View Full Version : Buying Pneumatic Rivet Gun
Munchskull
29-11-2015, 21:56
This last year my team just started using rivets instead of bolt. Have only a hand rivet gun things went slow, so as a gift I want to buy my team a pneumatic rivet gun. I started by buying a Harbor Freight rivet Gun, sadly it could not get it working and when I when and asked for assistance the store clerks blatantly lied to me. So returning that.
So I am currently looking for a sub $80 pneumatic rivet gun that works on our shop air which is 90 psi. The ones I am currently looking at are:
Campbell Hausfeld Commercial CL153900AV Rivet Gun (http://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Hausfeld-Commercial-CL153900AV-Rivet/dp/B00E3T0XLU/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1448851491&sr=1-2&keywords=pneumatic+rivet+gun)
Neiko 30702A Pistol Type Air Rivet Gun (http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-30702A-Pistol-Type-Rivet/dp/B002GQ51Y6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_263_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=31zOssArx2L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0VW2E55SMVNY2C2JT334)
Allstar Performance ALL18207 Air Rivet Gun (http://www.amazon.com/Allstar-Performance-ALL18207-Air-Rivet/dp/B003BZQ6MW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_469_9?ie=UTF8&dpID=41pma3297jL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR140%2C160_&refRID=04Y11VY27YZPEREQ5537)
Any suggestions and feedback for what I should buy?
lewislongbottom
29-11-2015, 22:30
The Harbor Freight Pneumatic Rivet Gun has worked perfectly for our team. 100% success, no bad rivets. Cheap enough to buy a replacement if ever necessary. As long as it is well oiled and maintained, it is a reliable product.
The Harbor Freight Pneumatic Rivet Gun has worked perfectly for our team. 100% success, no bad rivets. Cheap enough to buy a replacement if ever necessary. As long as it is well oiled and maintained, it is a reliable product.
Ditto we use that as well, normally lasts us a few seasons and we then order another one.
Greg Needel
29-11-2015, 22:58
Ditto we use that as well, normally lasts us a few seasons and we then order another one.
3rd-ed
On a related topic, how do you decide how many rivets to use for a given application? We've probably been over-killing on bolts in recent years, but are moving towards rivets for more and more functions as we move from angle and c-channel extrusion from a local aluminum supplier to an increasing use of VersaFrame stock.
Munchskull
29-11-2015, 23:06
For all of you with the Harbor freight rivet gun, how did yo remove the bottom cap to prime with fluid? It will not budge for me. I am on my second one and it will not come off. :mad:
BTW this is the rivet gun i have from Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-inch-air-hydraulic-riveter-93458.html)
Munchskull
29-11-2015, 23:13
On a related topic, how do you decide how many rivets to use for a given application? We've probably been over-killing on bolts in recent years, but are moving towards rivets for more and more functions as we move from angle and c-channel extrusion from a local aluminum supplier to an increasing use of VersaFrame stock.
Umm. The very technical method of educated guessing based on pure mimicry of Vex Pro gussets. Also you could factor in loads applied to rives and then figure a good safety factor for your application. I like to use now fewer than three rivets per item being fastened.
Ryan Dognaux
29-11-2015, 23:16
5th-ed. I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that we used the same Harbor Freight pneumatic rivet gun that our mentor used to assemble his kit airplane until it finally bit the dust. It just works until it doesn't and then you buy a new one because it's so cheap.
mman1506
29-11-2015, 23:33
For all of you with the Harbor freight rivet gun, how did yo remove the bottom cap to prime with fluid? It will not budge for me. I am on my second one and it will not come off. :mad:
BTW this is the rivet gun i have from Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-inch-air-hydraulic-riveter-93458.html)
I takes a lot of effort but it can be done with the included wrench. What happens when air is applied currently? They usually come pre filled.
The only issue we've had with the gun is the nose breaking off when it was dropped (our fault). I went on a trip to the US just to buy another.
I can't think of why you'd want to remove the bottom of the HF gun. If it needs priming just take it back and get another. We've never needed to prime the ones we've gotten.
sanddrag
30-11-2015, 00:21
For all of you with the Harbor freight rivet gun, how did yo remove the bottom cap to prime with fluid? It will not budge for me. I am on my second one and it will not come off. :mad:
BTW this is the rivet gun i have from Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-inch-air-hydraulic-riveter-93458.html)It wasn't easy but with a lot of persuasion, it will go. There may have been a hammer involved to assist. I can't quite remember though, it was a couple years ago. The thing still pulls good.
Munchskull
30-11-2015, 00:23
Just decided I would try it. Turns out it works without priming. Said on the box that it came with out fluid. Looks like I have a nice Christmas present from my team now.
We use the Campbell Hausfeld one. Had it 3 or 4 years now. No complaints. Gets the job done.
[QUOTE=Munchskull;1508725]For all of you with the Harbor freight rivet gun, how did yo remove the bottom cap to prime with fluid? It will not budge for me. I am on my second one and it will not come off. :mad:
they do need oil to operate i have had to add to mine several times. if it takes more than 3 trigger pulls it needs oil. there should be a wrench with the gun. on mine you use the "outside" of the wrench. it can be very tight. clamp the large part of the body in a vice.
Billfred
30-11-2015, 08:52
2815 had the Harbor Freight gun the last year I worked with them. Worked like a champ once we figured out the oil situation and installed the right items into our air supply, though we still used our hand riveter a good bit due to some tight spaces caused by using angle aluminum as a gusset rather than flat plates. These days, less of an issue.
The translation of the rivet gun's operation manual from Chinese to English leaves a lot to be desired. It is not hydraulic in the traditional sense of using oil as a working fluid. It uses oil for lubrication. A few drops of light machine oil in the air inlet occasionally for lubrication is all that is need. No disassembly required. I use 3 in 1 oil.
lewislongbottom
30-11-2015, 09:57
Yeah, you have to use the wrench that comes with it. Also bench vices' can be handy if you need a third hand!
GreyingJay
02-12-2015, 11:57
The only issue we've had with the gun is the nose breaking off when it was dropped (our fault). I went on a trip to the US just to buy another.
I considered doing that as a gift to my new team but ordered this from Amazon.ca instead. It was $71 back in June when I ordered it, probably cost about the same or better than the HF after you factor in exchange and gas.
Allstar ALL18207
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003BZQ6MW/
Just because you have 90psi does not mean you have enough flow(volume)to operate a pneumatic air tool. You need to look at the CFM on the compressor and air tool to make sure you have the volume.
Munchskull
02-12-2015, 19:08
Just because you have 90psi does not mean you have enough flow(volume)to operate a pneumatic air tool. You need to look at the CFM on the compressor and air tool to make sure you have the volume.
Well I sure hope that we have the CFM :rolleyes:. We are running it off the same air supply that we are running our shops CNC plasma.
mman1506
02-12-2015, 19:24
Well I sure hope that we have the CFM :rolleyes:. We are running it off the same air supply that we are running our shops CNC plasma.
You should be fine, a CNC plasma uses far more flow than a rivet gun.
Well I sure hope that we have the CFM :rolleyes:. We are running it off the same air supply that we are running our shops CNC plasma.
The crappiest air compressor you could buy is gonna be fine. a rivet gun should be like a fraction of 1 CFM. All those 5 gallon pancake compressors that people tend to have are at least 2-2.5 CFM.
Munchskull
02-12-2015, 19:48
You should be fine, a CNC plasma uses far more flow than a rivet gun.
That's what I was getting at.
The crappiest air compressor you could buy is gonna be fine. a rivet gun should be like a fraction of 1 CFM. All those 5 gallon pancake compressors that people tend to have are at least 2-2.5 CFM.
I have not actually seen the compressor but based on the fact that it supplies our metals shop, auto shop and jewelry lab I have a feeling it is pretty big.
We use the Campbell Hausfeld one. Had it 3 or 4 years now. No complaints. Gets the job done.
Can I power this rivet gun with an old (large) 12v. FRC compressor?
Dave
mman1506
05-12-2015, 09:23
Can I power this rivet gun with an old (large) 12v. FRC compressor?
Dave
I've run it off our robot's pneumatic system a couple of times at competition. You will just need to add a couple air tanks and you should be fine.
So here are the specs on the Northern gun, it takes much more air than one would think.
Specs
Item# 15761
Manufacturer's Warranty 12 months parts / 12 months labor
Ship Weight 6.0 lbs
Application Rivet tool
Working Pressure (PSI) 80–100
Rivet Size (in.) 3/16
Air Consumption (CFM) 4.2
Air Inlet Size (in. NPT) 1/4
Max. PSI 80
Additional Information
Parts List
One of the most important things to remember when dealing with pneumatic's is the volume of air required. The students on our team have had a hard time grasping this as well.
When looking at the specs this would make one of those "Crappiest Pancake compressors" below the specs needed to operate.
Boyles Law is a great thing to know when working with pneumatics
mman1506
05-12-2015, 11:17
So here are the specs on the Northern gun, it takes much more air than one would think.
Specs
Item# 15761
Manufacturer's Warranty 12 months parts / 12 months labor
Ship Weight 6.0 lbs
Application Rivet tool
Working Pressure (PSI) 80–100
Rivet Size (in.) 3/16
Air Consumption (CFM) 4.2
Air Inlet Size (in. NPT) 1/4
Max. PSI 80
Additional Information
Parts List
One of the most important things to remember when dealing with pneumatic's is the volume of air required. The students on our team have had a hard time grasping this as well.
When looking at the specs this would make one of those "Crappiest Pancake compressors" below the specs needed to operate.
Boyles Law is a great thing to know when working with pneumatics
I don't think the CFM requirements are really as high as the instructions entail. I have the absolute crappiest compressor you can buy, rated at .7 CFM at 90 PSI (I think it was even worse in reality) and it was easily able to keep up with normal riveting work. Our robot's air system was also easily able to keep up with 4 air tanks attached.
So here are the specs on the Northern gun, it takes much more air than one would think.
Specs
Item# 15761
Manufacturer's Warranty 12 months parts / 12 months labor
Ship Weight 6.0 lbs
Application Rivet tool
Working Pressure (PSI) 80–100
Rivet Size (in.) 3/16
Air Consumption (CFM) 4.2
Air Inlet Size (in. NPT) 1/4
Max. PSI 80
I have a really difficult time believing that rating is accurate. the Campbell Hausfeld one is likely identical to the Northern Tool one and any other similar appearance/price rivet gun and it is rated for 0.2 CFM (http://www.cpocampbellhausfeld.com/campbell-hausfeld-cl153900av-2-000-lbs--pop-rivet-gun/cbhncl153900av,default,pd.html?cgid=campbell-hausfeld-specialty-air-tools).
I know the real world rating of a couple other things that are 2 and 4 CFM respectively and the volume of air being moved through them at 90 PSI is wayyyyyy more than a rivet gun.
Michael Hill
05-12-2015, 17:44
I have a really difficult time believing that rating is accurate. the Campbell Hausfeld one is likely identical to the Northern Tool one and any other similar appearance/price rivet gun and it is rated for 0.2 CFM (http://www.cpocampbellhausfeld.com/campbell-hausfeld-cl153900av-2-000-lbs--pop-rivet-gun/cbhncl153900av,default,pd.html?cgid=campbell-hausfeld-specialty-air-tools).
I know the real world rating of a couple other things that are 2 and 4 CFM respectively and the volume of air being moved through them at 90 PSI is wayyyyyy more than a rivet gun.
Possibly an instantaneous CFM? The duty cycle of a pneumatic riveter is generally pretty dang low. Though I have no idea why they would even put that on the label.
I've run it off our robot's pneumatic system a couple of times at competition. You will just need to add a couple air tanks and you should be fine.
Sweet!
What kind of fitting will we need to power a Campbell Hausfeld Commercial CL153900AV Rivet Gun?
On Amazon it says "1/4-inch air inlet and minimum hose size of 3/8-inch"
Does that mean our standard 1/4" pipe threads to push fit fitting will work?
For example: 1/4"Tube X 1/4"MNPT Brass Prestolok Male Connector
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=85247&catid=940
Sweet!
What kind of fitting will we need to power a Campbell Hausfeld Commercial CL153900AV Rivet Gun?
On Amazon it says "1/4-inch air inlet and minimum hose size of 3/8-inch"
Does that mean our standard 1/4" pipe threads to push fit fitting will work?
For example: 1/4"Tube X 1/4"MNPT Brass Prestolok Male Connector
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=85247&catid=940
Quirkiness of standards for different stuff. Hose is generally based on ID. Tube is based on OD. 3/8 ID hose is a lot bigger than 1/4 OD tube. Rivet guns pull a lot of air for short bursts. For low riveting rates, the size of the storage tank is more important than the size of the compressor. You can get away with a short run of 1/4 tube, but it is not ideal.
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