Riveting Kit

[68 TWind]

An air hammer and a true air rivet gun are different tools! A 3x rivet gun is what you need for solid rivets in an AS. If the gun jumps off the head of the rivet, well it ain't pretty. Quality tools are the key to quality results.

[WILDRTEXAS]

AS IF I wasnt before....Seriously confused now....
Can I just get the cliff notes to this thread?? The bottom line..

[Dwight]

WILDRTEXAS, are you a member of a local DFW unit?

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by WILDRTEXAS

AS IF I wasnt before....Seriously confused now....
Can I just get the cliff notes to this thread?? The bottom line..

The gun IRV is offering and the cheap one from Harbor Freight appear to be similar, they are air chisels. They can be used to put in a rivet or two. A quality rivet gun will run you $100 and up. FWIW I use a Sioux 3X IIRC we paid around $300 for ours. But it is used in old aircraft restoration as well as for the occasional bucked rivet in an Airstream. You can probably make the cheap air chisel work, but most likely will get frustrated with the results.

Harbor Freight does sell a 3x air hammer for riveting, but it is $100 by itself. I have not seen one or used one so no clue on the quality. The air chisel is lower air consumption and has higher BPM (Beats per Minute) which means it will hit faster but not necessarily harder. With aluminum buck rivets you need a few hard blows versus more light blows, to keep from work hardening the rivets.

Aaron

[JimGolden]

Well I was gonna comment...until I read them all. Wahoonc beat me to it.

Sioux makes a really nice rivet gun; the 3X is the one you want. But you'll pay a minimum of $300 for it.

For a casual repair, I think Andy's kit is a nice compilation and would serve a person OK, and it's all there together.

But if you want to rivet together an airplane, you want something more serious. you can get rubber ringed tips for the Sioux gun, so that if you don't have it exactly perpendicular to the work, you don't get the "eyebrow".

Take care,

[Maryw164]

Originally Posted by sd90mac

Question for Andy, What brand is the riveting gun in your kit?

Marie

I'd like to know the brand is too. I need all the details before making a purchase.

Mary

[WILDRTEXAS]

Originally Posted by Dwight

WILDRTEXAS, are you a member of a local DFW unit?

No, Not a member

[Jim Foster]

Snap-on makes two high quality air hammers. I don't remember the specs (it's been sixteen years), but I do know that one has a short barrel and the other a long barrel. The longer barrel makes for fewer blows per minute, but hits harder and would certainly work well for bucking rivets. Snap-on also has a good assortment of bits, including those for bucking rivets.

Made in the good old USofA. Kenosha Wisconsin to be exact. I'm sure the ones at Harbor Freight will come from China or India. Good luck.

[crispyboy]

I've been to a Harbor Freight store - all I see is JUNK! I hate cheap tools, I'm happier buying a good used tool than send Asia more of my money. I've seen more busted knuckles from cheap wrenches that slip...... The tools probably work ok for one or two jobs - beyond that most of the stuff falls apart due to cheap, non-hardened steel or poor design. You get what you pay for.........

[Aerowood]

What defines the difference between an Air Hammer and a Rivet Gun? They all look pretty much the same, and work on the same principle. There are several internal differences between the two. Rivet guns are sized based on the size of the internal piston and the stroke of that piston. Bigger piston, longer stroke, more power. You have no idea what that air hammer is going to do when you pull the trigger. The trigger and internal air porting is also much more defined on the rivet gun giving it more control over an "Air Hammer". Have I ever used an air hammer to install a solid shank rivet, yes I have, but only because I left my rivet gun at work and didn't want to drive all the way out to the airport just for a couple of rivets. Why chance destroying that new expensive panel and all that labor when an adequate rivet gun is not really that expensive in the big picture of a restoration or repair. Its easy enough to make a mistake with a rivet gun so why compound it with an inferior tool.

I think that a good demonstration would really open up the eyes, so at the next FCU Restoration Rally I will have a hands on with both a rivet gun and an air hammer, along with different sizes of rivet guns.

Anybody coming through Denver Colorado or in the Denver area, I will gladly give a demo to to put this air hammer vs rivet gun debate to rest.



Kip

[WILDRTEXAS]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

What defines the difference between an Air Hammer and a Rivet Gun? They all look pretty much the same, and work on the same principle. There are several internal differences between the two. Rivet guns are sized based on the size of the internal piston and the stroke of that piston. Bigger piston, longer stroke, more power. You have no idea what that air hammer is going to do when you pull the trigger. The trigger and internal air porting is also much more defined on the rivet gun giving it more control over an "Air Hammer". Have I ever used an air hammer to install a solid shank rivet, yes I have, but only because I left my rivet gun at work and didn't want to drive all the way out to the airport just for a couple of rivets. Why chance destroying that new expensive panel and all that labor when an adequate rivet gun is not really that expensive in the big picture of a restoration or repair. Its easy enough to make a mistake with a rivet gun so why compound it with an inferior tool.

I think that a good demonstration would really open up the eyes, so at the next FCU Restoration Rally I will have a hands on with both a rivet gun and an air hammer, along with different sizes of rivet guns.

Anybody coming through Denver Colorado or in the Denver area, I will gladly give a demo to to put this air hammer vs rivet gun debate to rest.



Kip

Aerowood....how about Lights, Camera, Action on a You Tube video for all to see

[Aerowood]

Airstream Riveting | Free Autos & Vehicles Videos - Watch Autos & Vehicles Videos Online | Veoh

This is from the first FCU restoration rally. And I do think that the camera adds a few pounds.

[Ken J]

I cannot say enough about the expertise of Kip - I don't anyone who knows more on this subject than he - if you ever get a chance to attend the FCU restoration rally and see his demo's, it is worth the price of admission alone.

Ken J.

[WILDRTEXAS]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

Airstream Riveting | Free Autos & Vehicles Videos - Watch Autos & Vehicles Videos Online | Veoh

This is from the first FCU restoration rally. And I do think that the camera adds a few pounds.

Thank You for the video...Still was not able to see what was used and now. Im feeling a bit needy. SORRY.
I may just need to take my AS to a shop.

[WILDRTEXAS]

And I would like to attend a renovation rally. Any in Texas? Looks like it would be fun. Thanks ALL!

[Ken J]

New Mexico is not far from you....

[Alumanutz]

I just got a sale catalog from Brown Tools. They specialize in aviation tools. They have a real nice rivit gun set listed. They also have a rivet removal tool I want. By the way, what is the best speed for an air drill?


Home

NUTZ

[Aerowood]

I'm partial to the palm drills that turn around 3K. This 2800 rpm drill is a good
drill for the hobbyist.




Chicago Pneumatic Drill - CP Mini Palm Drill

Kip

[thecatsandi]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Many owners have asked for a "riveting" setup, for buck rivets.

We put several things together, and came up with the works.

Part # 28400.

Andy

Where is the air valve so you can adjust the hammering strength of the gun?
Is this a 2,3,4X gun??

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

Where is the air valve so you can adjust the hammering strength of the gun?
Is this a 2,3,4X gun??

The air regulator is at the bottom and front of the pistol grip.

Andy