Pop Rivet Gun

Mike Goetzke

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
1,134
I'm in need of a new hand operated rivet gun. I replaced many gutters on my house and the old gun I have has stopped rejecting the pins. I took it apart and cleaned it well but no luck. I see so many different brands available it's confusing. Wondering if anyone has suggestion for a decent one.

Thanks
 
If you are looking for a manual tool for blind rivets, I can recommend this tool from McMaster-Carr.  I bought this tool about 15 years ago and have used in on thousands of steel and aluminum blind rivets with no problems.
https://www.mcmaster.com/6659A21/
 
MikeGE said:
If you are looking for a manual tool for blind rivets, I can recommend this tool from McMaster-Carr.  I bought this tool about 15 years ago and have used in on thousands of steel and aluminum blind rivets with no problems.
https://www.mcmaster.com/6659A21/

I think I have that same one but didn't get it from McMaster. I think it might be by Malco.

I see Milwaukee has a 12v powered rivet tool now. But it's big and priced at $229 for the bare tool.
 
Probably wouldn't go into the gutter business with it, but $25 and works just fine - Limited use, gutters and knick-knack stuff in the shop, but working much better than the cheap Stanley from the big box. +1 for a case.
 
I have three different manual pop rivet guns, from a top of the line to cheesy as can be. They all work about the same, with the fit and finish being slightly noticeably different. *shrugs* I'd stick with a brand name, IE: Marson, etc.
 
I've  never  heard  of  Rapid  tbh,  though  they  look  OK.

Gesipa  is  the  big name  in  Europe  as  far as  riveters  are  concerned.
And  they  are  dedicated  to riveter  excellence  in  manual,  battery operated  and  high  speed  auto load mechanized for  production  applications.

I purchased a  Milwaukee  recently  which  is  powered  by a  12v  battery  and  is  half  the  price  of  anything  similar  that  Gesipa,  Hilti, Makita  and  Metabo  are  offering.
A  great  tool,  light  and  easy handled.

Used  a Draper  scissor  set  and  an  old  Gesipa  scissor  set  previously  and  various    cheap hand  held  sets  and  they  all  gave  plenty  of  trouble.
Cannot  speak  for  Gesipa's  latest  range  of  manual  riveters  which  has  about  14  models.
Will  stick  with  the  Milwaukee. [big grin]

 
I got good use from the Harbor Freight piece for $25.00. 

Here is the $25.00 version:
https://www.harborfreight.com/13-in-heavy-duty-professional-hand-riveter-58018.html

58018_W8.jpg


 
I have a Richline that I've used for years. It comes with 4 different nose pieces for 3/32" to 3/16" rivet studs and a wrench that all stow on the gun itself.

Other quality products would be Marson, Goebel, Malco and if you really want to rid yourself of excess cash, you can purchase the hand tool that started the whole hand rivet phenomenon...POP. They run around $200.

[attachimg=1]
 

Attachments

  • 11199.jpg
    11199.jpg
    321.1 KB · Views: 514
Milwaukee makes a battery-powered version.  It is going to be bulkier and heavier than the manual versions.  It has to be manually fed, though I have not seen any videos of it in use.

$200.00 for the 12 volt and $900.00 for the 18 volt.  I'm not sure it makes sense.
 
All  riveters  are  hand  fed.  Apart  from high end production  models  for  the factory floor.
I have  the  milwaukee 12v  and  I  don't  consider  it  to be  bulky.
Certainly  not  bulky  in  comparison  to a  manual scissor  set.
 
If you are already in the 12v Milwaukee system it is $200.00.

How often would you need a pop rivet gun for that to work.  I watched a video and it certainly looks fast to use.  But at what point is it justified. Certainly, for a AC duct installer it would.  And I guess that is the market that they are chasing. I would not be able to justify the expense.
 
I have a couple of the hand operated versions and really wish I could justify the $179.00 Milwaukee 12v as I have an extensive range of 12v.  Instead I bought  Astro Pneumatic Tool ADR14 XL to work on my Airstream as it will pull 1/4" stainless steel rivets.  I also bought the Astro Pneumatic Tool ADN14 Rivet Nut tool to insert threaded nuts.
 
Back
Top