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  #1  
Old 07-11-2015, 05:50 PM
DaleB's Avatar
DaleB DaleB is offline
 
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Location: Omaha, NE (KMLE)
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Default Swivel flush set

After seeing everyone recommend the swivel flush set I finally bought one a couple of months ago in anticipation of riveting the fuselage. Over the past few days I tried using it, and I have to say it's been an unqualified failure. Every single rivet I have tried to set with this thing ends up way proud of the surface, like enough to slip a fingernail under the factory head. It seems to me that the rubber lip around the set is way too stiff, and isn't compressing enough to let the face contact the skin and rivet head. I've tried using as much pressure as I can without bending the skin.

I have to go find the invoice and see where I got this thing so I can see if they'll take it back. Has anyone else had this problem? Maybe I just got a bad one. I can't imagine anyone being able to actually use this thing.

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RV-12 # 222 N980KM "Screamin' Canary" (bought flying)
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  #2  
Old 07-11-2015, 05:53 PM
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Sam Buchanan Sam Buchanan is offline
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Default needs some minor customization

Dale, tape a sheet of sandpaper to the bench, put the set face down on it and sand down the rubber lip until it is nearly flush with the set. Once you have done this it will drive rivets beautifully and you will not want to get rid of it. It is nearly impossible to mis-drive a rivet with this set once you have modified it.
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  #3  
Old 07-11-2015, 05:57 PM
60av8tor 60av8tor is offline
 
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Location: Harrisburg, Pa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan View Post
Dale, tape a sheet of sandpaper to the bench, put the set face down on it and sand down the rubber lip until it is nearly flush with the set. Once you have done this it will drive rivets beautifully and you will not want to get rid of it. It is nearly impossible to mis-drive a rivet with this set once you have modified it.
Exactly what Sam said. I initially had the same thoughts as you, Dale. Once I sanded the lip down, it became my go-to set. I've probably driven 95% of my flush rivets with this set with great results.
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  #4  
Old 07-11-2015, 06:18 PM
rv9builder rv9builder is offline
 
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Default

Are you sure you're pressing the gun against the skin with enough force to keep it from bouncing when you pull the trigger? Mine worked fine without sanding and I used it successfully for thousands of rivets.

If you do decide to sand it, maybe take a little bit off and test it to see if it helps. If it doesn't, sand a little bit more. My thinking is that perhaps there are some variances in the stiffness of the rubber or the amount the rubber sticks out beyond the set.
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  #5  
Old 07-11-2015, 06:32 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rv9builder View Post
Are you sure you're pressing the gun against the skin with enough force to keep it from bouncing when you pull the trigger? Mine worked fine without sanding and I used it successfully for thousands of rivets.

If you do decide to sand it, maybe take a little bit off and test it to see if it helps. If it doesn't, sand a little bit more. My thinking is that perhaps there are some variances in the stiffness of the rubber or the amount the rubber sticks out beyond the set.
+1 I got mine from Avery - it worked fine too. Maybe there are differences between manufacturers. Nice to know there is a fix, though.
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  #6  
Old 07-11-2015, 07:04 PM
Mike H Mike H is offline
 
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I literally own so many rivet sets that it fills a whole drawer in my sheet metal tool box. I saw some of the work Jon did on his -10 empennage and was very impressed how smooth the surface turned out adjacent to the rivet rows. His "secret" was one of these large area swivel sets. I bought one and it is by far the best tool that I have bought during my build.

You will need to carefully sand down the rubber ring to prevent high rivets.
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  #7  
Old 07-11-2015, 07:12 PM
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Caummisar Caummisar is offline
 
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Default Used with success.

I didn't need to remove any of the rubber cup. I do however put one layer of blue masking tape on the face though. Try turning down the air pressure. Like others have said the gun may be bouncing from too much pressure. Pushing too hard with the bucking bar will also cause the rivet to move toward the shop head. Don't give up; practice.
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  #8  
Old 07-11-2015, 09:59 PM
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DaleB DaleB is offline
 
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Well, it turns out it wasn't my technique or the air pressure. Thanks for the suggestions to sand down the rubber. The end of the rubber 'cup' was pretty hard, almost like a urethane. Not having used one before I thought it was odd, but since it was a brand new tool I didn't think much of it. After I took off about 1/16 it's nice and pliable, and I can keep it on the rivet without undue pressure. I ended up sanding down about 1/8, maybe more. It works fine now. I wonder if the rubber was exposed to something that affected it, or if it just didn't get trimmed or something. It definitely shouldn't have been that way.

It really doesn't do anything any better than my larger flush set with the rubber ring around the face, but it does fit in between closely spaced clecos better. Another tool in the tool box. I think it will be easier for a novice helper to use, too.
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  #9  
Old 07-11-2015, 10:15 PM
rjtjrt rjtjrt is offline
 
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Location: Australia
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I seem to recall Bob Avery used to sand down the rubber guard on the swivel rivet sets he sold before he dispatched them.
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  #10  
Old 07-12-2015, 07:31 AM
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Sam Buchanan Sam Buchanan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaleB View Post

It really doesn't do anything any better than my larger flush set with the rubber ring around the face, but it does fit in between closely spaced clecos better. Another tool in the tool box. I think it will be easier for a novice helper to use, too.
Much better for a novice, or even an experienced builder who is riveting in the blind while holding something in place with one hand and the gun with the other.

Buchanan's #3 and #4 helping Dad rivet with the swivel set:





(Wow...has it really been 17 years...........)

The reason for the swivel set is to eliminate the need to have the gun precisely perpendicular to the work to prevent damage to a skin. This is not a major issue for an experienced riveter but a major advantage for anyone with less than perfect technique (me.....).
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Last edited by Sam Buchanan : 07-12-2015 at 07:40 AM.
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