manual rivet gun

A manual rivet gun, often called a hand riveter or pop rivet gun, is a simple, handheld tool used to join two or more pieces of material together using blind rivets (also commonly known as pop rivets). It’s an indispensable tool for a wide range of fastening applications, especially when you only have access to one side of the material being joined.

How a Manual Rivet Gun Works:

1. Drill a Hole: A hole is drilled through the materials you want to join, matching the diameter of the rivet.
2. Insert Rivet: The “blind rivet” consists of a hollow cylindrical body with a “mandrel” (a thin pin) running through its center. The rivet body is inserted into the pre-drilled hole, with the mandrel extending out.
3. Load into Gun: The exposed end of the mandrel is inserted into the nosepiece of the rivet gun.
4. Squeeze Handles: The operator squeezes the handles of the rivet gun. This action pulls the mandrel through the rivet body.
5. Deformation and Fastening: As the mandrel is pulled, it deforms the blind end of the rivet body, causing it to expand and grip the back surface of the material.
6. Mandrel Snaps: Once the rivet is fully set and has created a secure joint, the mandrel snaps off cleanly, leaving a flush, strong fastening.

Types of Manual Rivet Guns:

While all operate on the same principle, there are a few common types:

• Standard Hand Riveter (Plier-type): This is the most common and affordable type. It looks similar to a pair of pliers with two handles that you squeeze together. They typically handle smaller rivet sizes (e.g., 2.4mm, 3.2mm, 4.0mm, 4.8mm). Ideal for occasional use, small repairs, and DIY projects.
• Lazy Tong Riveter: Also called an accordion-style riveter. It has a scissor-like, collapsible mechanism that provides more leverage than a standard hand riveter. This makes it easier to set larger rivets (up to 6.4mm) or when you need to set many rivets, as it requires less physical effort per squeeze. They often come with a stem collector to catch the snapped mandrels.