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

[Munchskull]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

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]

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.

[sanddrag]

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

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]

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.

[snoman]

[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.

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.