The company that sells it sells replacement bits as well, but I thought I would just touch them up with a drill doctor. I orderd one yesterday for my in progress rib replacement in my roof. I will post on if it works or not.
Please tell me that a 2003 Airstream doesn't need rivets replaced already, YIKES.
The rivet drill seems to be a good issue. 30+ years in aviation I still use the standard drill and drill bit stop. But I have made my mistakes in my time.
Any tool that can prevent scratches or broken bit stabs earns my respect. This tool also serves as a drill stop, I hope or you get a a 1/2" hole. Hard to get rivets for LOL.
The only problem I see with it is that some times, drilling in a tight area might present a problem but for exterior use I see no problems. Would love to have one myself but I need to buy curtain "J" clips, wife priority.
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Regards Greg
Life is like an Airstream, we always have the potential to shine
My deepest sympathy, took me awhile to realize what I was looking at. Hope all goes well in the rebuild. Are you getting new frames from Airstream or salvaging the bent ones?
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Regards Greg
Life is like an Airstream, we always have the potential to shine
There are actually 4 roof bows that are bent, one is cracked. I am replacing the three of them. One that I can't replace because it is heliarc welded to the side ribs, but with some coaxing with a slide hammer and some porta powers I think I can make it work. If all failes I will be having a salvage sale.
I don't see a value or a usefull purpose for that tool, for work on an Airstream trailer.
The drill bit that you must use with that tool are $2.95 each, plus they are threaded and the wrong size, namely a #40. The correct size is a #30 drill bit, which they don't have for that tool.
Bottom line is if you use that tool, all it will let you do is drill a hole in the center of the rivet, which won't allow you to remove the rivet.
Drill out the rivets with a #30 drill bit. If your off center a little, is doesn't matter as the hole must be drilled the second time with a #21 drill bit, which is the correct hole size for the "Olymic rivets."
Caution. Do not use the #21 bit only. You must use both sizes.
Perhaps Andy knows something I don't about using this tool on other model years that makes it problematic. It does remove the rivet!
But I did use it to remove all the bucked rivets in my roof. I liked it because it kept me centerd on the rivet and made removal fast and I didn't over shoot the depth beyond what I needed to drill out the rivet. I did have to redrill the holes when the new ribs were put in; but I felt the tool was worth the 49 dollars. They even have a new model with a non slip head that keeps the rivet from spinning when you drill through it. I had to put in about 100 olympic rivets and it worked good for me. If you have only a few rivets to drill out use as center punch, But if you have a difficult time keeping your drill bit straight due to bifocals or such, the tool helps.
For what its worth.
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"No good dent goes unpunished."
Campcollector
Do you have any updated photos of your repairs? I'm in Corvallis and looking for an excuse to travel to the coast to see what you've done! Quite a daunting task to rehab your unit! I've seen the devastation of the December/January storm inland in the coast range and at my house. It must have been scary.
Jim
The tool in question is IDEAL for removing ANY solid, bucked, round head rivet. The drill bits available do, in fact, come in #30, use PN 5000-30L! For the #21 bit use PN 5000-21L. This tool is designed to remove rivets without any damage to the original hole or the panel(s) the rivet was mating.
The critical nature of aircraft riveting requires precision tools. Airstreams flex and bounce whereas aircraft are subjected to extreme 'g' forces throughout the airframe. Sloppy riveting is simply unacceptable. Lives depend on those rivets!
The necessary drill bits are available in whatever size necessary. They are more expensive because of the design necessary to work with the tool.
20 years a Navy Pilot and Aircraft Maintenance Officer has shown me what works and what doesn't when talking aluminum and titanium. This tool works. Aircraft Spruce and Wicks probably carry this tool as well.
Andy . . . you should add this tool to your inventory. It is so much better than free hand drilling.
Take care,
__________________ Old trucks and old trailers . . . a comfortable combination! AIR 1446
W5CDR A-6E All Weather Attack Driver, BUFF USN Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Ret. '91 Suburban R-2500 w/BBC '78 Honda GL-1000 '72 Triumph T-100R Daytona
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Its no wonder I have no friends.
It does remove the rivet!
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