Rivet Tools for Sheet Metal Airplanes

Several riveting tools may be necessary for your sheet metal project. In addition to the obvious rivet gun you will need bucking bars, rivet sets, clecos with pliers, rivet squeezer equipment and possibly pop-rivet tools. I will discuss each of these in more depth in future writings. For this session I will concentrate on the pneumatic or air rivet gun.

Rivet guns are different than “air hammers” in that a rivet gun is metered differently to hit harder and slower plus they normally have a “teasing” trigger or a variable trigger. The “teasing” action is necessary to allow the “setting” or lightly tapping of the rivet before it is driven. This technique is done by holding the bucking bar off to the edge of the rivet butt and teasing the rivet to set it properly in the hole. Once set, the rivet is driven with full throttle and with the bucking bar directly on the butt of the rivet. Do not practice on real airplane parts. Practice on plenty of scrap until you are familiar with the operation.

Rivet guns are available in many sizes starting with the OY or “Stubby” which is a special gun designed for very tight spots and requires special short shank rivet sets. Next is the 1X which is the shortest gun that uses standard aviation rivet sets (.401 shanks). From there they move up in sizes of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 7X and 9X. Each has a larger rivet capability. For most general aviation applications the 3X or 4X will work the best.