Hand riveter tool

[Sunset Coast]

I am trying to find a hand riveter tool for 1/8" pop rivets that has only about a 3/8" diameter barrel so I can mount the segment protector brackets to my AS. The "hat" shaped brackets have the holes very close to the body of the bracket and my regular rivet hand tool is too large to reach the holes.

Anyone seen a tool like this with the small diameter barrel?

Thanks, Doug

[bkahler]

I've run into a situation like that before and I ended up using a small hollow spacer slipped over the stud of the rivet. If I'm not mistaken the stud is designed to break off down inside the rivet body so spacing it up doesn't matter. I've found various spacers at Home Depot and Lowe's in their hardware section. You could even try #10 washers stacked up high enough to provide clearance. Just be aware that once the stud snaps the washers are going to go flying!

Basically anything that will fit in the area and still keep the rivet gun out of the way should work.

Good luck!

Brad

[Jim Foster]

Try using a small 1/4" drive socket as a spacer. Perhaps 3/16, with the drive end up toward the rivet tool.

[Wabbiteer]

You can stack a few of the backing washers they sell to reinforce the blind side to make the extension - I have boxes of them in the pop-rivet tool kit already and they work well. If it's just a little interference leave the mandrel bushing a few turns loose to get the extra 1/8" if it's just for a few rivets...

[lewster]

Try grinding the head of the rivet gun down to the size you need to fit next to the bracket. I've done this with great success for a number of specialty applications. If you have a high quality rivet gun, buy a cheapie for this purpope only and save your good one.

[Sunset Coast]

Thanks everybody for the ideas. I was able to use a small spacer and still get a grip on the rivet shaft. It worked great ... the spacer occasionally went "flying" when the shaft popped! Thanks again.