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Rivet Gun Recommendation?
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mwtucker

Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Posts: 16
Location: Charlotte, NC area

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:00 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

I'm looking for a recommendation on a pneumatic rivet gun...  I've searched the archives and see that the one from Harbor Freight appears a few times, but is "low cost"...  I read an article in Kitplanes that said to not skimp on the rivet gun and expect to pay $200 for a good one...



Any feedback on this?



Thanks in advance for your suggestions!



Regards,

Mike

_________________
Awaiting delivery of RANS S-19 Empennage Kit

gfmjr_20(at)HOTMAIL.COM
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Built my entire 601XL with the "cheap" Harbor Freight gun. Worked fine with just a drop of oil now and then.

  

 George May

 601XL 912s  200hrs



 	  Quote: 	
		   Subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

 From: mwtucker(at)windstream.net

 Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:00:18 -0700

 To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

 

 --> Zenith-List message posted by: "mwtucker" <mwtucker(at)windstream.net>

 

 I'm looking for a recommendation on a pneumatic rivet gun... I've searched the archives and see that the one from Harbor Freight appears a few times, but is "low cost"... I read an article in Kitplanes that said to not skimp on the rivet gun and expect to pay $200 for a good one..

 

 Any feedback on this?

 

 Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

 Regards,

 Mike

 

 --------

 Awaiting delivery of RANS S-19 Empennage Kit

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=178305#178305

============

 

 

 


	


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burbby

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Millsap, TX

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

I purchased mine from Northern Tool Company.   It was around $70 and it works fine.  I used the heads from the rivet gun from Zenith in it with no problems.   I think $200 is a little much and im sure you can get a real good one for that price but others can be had cheeper that will work fine.



Thanks

Gary 



---

zenith-list(at)steensland
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

I ended up getting the gun from ZAC.  I was going to go the harbor 

freight route, however I didn't want to hassle with manufacturing a nose 

piece for my gun.  I just spent the $80 and was done with it.

george may wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Built my entire 601XL with the "cheap" Harbor Freight gun. Worked fine 

 with just a drop of oil now and then.

  

 George May

 601XL 912s  200hrs



 > Subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

 > From: mwtucker(at)windstream.net

 > Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:00:18 -0700

 > To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

 >

 > 

 >

 > I'm looking for a recommendation on a pneumatic rivet gun... I've 

 searched the archives and see that the one from Harbor Freight appears 

 a few times, but is "low cost"... I read an article in Kitplanes that 

 said to not skimp on the rivet gun and expect to pay $200 for a good 

 one...

 >

 > Any feedback on this?

 >

 > Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 >

 > Regards,

 > Mike

 >

 > --------

 > Awaiting delivery of RANS S-19 Empennage Kit

 >

 >

 >

 >

 > Read this topic online here:

 >

 > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=178305#178305

 >============

 >

 >

 >

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-- 

Lee Steensland

601XL/Corvair (7637L reserved) Kit/Scratch builder 0.0% complete!

kmccune

Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 577
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Mine is from HF too, it has not built an airplane , just a rudder and stab. But I could buy a number of them on sale for 200 bucks. Your will have to make the special machined head, very easy and about 5 bucks if you have the drill press ( or lath even better) already. 



Kevin

_________________
“Always do what you are afraid to do.”
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"Real freedom is the sustained act of being an individual." WW - 2009

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Dorothy McCune

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Harbor Freight.  29.95 on sale or $49.95 regular.  Works just fine.

---

Andrewlieser

Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Chicagoland

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

What PSI do you guys find best for pulling the rivets?  I set a few practice ones with my riveter from zenith at 90 and they back end didn't appear to pull tight enough?

_________________
Andrew Lieser
S/N 6-7045
http://websites.expercraft.com/andrewlieser

macleod(at)eagle.ca
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Andrew:



I used 42 psi for A4s  and 60 psi for A5s with my excellent Zenith

supplied rivet gun.  I didn't want the gun to pull too fast so that it had

time to completely reshape the rivet head.



Mike

601 XL - Rotax FWfwd installation in progress

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 What PSI do you guys find best for pulling the rivets?  I set a few

 practice ones with my riveter from zenith at 90 and they back end didn't

 appear to pull tight enough?



 --------

 Andrew Lieser





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=178324#178324

PatrickW

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

I bought the green one in the ZAC toolkit.  Was not happy with it.  It's purely pnuematic, and "harsh".



While visiting Quality Sport Planes in Cloverdale, I struck up a conversation about riveters with one of the airplane builders, and he let me pull a couple rivets on a 701 with his HF gun.



Big difference.  You put oil in it.  I bought one on the spot, and have used it ever since.



Patrick

XL/Corvair

N63PZ (reserved)

John75142

Joined: 05 Dec 2007
Posts: 56
Location: Kaufman, TX

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:54 am Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Look on ebay they have hundreds, bought one for $40 and have built over half 

of my 701 without any problems. Just add a little oil and maybe make an 

adjustment now and then.



John (Scratch building 701)

Kaufman, Tx

---

_________________
John Short

Trainnut01(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:09 am Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Andrew

 I use the Zenith gun and have found that the best pressures for me are 45#  for A-4s and 60 #s for A-5s. Get a real pressure regulator, that flow restricter  that they send with the gun doesn't work well. Be sure and keep the bolts in the  gun tight. The bolts in the case tend to work loose and if they get to loose the  housing will break. (I'm not going to tell you how I know).

 Carroll

  

 do not archive



Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos.

  [quote][b]

jmcburney(at)pobox.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Hi, Mike (and List),



I built 75% of my 801 using the cheap HF gun, after the $80 one from Zenith

blew apart.  Also, the HF unit fits into a lot of places that the Zenith

unit won't.  I even pulled AS5 stainless steel rivets in my firewall with

the HF gun!  I'm not a fan of Chinese goods, but they did a winner with that

rivet puller.



Blue skies and tailwinds



Jim

CH-801

DeltaHawk diesel

Augusta GA

90% done, 90% left

jmcburney(at)pobox.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:36 am Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

One more comment:  Nosepieces from the Zenith gun will fit the HF gun.



Blue skies and tailwinds



Jim

CH-801

DeltaHawk diesel

Augusta GA

90% done, 90% left

n85ae

Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 403

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:37 am Post subject: Re: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

I've built TWO planes with the same harbor freight gun, I oiled it once and 

keep the pressure up around 100 psi. I've dropped it a half dozen times

and at this point if it falls apart I'll be happy for the use I got out of it.



I'd buy another in a second.



Jeff

kmccune

Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 577
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

I didn't know that!    



 	  jmcburney(at)pobox.com wrote: 	
		  One more comment:  Nosepieces from the Zenith gun will fit the HF gun.



Blue skies and tailwinds



Jim

CH-801

DeltaHawk diesel

Augusta GA



90% done, 90% left

bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:18 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

If I was building airplanes for a living and pulled thousands of rivets 

  every day, I would probably buy a professional quality, expensive 

rivet puller. For building one airplane and pulling a few thousand 

rivets total, the inexpensive Harbor Freight riveter worked just fine. I 

built the whole airplane with it with no problem and it still works fine.



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 I'm looking for a recommendation on a pneumatic rivet gun...  I've searched the archives and see that the one from Harbor Freight appears a few times, but is "low cost"...  I read an article in Kitplanes that said to not skimp on the rivet gun and expect to pay $200 for a good one...

 

 Any feedback on this?

 

 Thanks in advance for your suggestions!


	


-- 

Bryan Martin

Zenith 601XL N61BM

Ram Subaru, Stratus redrive

Do Not Archive

_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.

rhodes1

Joined: 15 Feb 2008
Posts: 20
Location: Us

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Hi

Do you know the price of the HF gun?

Getting started 601 xl scratch builder

Thanks Don

---

mwtucker

Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Posts: 16
Location: Charlotte, NC area

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

Can someone give me the part number of the Harbor Freight gun? Or do they only sell one?

_________________
Awaiting delivery of RANS S-19 Empennage Kit

bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

They list three on their website:



http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=riveter&Submit=Go



I think the one I have is the one listed for $34.99. I would have to 

check the model number to be sure. These riveters may be available at 

their outlet stores also, I mail ordered mine.



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Hi

 Do you know the price of the HF gun?

 Getting started 601 xl scratch builder

 Thanks Don

-- 
	


Bryan Martin

Zenith 601XL N61BM

Ram Subaru, Stratus redrive

Do Not Archive

_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.

Mitch Hodges

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 45
Location: Powder Springs, GA

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: Rivet Gun Recommendation?

 	  burbby wrote: 	
		  I purchased mine from Northern Tool Company.   It was around $70 and it works fine.  I used the heads from the rivet gun from Zenith in it with no problems.   ...

--- 	




I can verify the Northern Tool one works great, with the Zenith heads. I also have Stanley MR77C manual rivet puller, with a 360 degree swiveling head that works great for tight spots or weird angles.  The heads also fit it.



http://tinyurl.com/3wjqyv

_________________
Mitch Hodges
N601MH (Zenith 601HDS)
Builder Log at http://www.hodges.aero
Wings Under Perpetual Construction

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