DaX said:
I agree - I love mine. I'm just trying to figure out a consistent way to set it up with the adjustable set holder.
Indeed. I have an adjustable set -- if I could only figure out how to use it. These things come with no instructions!
I am finally getting good at using my pneumatic squeezer for riveting and dimpling (with using the adjustable set). I was confounded a bit at first as it seemed I couldn't get a rivet to squeeze, or some would squeeze and then I couldn't anything to squeeze, but there is a bit of an art to it. What seems to work for me is, first, I install the dies I will be using. Then, I attach the air hose and I squeeze the trigger to bring out the piston/plunger to its full depth. I then rotate the piston part in and out to adjust it to the depth I want. A little too far either way and it won't squeeze anything. But, when you get it just right, it will flatten out that rivet as nice as can be. After a little fine-tuning to work up on the degree of flatness you want, then you can go to town riveting. Last night, I was impressing myself with the consistency of my riveting and, all of a sudden, nothing. The rivet was hardly compressed at all. Well, duh, I discovered I had a slightly longer rivet. I put the right size in, and I was back at it. So, yeah, even a tiny change can cause your squeezer to appear to be anemic and unable to crush an ant. But, with the air pressure set right (I use about 80 pounds) and once you hone in on the depth, this thing rivets really nice and fast! If you do change rivets, you have to readjust the depth, of course.
I have two complaints with the squeezer. One is that for my dimpling set, I have to screw the piston way, way done, beyond that with the wrench will work, in order to have the depth to insert the dies. I have to use pliers, which scratches it. The shorter riveting dies present this problem.
My other complaint is, well, this thing is heavy! I work in the office all day and the heaviest thing I pick up is my 44 ounce cup of cola/diet cola mix I get from the local Circle K (I can't stand coffee). After a few dozen rivets or dimples with this thing, the old arm starts to tire. However, the wife noted the other night I actually have a muscle in my right arm! Between the DRDT-2 and the pneumatic squeezer, I am actually getting some arm muscles. Yeah, I am the man! Seriously, though, building an airplane is a good way to get some exercise. The standing, bending, lifting, holding, etc. certainly builds up muscles throughout the body. I am often exhausted after a few hours in the shop, but I can?t wait to go back the next day.
But, still, I have no idea how to use the adjustable set. I am sure I will feel like an idiot when I learn how. Well, I already feel like an idiot with some of the mistakes I have made! As long as I am smart enough to realize I made a mistake, I guess I will be ok, though. Or am I just being an idiot to feel that way?