Buying Pneumatic Rivet Gun

[Munchskull]

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

Neiko 30702A Pistol Type Air Rivet Gun

Allstar Performance ALL18207 Air Rivet Gun

Any suggestions and feedback for what I should buy?

[lewislongbottom]

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.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by lewislongbottom

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]

Originally Posted by R.C.

Ditto we use that as well, normally lasts us a few seasons and we then order another one.

3rd-ed

[Knufire]

4th-ed.

[GeeTwo]

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]

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.

BTW this is the rivet gun i have from Harbor Freight

[mman1506]

Originally Posted by Munchskull

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.

BTW this is the rivet gun i have from Harbor Freight

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.

[Dale]

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.

[Munchskull]

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.

[Cory]

We use the Campbell Hausfeld one. Had it 3 or 4 years now. No complaints. Gets the job done.

[DaveL]

Originally Posted by Cory

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

[GreyingJay]

Originally Posted by mman1506

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/

[DonShaw]

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]

Originally Posted by DonShaw

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 . We are running it off the same air supply that we are running our shops CNC plasma.