Hand Operated Rivet Tool

[Soft Cars]

There's nothing more boring than a hand rivet tool, but I might have to get one. The oxygen sensor underneath my car has a heat shield over it. In order to get to the sensor, the heat shield has to come off. Holding the heat shield on are 3/16'' blind rivets. All of the hand rivet tools I've seen on the interwebs are made in China; even the ones in excess of $40.00. I'd rather get a good made in USA rivet tool, but there doesn't seem to be any.

Is the one at Harbor Freight any good?

8 in. Single Hand Professional Riveter

Amazing deals on this Professional One Hand Riveter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[joegreen]

I have the 17.5in hand riveter from harbor freight. I like it and you can get good power on the Rivet. It’s not really great for tight areas.

 

[Lubener]

There's nothing more boring than a hand rivet tool, but I might have to get one. The oxygen sensor underneath my car has a heat shield over it. In order to get to the sensor, the heat shield has to come off. Holding the heat shield on are 3/16'' blind rivets. All of the hand rivet tools I've seen on the interwebs are made in China; even the ones in excess of $40.00. I'd rather get a good made in USA rivet tool, but there doesn't seem to be any.

Is the one at Harbor Freight any good?

8 in. Single Hand Professional Riveter

Amazing deals on this Professional One Hand Riveter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It's not my favorite tool. It's hard on the hands when the rivet finally snaps.

 

[atikovi]

I have an Arrow riveter like this https://www.amazon.com/ARROW-Rivete...argid=pla-568805596773&psc=1&region_id=674469 I got over 20 years ago. Probably made in the USA back then, not sure now. Also search for Marson brand https://www.amazon.com/Marson-39000-HP-2-Professional-Riveter/dp/B00063Y1F6

 

[doitmyself]

I have a 30 year old Marson 39000 that still operates like new, but it's one of those tools that sits in the drawer for years between uses. It's made in Taiwan now and appears to be the pro tool of choice for manual use. They do require good hand strength.

Sorry I cannot assist on experience with the Chinese made ones. I'll guess that they work fine for the very occasional user.

 

[repairman54]

I've got a couple hand tools, from cheap to decent quality. Only use them on small aluminum rivets. Otherwise, I pull out the 30 yr. old Chicago air riveter if I have to pull more than one rivet. Can't beat it, especially when pulling steel rivets.

 

[Trav]

There's nothing more boring than a hand rivet tool, but I might have to get one. The oxygen sensor underneath my car has a heat shield over it. In order to get to the sensor, the heat shield has to come off. Holding the heat shield on are 3/16'' blind rivets. All of the hand rivet tools I've seen on the interwebs are made in China; even the ones in excess of $40.00. I'd rather get a good made in USA rivet tool, but there doesn't seem to be any.

Is the one at Harbor Freight any good?

8 in. Single Hand Professional Riveter

Amazing deals on this Professional One Hand Riveter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

For a small job like that with little rivets and only occasional use I don't see why it wont work fine.

 

[Soft Cars]

So I ended up getting a "Proferred" rivet tool from the same fastener supply house that I got the rivets from.

That was very hard to do. It took ever ounce of strength I had to squeeze the handles far enough to set those rivets. I will be getting something else before the next time. Those 3/16'' rivets are brutal.

https://www.amazon.com/Proferred-T01002-Hand-Operated-Service-Locking/dp/B0195FEZG0/ref=sr_1_2

 

[repairman54]

The $40 HF air riveter looks just like my cheap antique Chicago one. It pulls large head steel 3/16 like nothing.

 

[D60]

The $40 HF air riveter looks just like my cheap antique Chicago one. It pulls large head steel 3/16 like nothing.

I can't recall if I've ever set 3/16" steel myself. How many pulls/resets does it need?

 

[Soft Cars]

I can't recall if I've ever set 3/16" steel myself. How many pulls/resets does it need?

At least 3 full stroke pulls. And the thing won't let you use both hands; it insists on you using one hand.

 

[repairman54]

I can't recall if I've ever set 3/16" steel myself. How many pulls/resets does it need?

2-3 pulls. I found them and used them to rivet on snowmobile steel track cleats that they used on '70's vintage snowmobiles. Each cleat requires at least 10 rivets or more, old memory, to fasten them to the rubber belting.

 

[paulo57509]

Arrow RH200 is what I've been using forever. It will do 3/16" rivets.

https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Fastener-RH200-Professional-Rivet/dp/B00004Z2JG/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3QBSTM9YOK1FH&keywords=arrow+rh200+rivet+gun&qid=1676059619&sprefix=Arrow+RH200%2Caps%2C282&sr=8-5

 

[Soft Cars]

Arrow RH200 is what I've been using forever. It will do 3/16" rivets.

Yes but with how much effort?

 

[paulo57509]

Yes but with how much effort?

I have no way to quantify this.

 

[Nukeman7]

I have the 17.5in hand riveter from harbor freight. I like it and you can get good power on the Rivet. It’s not really great for tight areas.

I also have the HF 17.5" riveter and it works with very little effort due to the immense leverage advantage over the hand squeeze riveters. It is a steal at $20.

HF 17.5" Riveter

 

[andyd]

I also have the HF 17.5" riveter and it works with very little effort due to the immense leverage advantage over the hand squeeze riveters. It is a steal at $20.

HF 17.5" Riveter

I bought one of those and it can handle 1/4' solid rivets. I 've had a Craftsman one hander since my VW Bug days