Need help! Anyone know a heavy duty rivet gun?

[In The Ten Ring]

Here is my problem.

I have been hired to repair the broken latch from some 30 lockers. Some of these I intend to fix with my drill and by using nuts and bolts to attach the new latches but others will best be served with a rivet.

Can anyone link me to a rivet set that can do this job? *All I have is a pop rivet set and that's not good enough.

I want rivets as they will allow more room over sheet metal screws and that's what most of these lockers came with originally. Also, the construction of the lockers often does not allow access to the backside of where the latch attaches.

These rivets have to be tough and strong since each locker will hold about $800.00 worth of uniforms, skis, and gear.

*I might be able to use it on my truck later!

Can you guys help me out?

I'd like to keep things to no more than $50.00 but I could go higher if need be.

[oklalawnboy]

The only heavy duty rivet guns I've seen are the one's GM used to rivet window regulators on. probably Snap-on but bring your credit card......

[Bigdav160]

What diameter rivet? Aluminum rivets?

Harbor Freight sells a manual and an air rivet gun that will do 1/4 pop rivets.

[mmiddle]

If you are wanting a pneumatic tool... POP brand rivet guns are the very best money can buy. But you will pay for that quality... Grainger sales them they range from 500-1000. At work we use the 1000$ model. Nothing else will last as long.

[In The Ten Ring]

Good questions!

I'll get some measurements over the next couple of days and get back to this...

What about this one?

Astro Pneumatic 1423 13-Inch Heavy Duty Hand...
After some study (thought) 3/16" steel will probably do although 1/4" steel might be nice. This one has good ratings....what say you guys?

I've never had the need for rivets before but after this job is done maybe something at home with break.....

[Flthead]

I use this gun for window rivots on newer cars. Heavy duty rivots. http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/produ...p?prod_id=1089

[mmiddle]

How many rivets are you going to do? 50-100-500-more?

[67swb72klb]

Originally Posted by mmiddle

If you are wanting a pneumatic tool... POP brand rivet guns are the very best money can buy. But you will pay for that quality... Grainger sales them they range from 500-1000. At work we use the 1000$ model. Nothing else will last as long.

x2 on the pop brand guns they are not cheap
but if you are pulling a 3/16 alum rivets you can use a good quality hand rivet tool but I would not want to do it all day long lol

[hugger6933]

Ten I have one in a box that I used when I was building a ton of S-10's. The extreme package on those trucks had metal brackets riveted on the rocker panels with what appeared to be window regulator rivets, with the exception they were about four times the money yet looked the same. While I was typing the last sentence this flash occurred to me the Auto Body Tool Mart catalog was next to my time machine[my nickname for my new recliner my wife just bought me] cause I get in it I lose amounts of time.Anyway Page 144 of the newest book lower left hand corner part#3482 Marson large capacity hand riveter. $67.99 Phone # is 1-800-382-1200. They are good people to deal with no complaints here I have bought many things from them. They also have another that is $184.99 and one for 1/4 inch rivets for$59.99. Also and Astro air one for $119.99. Jim

[hugger6933]

I forgot to add in all that "sales pitching"[I'm in no way hooked up with them ],just trying to help a brother out with some place to look at some stuff that might work for what he is trying to do to help get by. And I came back to say the one I have and use is the "big daddy" model. It works very well and only a few times has it choked up and that was with cheaper type rivets and I had to do a little tear down to remove the hung up portion of the popped rivet. Jim

[In The Ten Ring]

Thanks hugger,

I will be using 3/16 to 1/4 (maybe) rivets just to put latches on lockers inside a ski instructor trailer at a ski resort. I am tired of every year having 3 locker mates and people fighting over lockers so I volunteered to fix them all. Some will need rivets though.

I plan to fix 2 lockers per night after a day of teaching ski lessons. It would be nice if the rivet gun was up to the job, not cost a ton, and if I could use it later on my truck or around the house.

Do you guys think aluminum rivets are up to the task of a locker? Lockers aren't broken into (never heard of it) but I like to do any job right.

[hugger6933]

Ten, A 1/4 inch rivet is some heavy duty stuff. That is what the General puts his window regulators on with. Go buy the parts store and ask to see the "clip book". Most stores like the local NAPA[I don't use any more] has a big binder full of examples of each type of clip and j nut and such that are the most popular and the window rivets should be there.If not ask for them first maybe you'll get lucky and some one will know enough to know what they are, and show you one. They can be bought in bags of 10 25 or a box of 50 if I recall. I think that should be plenty strong. How many per hinge and how big is the locker door?

[KEL]

I bought the cheap big one from harbor freight.
I have used it on several power window motors.
Works great. I don't expect it to last forever,
but I didnt want to spend five bills on something
I was only going touse a few times.

[richard2717]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#pop-rivet-guns/=pv0ne6

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by richard2717

http://www.mcmaster.com/#pop-rivet-guns/=pv0ne6

Is the one on the top left of the page you linked a good one for the job?

*You guys are right, 1/4" is way too much for what I'll be doing!

[richard2717]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Is the one on the top left of the page you linked a good one for the job?

*You guys are right, 1/4" is way too much for what I'll be doing!

If you are doing 1/8" rivets it will work fine. If you are doing 3/16" or larger I suggest the 5th one down. part#90239A510. I use an air rivet gun when I am in the shop but when I am on the road this is the one I use. I have one that has had about 20K aluminum 3/16" rivets run thru it with the original jaws.

If what you are fixing is any kind of structural I would suggest stainless rivets. Aluminum rivets will not pull tight enough before the mandrel breaks off.

www.hansonrivet.com is where I buy my stainless rivets. I buy 10K at a time though so not sure if they sell small qty.

Richard

[hayhauler71]

Originally Posted by richard2717

If you are doing 1/8" rivets it will work fine. If you are doing 3/16" or larger I suggest the 5th one down. part#90239A510. I use an air rivet gun when I am in the shop but when I am on the road this is the one I use. I have one that has had about 20K aluminum 3/16" rivets run thru it with the original jaws.

If what you are fixing is any kind of structural I would suggest stainless rivets. Aluminum rivets will not pull tight enough before the mandrel breaks off.

www.hansonrivet.com is where I buy my stainless rivets. I buy 10K at a time though so not sure if they sell small qty.

Richard

What he said stainless rivets 3/16 will hold a big load and will not rust. I use them for lots of fastening and strong as hell

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Here is my problem.



Can anyone link me to a rivet set that can do this job? *All I have is a pop rivet set and that's not good enough.



Can you guys help me out?

I'd like to keep things to no more than $50.00 but I could go higher if need be.

There is nothing cheaper than a ball peen hammer . Hanson Rivet and supply has blind drive rivets in mild steel and stainless steel. Insert it into the hole, smack the pin and you are done. You could go buy a $1000.00 pneumatic rivet gun but for 30 doors I would get a hard face BFH from Harbor Freight, Homely Depot or Tractor Supply.

[dirtyjim]

I install thousands of 1/8" rivets a year and the only rivet guns i'll use are marson and old craftsman ones that hold the rivet & expel the shaft front the front instead of the spitting it out the back like most rivet guns. I prefer the old craftsman guns but I keep a couple marson guns as back up.

I would also use a industrial grade stainless rivet with a stainless shaft instead of the standard aluminum hardware store rivets, the quality of rivets have gone down a lot in the last few years.

[In The Ten Ring]

Well guys, remember, this job is for standard high school gym lockers, just to replace latches that were taken off or broken off at some point.

The ski school director is OK with paying for the tool and me keeping it if we can stay around $60.00. They will buy all the hardware and other than me keeping the tool and left over rivets, I don't get paid (which was my idea). But it's a job that needs to be done and no one else is going to step up. *Right now I have 4 locker mates...that's how bad it's gotten.

So that said, you think I should go with stainless rivets over aluminum?

[dirtyjim]

If the latches were working loose over time I would definitely use stainless over aluminum just for durability. If you could get by with 1/8" diameter rivets I could send you some on the house.

[richard2717]

Regardless of what you decide is best for you I would steer clear of the aluminum rivets. If they don't want to pony the money for stainless you could still use regular steel rivets (as long as they are not subject to getting wet they wont rust to bad inside).

If your going to use the small gun like at the top of the link I would steer clear of 3/16 stainless. after about the 3rd rivet you pop your wrist will feel like it is next. It will do fine with the 1/8" ones

Richard

[In The Ten Ring]

OK guys I am definately getting closer to a purchase and thanks for all the help.

What bout this tool here?

Astro Pneumatic 1423 13-Inch Heavy Duty Hand...
If it's not a good choice for the job I'll go with the one suggested above (5th one down on its page).

[richard2717]

that one is not to bad looking but this one here has longer handles for better leverage and is only a few bucks more.

Either one should be fine for what you are doing

Astro Pneumatic 1426 1/4-Inch Heavy-Duty Hand...
Richard

[In The Ten Ring]

OK! I might go on and get that Astro one, the last one I linked. I'm going to look around locally for the best deal on stainless steel 3/16" rivets.

My boss is REALLY into this project! He told me "go on and get the tool just keep the receipt" and he said it with a degree of urgency.