Rivet tools--what's out there today?

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Like many other teams, 2815 has done a lot with rivets over the past few seasons (1/8", almost exclusively). However, even without getting 1501-class rivet counts we always seem to go through two or three riveters each year. (These are the standard, $20-25 ones you find at Lowe's or Ace Hardware.)

As we get ready for next build season, we're trying to step our game up in some areas of assembly and want to know: What's the best setup for riveting for an FRC team?

I've seen this post from Copioli a few years back, and a pneumatic rivet tool would certainly appear to speed some things up at the expense of having to add another big thing to the pit (the compressor). If this is the way, what does the group recommend for a compressor? (Harbor Freight's got one for $40 as part of this weekend's sales, but the reviews are littered with stories of it clunking out after only a couple of uses.)

I'm sure the responses will be...riveting.

Billfred if you are doing normal pop rivets. We use #10 bolts, #9 drill, 3/16" rivets, here is what we get:

McMaster - Rivets

Rivets 3/16" Rivet - .251"-.375" Grip - Plain - HS McMaster 98778A501 $10.06 Aluminum
Rivets 3/16" Rivet - .375"-.437" Grip - Plain - HS McMaster 98778A502 $12.95 Aluminum
Rivets 3/16" Rivet - .251"-.375" Grip - Plain McMaster 97447A055 $11.19 Aluminum
Rivets 3/16" Rivet - .376"-.500" Grip - Plain McMaster 97447A060 $8.94 Aluminum
Rivets 3/16" Rivet - .751"-.875" Grip - Plain McMaster 97447A071 $8.82 Aluminum
Rivets 3/16" Rivet - .251"-.375" Grip - Black McMaster 97526A411 $8.28 Aluminum
Rivets 3/16" Rivet - .376"-.500" Grip - Black McMaster 97526A421 $8.94 Aluminum

*Price may be out of date.

#9 Drill - Most of our stub drills:

Maritool

Riveter:

While the Manson one is pretty awesome. For teams I'd recommend these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-in...ter-93458.html

or

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-qua...ter-98898.html

I know these are from harbor freight but these are so cheap its hard not to get them. We've had our guy since 2010 with no issues. We originally planned to use it for a season and get a new one. We have new kids each year (like everyone else) and they manage to find a way to break/mess up the assembly tools. So for them to break this guy is really no big deal, its also mega easy to repair. Also riveting 3/16" or bigger by hand is a pain in the rear unless you have this guy:

Big Daddy - really nice to have one around.

IMO, most small hand riveters are pretty awful for sizes 3/16" or 1/4". We like the pneumatic guy and the big daddy. Very rarely do we need to use the small hand guy (we do have a few tho).

-RC