Buying Pneumatic Rivet Gun

[Billfred]

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.

[FrankJ]

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]

Yeah, you have to use the wrench that comes with it. Also bench vices' can be handy if you need a third hand!

[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.

[mman1506]

Originally Posted by Munchskull

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.

You should be fine, a CNC plasma uses far more flow than a rivet gun.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Munchskull

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.

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]

Originally Posted by mman1506

You should be fine, a CNC plasma uses far more flow than a rivet gun.

That's what I was getting at.

Originally Posted by Cory

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.

[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

[mman1506]

Originally Posted by DaveL

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.

[DonShaw]

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]

Originally Posted by DonShaw

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.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by DonShaw

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.

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]

Originally Posted by Cory

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.

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.