The subject has come up for me to use pop rivets along the edges of sheeting
rather than special stitching self drilling screws @ $.17 - $.26 per.

I have always wanted an air pop rivet tool, and it's one of those things
that if I had one, I'd probably use it more on some projects.

Question: Is this tool like a HF cheapie thing, or is it worth it to buy
one that will last a lifetime? And it seems they are all fairly
inexpensive, $25 - $60. Is it worth the extra dough to get a decent one
over the HF version, or is this a tool that will see such little use that a
cheap one will last long enough?

Brand name suggestions?

Steve

--


Heart surgery pending?
www.heartsurgerysurvivalguide.com
Heart Surgery Survival Guide
Now on facebook, too.

On 8/24/2011 10:39 AM, Steve B wrote:
The subject has come up for me to use pop rivets along the edges of sheeting
rather than special stitching self drilling screws @ $.17 - $.26 per.

I have always wanted an air pop rivet tool, and it's one of those things
that if I had one, I'd probably use it more on some projects.

Question: Is this tool like a HF cheapie thing, or is it worth it to buy
one that will last a lifetime? And it seems they are all fairly
inexpensive, $25 - $60. Is it worth the extra dough to get a decent one
over the HF version, or is this a tool that will see such little use that a
cheap one will last long enough?

Brand name suggestions?

Steve



Mine is a Central Pneumatics model 167 (made in Taiwan).

Dunno if that's a cheapy or high quality.
I got it second (or third?) hand.

I have pulled thousands of 1/8" rivets and several hundred 3/16".

Never missed a lick.


Richard

--For a real cheapie try my solution:
http://www.nmpproducts.com/rivnut.htm
--In this application the widget's on a nutsert tool but you can put
it on any squeezy-type hand tool.

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : Steel, Stainless, Titanium:
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : Guaranteed Uncertified Welding!
www.nmpproducts.com
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:39:57 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote:

The subject has come up for me to use pop rivets along the edges of sheeting
rather than special stitching self drilling screws @ $.17 - $.26 per.

I have always wanted an air pop rivet tool, and it's one of those things
that if I had one, I'd probably use it more on some projects.

Don't you weld more than you pop-rivet?


Question: Is this tool like a HF cheapie thing, or is it worth it to buy
one that will last a lifetime? And it seems they are all fairly
inexpensive, $25 - $60. Is it worth the extra dough to get a decent one
over the HF version, or is this a tool that will see such little use that a
cheap one will last long enough?

Once a decade? Go with HF. Their hand riveter is OK, as are most of
their tools. And $35 is an easy choice. Buy it just before you're
going to use it and if it doesn't last the project, or you don't like
it for some reason, return it.

Brand name suggestions?

SWAG:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-in...ter-93458.html
$34.95 on sale. Use a 20% coupon for an even better deal.


Unfortunately, I had a head come off my HF 3# cross pein hammer today.
Luckily, I took the swing and it kindasorta melted into the workpiece
instead of flying 30' and taking out a pedestrian, a window, or my
client. http://goo.gl/WsM5m A 1' long wooden stake into the ground
took it out.

I need to remove the epoxy and see if the thing can be saved with a
wedge. It felt good until the head came off. g

--
Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.
-- Robert J. Sawyer

"Richard" wrote in message
m...
On 8/24/2011 10:39 AM, Steve B wrote:
The subject has come up for me to use pop rivets along the edges of
sheeting
rather than special stitching self drilling screws @ $.17 - $.26 per.

I have always wanted an air pop rivet tool, and it's one of those things
that if I had one, I'd probably use it more on some projects.

Question: Is this tool like a HF cheapie thing, or is it worth it to buy
one that will last a lifetime? And it seems they are all fairly
inexpensive, $25 - $60. Is it worth the extra dough to get a decent one
over the HF version, or is this a tool that will see such little use that
a
cheap one will last long enough?

Brand name suggestions?

Steve



Mine is a Central Pneumatics model 167 (made in Taiwan).

Dunno if that's a cheapy or high quality.
I got it second (or third?) hand.

I have pulled thousands of 1/8" rivets and several hundred 3/16".

Never missed a lick.


Richard

Central is a Harbor Freight brand. Obviously yours was pretty decent.

On 25/08/2011 12:09 AM, Richard wrote:
On 8/24/2011 10:39 AM, Steve B wrote:
The subject has come up for me to use pop rivets along the edges of
sheeting
rather than special stitching self drilling screws @ $.17 - $.26 per.

I have always wanted an air pop rivet tool, and it's one of those things
that if I had one, I'd probably use it more on some projects.

Question: Is this tool like a HF cheapie thing, or is it worth it to buy
one that will last a lifetime? And it seems they are all fairly
inexpensive, $25 - $60. Is it worth the extra dough to get a decent one
over the HF version, or is this a tool that will see such little use
that a
cheap one will last long enough?

Brand name suggestions?

Steve



Mine is a Central Pneumatics model 167 (made in Taiwan).

Dunno if that's a cheapy or high quality.
I got it second (or third?) hand.

I have pulled thousands of 1/8" rivets and several hundred 3/16".

Never missed a lick.


Richard


Yep, I've got a cheapie, about $60 cost. I've done hundreds of rivets
including stainless & it works fine. It's almost fun to use and your
wirsts dont get jarred either!

On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:18:11 -0400, "ATP"
wrote:


"Richard" wrote in message
om...
On 8/24/2011 10:39 AM, Steve B wrote:
The subject has come up for me to use pop rivets along the edges of
sheeting
rather than special stitching self drilling screws @ $.17 - $.26 per.

I have always wanted an air pop rivet tool, and it's one of those things
that if I had one, I'd probably use it more on some projects.

Question: Is this tool like a HF cheapie thing, or is it worth it to buy
one that will last a lifetime? And it seems they are all fairly
inexpensive, $25 - $60. Is it worth the extra dough to get a decent one
over the HF version, or is this a tool that will see such little use that
a
cheap one will last long enough?

Brand name suggestions?

Steve



Mine is a Central Pneumatics model 167 (made in Taiwan).

Dunno if that's a cheapy or high quality.
I got it second (or third?) hand.

I have pulled thousands of 1/8" rivets and several hundred 3/16".

Never missed a lick.


Richard

Central is a Harbor Freight brand. Obviously yours was pretty decent.


Central is CURRENTLY a HF brand. It used to belong to a rather good
company that offered or made Stuff here in the USA.

I have a Central air ratchet that is US made and it works very very
nicely. And a gage block set and other stuff.

Gunner
--
"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry
capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency.
It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an
Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense
and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have
such a man for their? president.. Blaming the prince of the
fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of
fools that made him their prince".

replying to Steve B, wires wrote:
pittmanpirate wrote:

The subject has come up for me to use pop rivets along the edges of
sheeting
rather than special stitching self drilling screws @ $.17 - $.26 per.

I have always wanted an air pop rivet tool, and it's one of those
things
that if I had one, I'd probably use it more on some projects.

Question: Is this tool like a HF cheapie thing, or is it worth it to
buy
one that will last a lifetime? And it seems they are all fairly
inexpensive, $25 - $60. Is it worth the extra dough to get a decent
one
over the HF version, or is this a tool that will see such little use
that a
cheap one will last long enough?

Brand name suggestions?

Steve


from wires;

I tried the HarborFreight one. The gripper jaws wore out after only about
100 rivets. very poor quality steel in there. Buy something better. I'm
still shopping myself for a better one.

--
posted from
http://www.polytechforum.com/metalwo...ol-514530-.htm
using PolytechForum's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to
rec.crafts.metalworking and other engineering groups

On Wednesday, August 24, 2011 9:39:57 AM UTC-6, Steve B wrote:
The subject has come up for me to use pop rivets along the edges of sheeting rather than special stitching self drilling screws @ $.17 - $.26 per.I have always wanted an air pop rivet tool, and it's one of those things that if I had one, I'd probably use it more on some projects.Question: Is this tool like a HF cheapie thing, or is it worth it to buy one that will last a lifetime? And it seems they are all fairly inexpensive, $25 - $60. Is it worth the extra dough to get a decent one over the HF version, or is this a tool that will see such little use that a cheap one will last long enough?Brand name suggestions?Steve -- Heart surgery pending? www.heartsurgerysurvivalguide.comHeart Surgery Survival Guide Now on facebook, too.

It all depends on how much you think you'll be using it. For occasional use, the HF will probably be fine. Downside is that it's a lot bulkier than some of the manual pullers and doesn't fit well in restricted spaces. Like the other poster, mine is made in Taiwan, I have no idea where current stock is made or what shortcuts they've got in the design. Mine has had no oil leaks anyway, but I haven't pulled thousands of rivets with it, either. They regularly go on sale and with a 20-25% coupon from the local paper are pretty much a steal. I think my final cost was less than $20. You'll probably want one of the swivel head manual pullers as well for tight spots. My projects are such that that one usually gets more play anyway, just because I don't have to drag out the hose and get the tank pumped up to use it for one or two rivets.

Note that some stainless rivets have hard shanks and they'll slip, no matter what make of puller you get. Had a hell of a time pulling a half-dozen of those on one project, got them from the hardware store.

Stan