tradies use them but any rivets over 1/8 go for the long arm
    Don't force it, use a bigger hammer.

    Timber is what you use. Wood is what you burn.

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