Rivet gun primer

[Glenn Brooks]

Looking for some info on rivet guns…. Most rivet guns on line are high speed 3500 to 4000 RPM guns. Which seems way high speed for decent impact riveting with solid shanks and rounded heads backed up with a bucking bar.

In fact, I can’t even find a set of round headed rivet dies listed anywhere for sale.

What is the best bet for a decent, moderate cost rivet gun and die set these days??

Thanks
Glenn Brooks

[GlennW]

What size rivets and what material?

Rivet guns come in different capacities. 2X, 3X 4X, 5X, 7X, 9X...

2X being the lightest.

[liveaboard]

I made my own die and used a hydraulic press.
Of course sometimes that won't work, but when it can it sure is easy.

[Ken Schroeder]

Try Hanson rivet & supply company in LA Calif. They have everything you are looking for or need.

[Russ Hanscom]

Try the Yard Store. New and surplus aircraft riveting parts; just ordered a few rivet sets at a very reasonable price. Recently ordered rivets from Hanson, fine. Also check ebay.

Currently doing some work with 3/32 rivets.

Put a pressure regulator in the air line, my rivet gun works decently at 40 psi for small rivets.

[Glenn Brooks]

Glenn, Looking for info on setting 1/8” to 1/4” steel, round headed rivets, mostly….

I’ll check Hanson…. Harbor freight sells a couple of 3500 rpm air guns, but they don’t carry rivet dies. Don’t want to mess around sourcing a small bit f 4140 and heat treating a bunch of shop made dies.

Maybe the solution is to put an air regulator on line and dial down the pressure until the gun slows down…

Ideally an actual used rivet gun will turn up for a decent price. Not worth spending $1000+ for a hobby tool.

Glenn

[GlennW]

Those are BPM (blows per minute) not RPM.

If you plan on driving 1/4" steel rivets cold, you'll need a pretty healthy rivet gun.

https://www.yardstore.com/acat-9x-rivet-gun

Even better...
https://www.yardstore.com/acat-7x-rivet-gun

[liveaboard]

6mm rivets cold pressed; I made the die by drilling into a short piece of soft high carbon steel, then hardening it.
After 200 rivets, the drill bit grooves are still visible.
After riveting I had to straighten the bar.