This may be common knowledge, but a lesson learned for me that will hopefully help someone else who is just getting started:
As part of my original tool kit, I got an inline air flow restrictor to put on my rivet gun (a basic brass valve, not a pressure gauge). Theoretically, you can use this to dial in the proper airflow at the gun itself, allowing you to set the main line at one pressure and leave it there. Because all other tools tend to use 90 psi, that's what I set my main line at. I would then restrict the air at the gun using the valve. This definitely worked, in that the power of the gun was impacted, but for the longest time I really struggled with control while riveting. Especially with 4- rivets, at the position I'd have to open the valve to for enough power, the gun would dance all over the place. It got to the point where I was extremely frustrated and dreaded riveting.
Fast forward, and someone (I wish I could remember who) suggested ditching the inline restrictor and just setting pressure at the wall. I couldn't wrap my head around why this would make a difference, but I gave it a shot. Man oh man, what a difference! I'm sure one of you know the reason, but I don't really care at this point! If I take the inline valve out of the picture, the way the gun hits is completely different. Now I actually look forward to riveting sessions, because I know I have at least a decent chance of success! Today I was in a bit of a lull, so I went back to my AN470's on my horizontal stabilizers and rear spars of my wings. More are gouged and dinged up than I care to admit, all because I couldn't control my gun. I drilled out around a dozen rivets and reset them, all turning out beautifully. This is definitely in part to me now having more rivet sets in my arsenal that fit situations better, but it's also due to being able to control the gun better.
Maybe it's just in my head, but for any newbie out there, if you are really struggling with rivet gun control and are using the inline valve at the gun, just give it a shot and use your main line pressure instead. It takes a bit more time to change the pressure at the wall, but I find it soooo worth it. The pressure I use depends a bit on the situation, but I tend to use about 30 psi for 3- rivets and 40 psi for 4- rivets (mostly because it's easy to remember - I've used a lot of variation with success).
Could be complete placebo. I don't care. I'm a much better riveter now.
As part of my original tool kit, I got an inline air flow restrictor to put on my rivet gun (a basic brass valve, not a pressure gauge). Theoretically, you can use this to dial in the proper airflow at the gun itself, allowing you to set the main line at one pressure and leave it there. Because all other tools tend to use 90 psi, that's what I set my main line at. I would then restrict the air at the gun using the valve. This definitely worked, in that the power of the gun was impacted, but for the longest time I really struggled with control while riveting. Especially with 4- rivets, at the position I'd have to open the valve to for enough power, the gun would dance all over the place. It got to the point where I was extremely frustrated and dreaded riveting.
Fast forward, and someone (I wish I could remember who) suggested ditching the inline restrictor and just setting pressure at the wall. I couldn't wrap my head around why this would make a difference, but I gave it a shot. Man oh man, what a difference! I'm sure one of you know the reason, but I don't really care at this point! If I take the inline valve out of the picture, the way the gun hits is completely different. Now I actually look forward to riveting sessions, because I know I have at least a decent chance of success! Today I was in a bit of a lull, so I went back to my AN470's on my horizontal stabilizers and rear spars of my wings. More are gouged and dinged up than I care to admit, all because I couldn't control my gun. I drilled out around a dozen rivets and reset them, all turning out beautifully. This is definitely in part to me now having more rivet sets in my arsenal that fit situations better, but it's also due to being able to control the gun better.
Maybe it's just in my head, but for any newbie out there, if you are really struggling with rivet gun control and are using the inline valve at the gun, just give it a shot and use your main line pressure instead. It takes a bit more time to change the pressure at the wall, but I find it soooo worth it. The pressure I use depends a bit on the situation, but I tend to use about 30 psi for 3- rivets and 40 psi for 4- rivets (mostly because it's easy to remember - I've used a lot of variation with success).
Could be complete placebo. I don't care. I'm a much better riveter now.