VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Main > RV General Discussion/News
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-11-2016, 02:37 PM
AlinNS AlinNS is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Welsford, Nova Scotia
Posts: 116
Default Rivet Gun - Better Results Than Squeezer

So, I figure I'm getting pretty good at bucking rivets with the gun and bucking bar.

I use a Cleveland Tools pneumatic squeezer for dimpling and can definitely see the benefits. BUT, every time I try to use it for squeezing rivets, I am less than happy with the results. No matter what I try I end up with rivets that are not coaxial - not by much, but enough that it bugs me. Probably wouldn't even notice except that I squeezed lots of them into flat scrap and can see that many are clinched when looked at from the side. I can't bring myself to use it on the plane!

I can grab the gun and bucking bar and go to town. NO issues.

So am I the only one who prefers driving rivets with a gun?
__________________
Al

Last edited by AlinNS : 02-23-2016 at 02:31 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-11-2016, 02:58 PM
YellowJacket RV9 YellowJacket RV9 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL KCLW
Posts: 1,281
Default

I'm with you. To me it's more efficient and easier than maneuvering my hand squeezer to every rivet. There were plenty of awkward spots where only one or the other would work, but I generally preferred, and got excellent results with the gun. There is more potential to do some damage with the gun, but once I learned the importance of properly securing my work, and how to hold the gun and bar securely, I had very few issues.

Chris
__________________
Chris Johnson
RV-9A - Done(ish) 4/5/16! Flying 4/7/16
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-11-2016, 03:55 PM
rv7charlie rv7charlie is offline
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pocahontas MS
Posts: 3,884
Default

+1.
Control was the big issue for me, though I really didn't spend a lot of time practicing. I could 'tweak' a hand squeezer to get the results I wanted, but the air squeezer was hard to control. Bucking skill came quickly, & I always got equal or better results with the gun.

IIRC, my biggest issue was that the ram usually needed to be on the factory head, which meant that the squeezer was trying to move constantly as I started to close the gap & start the squeeze. It may have just been my squeezer, but I could never get the ram to move slowly up to the rivet; it always basically 'snapped' from full open to touching the rivet, even with minimal trigger movement. Add the monkey motion to release the safety, & it just wasn't worth the effort.

Charlie
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-11-2016, 04:02 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livermore, CA
Posts: 6,797
Default

Are you sure your C head isn't bent? I love my pnematic squeezer. Only time it's hard is if you cannot put the non-moving part on the factory head, then a lot of care is needed. I did find I can feather the trigger if I'm careful.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-11-2016, 04:16 PM
wirejock's Avatar
wirejock wirejock is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
Default User preference

Resposes clearly reflect builder preference. Use what works for you.
I love my pneumatic but also my Sioux 3X.
__________________
Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-11-2016, 06:33 PM
Robin8er Robin8er is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Socal
Posts: 453
Default

I too have had better results with a rivet gun than with a squeezer. Especially with 1/8'' rivets. The only issue is not denting the skin
__________________
RV-8 N695RA flying
Working on an RV-4

Born to fly, forced to work
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-23-2016, 05:21 AM
AlinNS AlinNS is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Welsford, Nova Scotia
Posts: 116
Default Coaxial Rivets

Thanks for the replies folks.

Specifically(squeezer), the issue that I have is the occasional coaxial rivet (center of head not over center of tail). When I practice on flat scrap with 470's, then usually 10% of rivets are off a bit. What concerns me is that you can't see this if structure is in the way - a flange for example. So you could move right along and not realize you have a bunch of coaxial rivets.

I've never noticed this when bucking.

Now I have been accused of being too fussy. The real issue here may be what I think is acceptable re coaxial rivets. I have seen references from must be coaxial to ok if no hole is showing.
__________________
Al
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-23-2016, 07:01 AM
AviatorJ AviatorJ is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 913
Default

I would have to go with the squeezer being my favorite tool. I'm not against gun and bar but I'm able to get better consistency with a squeezer.
__________________
Justin
RV-10, N10JW
First Flight 2/14/2019
http://operationrv10.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-23-2016, 07:45 AM
EllisMcgaughy EllisMcgaughy is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Fayetteville nc
Posts: 23
Default

I always grab the hand squeezer first. Far more controllable than the pneumatic or gun although I use all three tools depending on application. If your yoke or sets aren't defective, just make sure you keep the rivet centered and straight on the sets and hold the shop head against the material being joined. I'm almost complete with a slow build RV7a (sheet metal wise) so I have set LOTS of rivets.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-23-2016, 09:02 AM
Vlad's Avatar
Vlad Vlad is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
Default

I never had a pneumatic squeezer. Started on a low budget with an Avery gun, electric drill and basic tools finished my RV in three+ years. Later had a project with tons of great tools (sold) but never had time to work on it. I am with you on gun. Better feel and control but more labor
__________________
Where is N666BK?

Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:26 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.