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To use a hand riveter, choose a blind rivet that matches the combined thickness of the materials, check that your tool supports its diameter and material, and drill the hole to the rivet maker’s specification. Insert the mandrel into the correct nosepiece, pass the rivet body through the work, then squeeze the handles until the mandrel snaps. Wear eye protection and follow the instructions for your specific tool and rivet.
Before you begin: match the rivet, materials and tool
A hand riveter—also called a pop-rivet gun—sets a blind rivet by pulling its mandrel. As the mandrel is drawn through the rivet body, the body deforms behind the workpieces to clamp them together; the mandrel then breaks off. This makes blind rivets useful when you can reach only one side of the joint.
Choose the rivet for the joint
Measure the combined thickness of the materials being joined, then use the rivet manufacturer’s sizing or grip-range table to select a rivet. The rivet’s grip range must suit the total material thickness; a rivet that is too short or too long may not form the intended joint. NOVUS advises measuring the joined material thickness before selecting a rivet: NOVUS Dahle’s rivet gun and hand riveter guidance.
Check tool capacity and nosepiece
Confirm that your hand riveter accepts the rivet’s diameter and material, and fit the matching nosepiece if needed. Capacity varies by model. For example, LOB TEX lists its HR002D for 2.4, 3.2, 4.0 and 4.8 mm rivets, but excludes 4.8 mm stainless-steel blind rivets. Its HR2050H is described for 4.8 and 6.4 mm blind rivets in all materials; smaller sizes require optional parts. These are model-specific specifications, not a general ranking or a guarantee that another tool will share those capacities. Check the maker’s documentation for your tool: LOB TEX HR002D specifications and LOB TEX HR2050H specifications.
#1 Best Overall
- 【4 Interchangeable Rivet Heads】Our professional riveter tool comes with 4 tool-free interchangeable rivet heads:3/32"(2.4mm), 1/8" (3.2mm), 5/32"(4mm), and 3/16"(4.8mm).Other types of rivet heads placed on the handle, which creates more convenient to use and save more space.And each size is equipped with 50 pcs rivets, which meets all your needs while riveting
- 【Easy to Use】Sleeve knurled unibody design and guide mouth knurling design can be removed tool-free for easy change or maintenance. When working, no other tools are needed, you can easily change the size you want, simple operation and easy to carry. For thinner nails, we can choose to operate with one hand. If operated with two hands, the rivet will be carried out faster and more accurately. But for thicker nails, we need to use more strength
- 【Durable & Solid】High quality aluminum alloy body, reinforced carbon steel heat treatment handle increase the rivet gun body strength and service lifeThe ergonomic double-curved handle design makes working more labor-saving, and the PVC handle sleeve provides protection for your hands from harm, and maximum fit and comfort
- 【Wide Application】Our WETOLS professional rivet gun kit can handle all three type of rivets: aluminum, steel, and stainless steel rivets to adapt to various riveting operations, such as construction, maintenance or hand-made, etc. 4.8mm Rivet head is not recommended for use with steel and stainless steel rivets
- 【What's Included】This WETOLS rivet gun kit includes: Rivet Gun*1, Aluminum Rivets*200( 50 pcs each size) , Twist Drill*4, User Manual*1, Sturdy Blow Molded Case*1, Worry-Free-24-Months-Warranty. Do not hesitate to contact us if you encounter any questions when using WETOLS single hand riveter, we are happy to assist you
How to set a blind rivet with a hand riveter
- Prepare the work area and protect yourself. Wear eye protection, keep fingers clear of the handles and nosepiece, and make sure the work is supported. Follow the safety instructions supplied with your riveter. The PITTSBURGH 3-in-1 Riveter Kit manual specifies ANSI-approved safety goggles and heavy-duty work gloves for that kit.
- Mark and drill the hole. Drill through the pieces at the location specified for your rivet, then clear loose debris. Hole-size guidance is manufacturer-specific: NOVUS gives an example of drilling a hole 0.1 mm larger than the blind-rivet diameter, but that is not a universal clearance. Use the rivet maker’s stated hole size for the fastener you have.
- Fit the nosepiece and load the rivet. If the tool has a handle lock, release it as directed by the tool manual. Insert the rivet’s mandrel into the nosepiece that matches its diameter, with the rivet body extending out from the tool.
- Place the rivet through the work. Pass the rivet body through the prepared hole. Bring the materials together so they sit against one another, and ensure the rivet head rests flat against the work rather than over a gap.
- Squeeze the handles until the mandrel breaks. Keep the tool aligned with the rivet and close the handles firmly. Some combinations of tool and rivet may need more than one squeeze; the Harbor Freight manual says its kit may require one or two. Do not assume the same number of squeezes applies to every riveter.
- Remove the tool and inspect the joint. Open the handles and withdraw the riveter. Check that the pieces remain seated and that the rivet is secure. Remove the broken mandrel safely; the Harbor Freight kit manual says to open the handle and turn its tool upside down so the stem falls out.
Check the result and troubleshoot problems
- The rivet will not fit through the hole: Stop rather than forcing it. Recheck the rivet diameter and the hole size specified by its manufacturer.
- The riveter does not pull the mandrel: Check that the rivet diameter and material are within the tool’s stated capacity and that the correct nosepiece is fitted.
- The joint has a gap: Seat the materials together before setting another rivet. The rivet head should rest against the work, and the joined pieces should meet without a gap.
- The rivet seems loose or misshapen: Verify the rivet’s grip range against the combined material thickness and confirm that the hole follows the rivet maker’s specification. Do not rely on an improvised hole-size tolerance or a rivet outside the tool’s capacity.
Choosing a hand riveter for a job
Compare the tool’s supported rivet diameters and materials with the fasteners your work requires. Also check whether the needed nosepieces are included or sold separately, and whether the maker identifies the tool for the application. Handle length and design can affect leverage, but product descriptions alone do not establish how a tool will perform in a particular job. Böllhoff describes hand-operated tools as one way to process blind rivets; its overview provides context on processing tools for RIVQUICK blind rivets.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- [High Quality] 100% Steel Construction] This rivet gun is a high-quality 100% steel construction, high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, long service life, Plastic-covered grips, excellent hand feeling, and safer insulation.
- [4 Interchangeable Nosepieces] 4-in-1 hand riveter comes with 4 interchangeable nosepieces, nosepieces can be replaced manually, without the aid of tools, easy to use.
- [4 Sizes&200pc rivets] This pop rivet gun kit comes with 200pc rivets, the sizes are 3/32"-1/8"-5/32"-3/16", 4 sizes of rivets, 50 rivets of each size, satisfy all Kind of usage requirements.
- [Ergonomic Grips and Handle Lock] This rivet gun has an ergonomically designed handle, which saves effort and can easily complete riveting tasks. This hand riveter comes with a handle lock, which can be stored well and is easy to carry.
- [Wide Application] The hand riveter is easy to use and can perfectly connect various metal plates. It plays a huge role in metal riveting and maintenance. It is very suitable for automobiles, metal products, aviation, railways, elevators, furniture and other projects.
Rank #4
- Designed to work with 3/32 in. to 5/32 in. Dia rivets for general purpose rivet jobs
- Extended nose makes work easier in hard-to-reach places making it a great tool for general purpose rivet tasks, such as gutters, furniture and canvas works
- Manual riveter provides portable fastening:includes 4 interchangeable heads so that you have everything you need to start riveting
- Not recommended for use with 3/16 in.(5mm) Dia all-steel rivets; stainless steel rivets are not for use with manually operated rivet tools
- Wide application: Metal work, Gutter, Automotive and other common projects Whether you're a novice or seasoned riveter, this gun will accomplish your needs
Rank #3
- High Quality: Libraton heavy-duty rivet gun set includes an aluminum rivet gun, a mini wrench, 25 each of 4 sizes of rivets, and 1 each of 4 sizes of HSS drills. The set provides full-process support for riveting work.
- Sturdy Material: The professional riveter has a lightweight aluminum body, with 35Cr-Mo steel claw piece and heat-treated alloy steel structural parts, providing a longer service life (increased to more than 160% of conventional riveting guns).
- Working Efficiency: The design of the ergonomic handle provides a larger lever ratio, saving 25% of the grip strength. The TPR soft rubber can provide a comfortable grip.
- Smart Design: The riveting tool kit includes a mini wrench to change the heads. And there are test holes in the wrench that can help you identify the size of the rivets. Please choose the rivets of the same size as the head, as wrong size compatibility may lead to the stuck. A carrying case is included for easy storage.
- Wide Application: The pop rivet gun has four replaceable heads in sizes 3/32"(2.4mm), 1/8"(3.2mm), 5/32(4mm), and 3/16"(4.8mm) for fixing metals and heavy fabrics. The rivet gun set can be widely used in riveting of construction, automobiles, ships, airplanes, machines, electrical appliances, furniture, etc.
Rank #2
- Four-Sizes Rivet Heads - Our BEETRO hand rivet gun provides portable fastening, includes 4 replaceable heads 3/32" (2.4mm), 1/8" (3.2mm), 5/32" (4.0mm) and 3/16" (4.8mm), meeting most of your rivet needs.
- 100 Pcs Rivets - Our BEETRO hand riveter is equipped with 100 rivets of 4 different types to accommodate a variety of riveting jobs: 2.4/3.2/4.0/4.8mm.
- Wide Application - The hand riveter is perfect for joining all kinds of plastic, metal, leather, pipe jobs and more.
- Convenience - The head wrench allows for easy changing rivet nozzles.
- Easy to Carry - This product is of ergonomic design for maximum fit and comfort. Also, this product is light, making it easy and convenient to carry. It is suitable for metal, plastic, metal, furniture, etc.
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