[TowerTalk] Rivet Tool Info

Sun Aug 10 18:32:16 EDT 2014

On 8/10/2014 2:24 PM, Larry K4AB wrote:
> I'm in the process of assembling the new Force 12 Delta-II-6BA.
>
> I agree with Chip K7JA, that the hand rivet tool is very difficult for

What size rivets are you using?  I have a simple "one hand" mechanical 
tool.  "I think" I purchased it at Lowe's, but that was years 
ago.---Nope!  It's a Sears Craftsman and has collets to take up to a 
1/8th inch shank, or stem.     You insert the stem into the tool and add 
just enough pressure to hold the rivet with the head against the tool. 
Insert the rivet into the hole and squeeze. When closed, it snaps the 
stem off, flush with the head. Simple and easy to use.    I've used it 
on many hundreds if not thousands of rivets from 1/8th inch to 3/16ths 
regular pop rivets both Aluminum and SS, Chery (Aircraft blind rivets), 
and regular blind rivets.  I put an entire Force 12 C19 XR together 
without my hand getting tired at age 67.  At 74, I can still use it with 
little effort and I'm certainly no advertisement for muscles. <:-))

Its been loaned out many times so it's apparently rugged.

I've seen a number of Sonex aircraft built using a similar tool. Prior 
to that, I'd never seen pop rivets used in skin and structural members 
of aircraft.  That takes a lot of rivets!  IIRC the Van's series uses 
all conventional rivets.  Holding a bucking bar properly in place while 
some one else uses "the tool" is real exercise.  One slip and you are 
replacing an expensive sheet of Aluminum and IIRC the wings are 
assembled with all flush rivets.

For conventional rivets I can understand the need for a pneumatic tool, 
but for pop rivets the correct hand tool takes little effort. No, you 
can't do it with two fingers, but you should be able to do it with 
little effort.

73

Roger (K8RI)

> popping the rivets.  Bear in mind that I am no large, athletic guy,
> but I'm no little old lady either.  The hand riviter is tough to use.
>
> I prefer a simple pneumatic riviter that can be bought for around
> $50.  The advantage of the pneumatic tool is that you can use
> one of your hands to steady the element, and the opposite hand
> to "pop" the rivet. The dual-hand riviter that Chip recommends
> requires use of both of your hands, making it quite cumbersome.
>
> Of course the pneumatic tool uses an air compressor, which a lot
> of folks may already have.  If not, a simple "pancake" compressor
> which can deliver 90-100 PSI is sufficent and inexpensive.
>
> The pneumatic rivet tool is the only way to fly!
>
> As an aside, the new 6BA looks like an fine piece of workmanship.
> The new open-air 40 meter loading coils are LARGE, and seem, at
> first glance, to appear vastly superior to the previous versions.
> Congratulations to AA7XT, G0KSC, K7JA, XE2K and the team,
> and of course N6BT.
>
> Once it gets up and installed, I'll give you an overall assessment and
> post some pictures online.
>
> 73,
> Larry K4AB
>
>
>
>
> On 8/8/14, Chip Margelli <chip at force12inc.com> wrote:
>> Hello to all.
>>
>> We've come across a very nice tool for inserting rivets beyond the "small"
>> 1/8" rivets used on smaller elements.
>>
>> Harbor Freight has an item called the Pittsburgh 18" Heavy Duty Hand
>> Riveter that sells for all of $19.95. It makes work with 3/16" rivets
>> effortless, and even a 1/4" rivet does not require major exertion. Trying
>> to do either of these sizes with a hand pop rivet gun will lead to serious
>> frustration. The Harbor Freight SKU is 66422, and most HF stores have these
>> in stock, it seems.
>>
>> http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-17-1-2-half-inch-hand-riveter-with-collection-bottle-
>> 66422.html
>>
>> This tool is especially useful when pulling rivets on larger elements, or
>> on element-to-boom clamping plates, for beams from various manufacturers,
>> not just Force 12. And it is much cheaper and less bulky than a pneumatic
>> rivet gun.
>>
>> It even comes with a Collection Bottle, important for installers above the
>> age of 55.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Chip K7JA
>> Force 12InnovAntennas America
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>>
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-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)

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