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Rivets have been used for millennia for everything from shipbuilding to construction. As long as humans have been building with rivets, there have been rivet tools.
The earliest rivet tool was a hammer, used to drive rivets through pre-drilled holes. As fastener technology has progressed, new materials and rivet designs have called for new rivet tools.
Choosing the best rivet tool depends on the application, the type of rivet you’re installing, and the materials you use. For example, heavy-duty jobs, such as constructing bridges or buildings, require heavy-duty, pneumatic-powered equipment. Many factories use pneumatic riveters for consistent production quality, while they use battery-powered riveters for smaller construction jobs, such as installing solar panels. For simple repairs, you may only need a handheld manual riveter.
No matter the task, it pays to use the right rivet tools. Here, we offer an overview of the most common types of rivet tools and where they’re most likely used.
Setting Solid and Blind Rivets
Since they were first invented, rivets have been installed similarly: You insert a rivet with a head on one end into a pre-drilled hole to bind two pieces together. The end of the rivet opposite the head is then flattened to form a lasting joint.
Solid rivets have been used for centuries. Early rivets were made of iron, but as metallurgy and fastener technology evolved, so did rivet materials. Today, rivets are made of steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, nickel, aluminum, and titanium.
The choice of rivet material is based on the application. For example, steel rivets are used for heavy-duty applications like railroads and power plants. Brass rivets are used in applications with flammable materials, such as gas appliances because they won’t spark. Aluminum and titanium rivets are strong but lightweight, so they are suitable for airplanes and electric vehicles.
Solid rivets are installed using a hammer or riveter and a bucking bar. You place the rivet tool on the rivet head and the bucking bar on the opposite side of the rivet. As you strike the rivet head with the tool, the bucking bar flattens the opposite side to form a joint.
You can install solid rivets with a hammer, but power riveters make the job easier. More oversized rivets require more power, so you may need a pneumatic rivet tool for large jobs. The force of the rivet gun must be greater than the yield strength of the rivet.
Blind rivets have been an innovation in the last century, making it faster and easier to set rivets. With solid rivets, you need access to both sides of the joint. Blind rivets are made up of a sleeve and a mandrel and are designed to be set from one side. Place the rivet in a pre-drilled hole, and the rivet tool pulls the mandrel, which collapses the sleeve on the blind side of the joint and then snaps off the mandrel.
Blind rivet tools need sufficient force to pull the mandrel to create a firm joint and remove the mandrel. Using a tool with too much or too little power could result in a faulty joint. That’s why there are so many portable and pneumatic blind rivet tools.
Matching the Tool to the Job
When choosing a rivet tool, you must consider whether you will be setting solid or blind rivets. Pop rivets are a popular type of blind fastener that can be used in place of a bolt or screw and can be set using manual or battery-powered rivet tools. They can also be set using pneumatic tools, although you need less power to set a pop rivet.
The materials you’re using also affect the rivet tool choice. Solid rivets are available in various materials, including steel, aluminum, nickel, and brass. When you set a solid rivet, the tools must be harder than the rivet. For some jobs, such as bridge construction, the rivets must be heated before being set.
The type of materials you are setting is also a factor. For example, setting blind rivets in softer materials, such as wood, fiberglass, or plastic, requires a tool with enough power to create a strong joint without crushing the material.
Other factors to consider when choosing a rivet tool include how many rivets you need to set because you want a light enough tool to minimize operator fatigue and speed, especially for applications setting multiple rivets.
The Basic Types of Rivet Tools
There are four basic rivet tool categories:
1. Hand Riveter
Manual riveters work well for smaller blind rivets. They look like pliers and can set rivets by squeezing the handle. Hand riveters are suitable for simple repair jobs.
2. Heavy-Duty Lever Riveter
A heavy-duty manual riveter with longer handles provides more leverage for more challenging jobs. The extra power is ideal for larger rivets when making manual repairs or simple rivet installations. Heavy-duty manual riveters usually come with a broader range of nose pieces for more flexibility.
3. Cordless Battery-Powered Riveter
Portable rivet tools are becoming more popular as battery technology improves. Portable rivet tools are lightweight and can be used anywhere, including in tight spaces. You can choose different rechargeable batteries for different power profiles, and batteries can be swapped out so you can continue working.
4. Pneumatic Rivet Gun
Industrial rivet tools in factories and repair ships typically use pneumatic power. These tools are connected to a hose and compressor that uses air or liquid for power. Pneumatic rivet tools deliver more power and consistent performance, which is why they’re used in manufacturing.
Shop the Bay Supply Marketplace for Rivet Tools
Choosing the best rivet tool depends on multiple factors, including how much power you need, how many rivets you need to set, whether the tool must be portable and whether you plan to use the tool for long periods. With some research, you can choose tools that offer the versatility to meet your immediate needs and beyond. Find the rivet tools you need on the Bay Supply Marketplace.
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