For the benefit of any who are considering whether to invest in trying rivnuts, here's my experience so far (first order received a few days ago).
I ordered the PNT-110 and a bag of SKL10-32-130 STEEL THIN-NUTs from
Hanson Rivets. The web page for the inserts (rivnuts) specified a "grip range" of 0.02" to 0.13". As our primary use case is with 1/8" (0.0125") aluminum, and the secondary case is with thinner aluminum or steel, this seemed to be a minimal investment (less than $100) for a tool and a couple hundred inserts. While doing my Christmas shopping, I picked up a couple of 19/64" drill bits at Lowe's.
Saturday morning (yes, Christmas Eve, and my son's birthday), I drilled a hole in a piece of 1/8" aluminum bar and tried to set a rivnut in it. I tweaked the nose piece and used arm strength as well as hands, and even tried using the setter as a wrench on the threads, but I could not seem to get the insert to properly set. The insert seemed slightly swollen, but not set as a proper "rivet". For details, see the image, particularly the rivnut at the top, second from the right.
This morning (26 Dec), I had a bit of time to try a few things. My intention was to do a "pullout" test but this morning I decided to try a couple of other things first. I put an insert on the tool, and tried to set it in air. I am happy to report that this takes no more hand strength than a 3/8" rivet. The results are in the picture, third from right.
Then, I tried setting one of these rivnuts in 1/16" aluminum. I had a scrap of plywood edge channel handy, and the result is shown in the image at the far left.
I then did a few measurements of compressed and uncompressed inserts, and I am convinced that a '.130"' nut is only good for 1/8", or possibly 3/16" of material. I have ordered some rivnuts that support up to .225" thick, which should work quite well in 1/8" aluminum. 'll post some upgrades as I learn more.