Rivet gun reccomendation ?

[fairchild]

I don't have a rivet gun yet- (I have one of those dreadful things you put chisels in to cut a car body-)
Do I need a #4 or a #5 for the spar and wings ? I also have several aluminum boats which I am considering using a rivet gun and maybe a flat mushroom set to
experiment planishing some lumpitys out..... so I want a good trigger for that too.....
What would yall say is a price range/brand to get a serviceable (not made in china/Mexico) unit - (avery or us tool?)
I bet yall have all ready done this research and come to a conclusion before you bought yours ---------- I may browse at sun-n-fun if they have any you like .....

Thanks in advance !
tim

[mswain]

I used a generic 3x gun on my wings. I had help riveting my spars, and the guy I worked with had a cheap air hammer he bought from Tractor Supply. The key was using a very heavy bucking bar. I think it was a piece of round stock steel that he had polished the face on, somewhere around 5 lbs.

Many builders use the C frame dimpling tool and a big hammer to do the spars. I think DesertBearhawk and Jon have some videos showing how it's done.

[DRLPatrol]

I just got a ACAT 4X from The Yard Store and it is way better than my 2X from Aircraft Tool Supply.

Doug

[corefile]

I'm in the process of gathering tools for my QB, starting some time in Oct. So this a great thread, I too would like to see what people are recommending for a rivet gun. I haven't seen a 4x gun mentioned much before. What is the difference between the 3x and 4x? My understanding is that the Nx designation is for the size of rivet the gun can set, is there any rivets that require a 4x gun on these builds? Advantages of a 4x over 3x? Or are they pretty interchangeable?

[DRLPatrol]

Rivets for main spar cap strips are long #5's. Could even use a 5x (friend has one I can borrow) but I think a 4x will work. The faster you shoot a rivet the less it work hardens.

Doug

[LukeS]

I just have an ATS economy rivet gun 3X. Working fine so far.

[LukeS]

I would also recommend buying or building a C-frame tool. I built this one to use with Cleveland tools back riveting set and my existing rivet gun sets for the bottom set (I'm frugal). I may make another bottom set holder to take jiffy sets, which would give me more room to work.

[N3UW]

I have a Sioux 2x I use for all the #3 and smaller #4s. I love the size and weight of this gun. I had a ATS 2x that I had nothing but problems with. I also have a 4x gun I did all the spars with. It was a ATS gun . Not near the quality and control of the Sioux. I also do not like the volume controls on the gun. I like to use a separate regulator that I can set a repeatable pressure. Much easier to setup,

[DRLPatrol]

Never had any trouble with the ATS just not near as good of trigger. Also like the separate regulator, the gun is easier to handle without extra stuff screwed to it.


Doug

[fairchild]

Sounds like I will not do an ATS.........
I built a square frame press incorporating a 2 ton hydraulic bottle jack for setting 3/16 steel rivets. Sounds easy enough to build a sturdy frame shaped like an arbor press.
Any reason you couldn't set the rivets with hydraulic ? I will google yard tools.......
I would like to avoid paying 500-700 $ for a new Sioux...... maybe I can find a used IR

Tim

[dedgemon]

After building a bunch of aluminum aircraft I've developed my own bias's (just like we all do). I really like using a 2x gun about 99% of the time. Especially for the skin work its really the right choice. And with the right pressure setting it will handle the number 4 rivets just fine. It will give you a fighting chance to get into tighter places (like between the ribs) than the bigger guns. For setting the # 5 spar rivets a 3x gun will be fine BUT not if used with a normal bucking bar. I made a bar from a plate of 3/4" steel, 3"x10" long. Drill a hole for a cup set to sit in, then slide it under the spar and back set the rivet. This will produce perfectly set rivets with no marks on the manufactured head. I'm sure other techniques will work also. Good luck.

[DRLPatrol]

Here is a link to the Acat 2X at the yard. You will probably want to start with a 2X.

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,3879.html

Dedgemon,yes I like the back riveting technique. Here is something similar I did. Probably weighs 12-15lbs.

[bestbearhawk1231]

Tim, in an ideal world where money is no object a 2x and 4x would be great. I, however, do not live in that world so I settled on a 3x ACAT from the yard store in wichita ks when I was doing avionics work back in the day. I have been happy with it and have had it for roughly 12 years now, but you have to dial it back for the -3 rivets. It will do the spar rivets but it takes a bit of finesse such as turning your regulator up at the air compressor, you definitely will want a heavy bucking bar and practice on scrap to figure out how the rivets will want to be driven.