Buck Riveting tools?

[Scotty033x]

I have pop rivet tools and experience, but buck rivets are new to me. I've watched some videos and can do it, I'm just wanting to get the right tools at the cheapest price. I have a compressor with hoses and attachments. I've seen some information, but seems people are using different tools. What exactly do I need for the gun and bit? Is it available at harbor freight?

[Belegedhel]

I have yet to see buck riveting tools at Harbor Freight. For the cheapest price, you could hunt down each part of the kit on eBay, and gamble that the tool hasn't already been run into the ground. I took the middle path and got the buck riveting kit available from Vintage Trailer Supply. The kit has the rivet gun, rivets, rivet cutter, clecos, bucking bar, basically everything you need to get started. I don't believe the gun is super high-end, but mine survived one trailer rennovation just fine, and the price was reasonable (though it may seem high if you were hoping to find something at HF).

Good luck!

[Troutboy]

https://www.vintagetrailersupply.com...-p/vts-843.htm

[Scotty033x]

The gun is the highest priced part of the kit correct? I might want to get one of higher quality but yes the rest seems fine.

[68 TWind]

Check out aircraft tool supply sites. They have rivet tools and bucking bars.
Bucking rivets is not hard but takes practice and there is some skill involved. If you have a local airport, go out and find an old A&P mechanic and ask him if he will give you a lesson on some scrap. I was taught by an old navy chief who had been working on planes for many years. DO NOT try to learn to buck rivets on your trailer. Practice on some scrap pieces until you get the feel for it.

[orozcom]

I went to Vintage Trailer Supply and I was ready to buy their kit. But it was out of stock.
I emailed them, and they said that they did not have the rivet gun in stock, which of course is an essential part. I liked that they had everything else. Wondering if they would sell me the kit with everything except the rivet gun, at a discounted price, and I could find the rivet gun somewhere else.
However, the other thing is about the rivet gun, I see some places have a 2X, 3X, 4X. What does that mean? Is there a specific rivet gun that would work for me?

[Aerowood]

You will want a 3X, you will also need an AN455-5 rivet set. Bucking bars can be any ole piece of thick steel.

[markdoane]

You might want to order the rivets from somewhere else and get the "AD" alloy (2117) rivets. They are harder and have a dimple in the head.

The rivets in the Vintage Trailer Supply kit are soft, pure 1100 aluminum.

I found the 2117 alloy rivets (AN455AD) make a better looking joint and were easy to set. The "A" alloy 1100 rivets (AN455A) were like soft butter. I don't have as much confidence in the strength of the joint.

[orozcom]

Good information here. I have been looking around. I found these:

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...saAhwuEALw_wcB - $248

https://www.yardstore.com/riveting/p...h-3x-rivet-gun - $195

and

https://www.browntool.com/Listview/t...0/Default.aspx - $200

Do these look like they would work, and do you have any opinions on which one to buy?

[Aerowood]

All are good choices except the first one which was a 2X gun. Again these sets have AN470 rivets sets verse the AN455 sets that Airstream rivets are. As previously posted the rivets from VTS are AN455A5-x and are dead soft. Another option is to use AN470 universal head rivets. These rivets will match the head profile of the river sets in the kits you have been looking at. For what it's worth, I have used nothing but AN470AD5-x on all the primary structure of my Globetrotter an AN470A5-x rivets on such things as window frames etc. I have had many people look at my GT and none have noticed the difference in rivets. AN 470 rivets are also more readily available and in unlimited sizes

[Redcoat]

Really good info everyone on the rivets and thank you, Aerowood for your response as well. Could you tell me if I would require a specific rivet gun for those AN470AD5-x and AN470A5-x? If so, could you identify those requirements?

Many thanks

[Aerowood]

Any 3X rivet gun would be fine.

[orozcom]

I went with this one:
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...saAhwuEALw_wcB - $248

It came with everything I needed. It was more expensive, but if you are military veteran like me, they will give you a discount. It also comes in three different types. 2X, 3X, and 4X.

I can't really give you a review on it yet, because I haven't really used it yet. However, I will be soon enough. I am just about ready to start on the windows, and I got my buck rivets, gaskets, etc... ready to go.

[Aerowood]

Be sure to get rivet sets for AN 455 rivets. The kit you bought has sets for AN 470 rivets, unless you buy AN 470 rivets. Much more variety in the 470 rivets