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Types of Rivet Guns and what are rivet guns used for

Rivmate Fastener

Rivmate Fastener

Top Rivet and Rivet Nut Manufacturer in China

Table of Contents

Pneumatic Rivet Guns

There are many different types of rivet guns. Any of them you may use. So do you know what are rivet guns used for? Let’s explore together next.

Table of Contents

What is a Riveting Tool?

Rivet gun is the best tool for riveting rivets. But there are many types of rivet guns. The characteristics of different types of rivet guns are also different. Next we learn about it together.

Types of Rivet Guns

The different types of riveting tools are suitable for a variety of production environments such as domestic installations, DIY projects, small projects, medium sized projects and factory assembly line installations, covering a wide range of applications.

Each type of rivet tool is well suited for rivet installation tasks. Below are the main categories and a brief overview of rivet tools.

Hand Rivet Tool

Hand Threaded Rivet Insert Tool

Rivmate’s manual rivet guns utilize simple lever principles and squeeze technology. It consists mainly of a handle, a rivet gun body and a nozzle. The operator can hold the handle and apply force, and the squeezing action between the handles can actuate the internal pulling mechanism to pull the mandrel of the rivet. This type of riveting tool is the cheapest.

If you install rivets very infrequently, then a manual rivet gun is your best choice. If your project has only a few rivets, then this tool is perfectly suited for your needs. Of course it has its drawbacks. The biggest disadvantage of a manual rivet gun is that one will feel match and time consuming.

Electric Rivet Gun

There are many types of electric rivet guns, though the main functions are basically the same. An electric rivet gun is a tool that utilizes electric power to complete riveting jobs. It is ideal for frequent riveting or field work. They have no wires to tie them down and can be moved to any location to do the job.

In practice, the operator can easily install rivets by simply pressing a button. The best thing about electric rivet guns is their convenience, but they don’t come cheap.

Tools For Rivet Nuts

Pneumatic Rivet Gun

Rivmate C Series blind rivet tool

A pneumatic rivet gun is one of the most commonly used riveting tools in mass installation operations. A pneumatic rivet gun is a tool that is driven by compressed air. It can install blind rivets quickly. Pneumatic rivet guns are widely used in automobile manufacturing, aerospace, shipbuilding, construction, appliance assembly and other industrial applications that require a large number of rivets because of their high efficiency, high power and suitability for mass production. Pneumatic rivet guns offer higher productivity and lower operator fatigue than manual and electric rivet guns.

The only disadvantage of a pneumatic rivet gun is that it requires a compressed air connection through a hose. This limits its versatility and portability. But if your project requires the installation of a large number of rivets, this is certainly the best tool for the job.

Is There a Difference in Rivet Guns?

CategoryManual Rivet GunElectric Rivet GunPneumatic Rivet Gun
Power SourceManual forceElectric power (plug-in or battery-powered)Compressed air
Operation EffortRequires significant hand force, can cause fatigue over timeEasy to operate, powered by electricityEasy to operate, powered by compressed air
EfficiencyLow efficiency, suitable for small-scale tasksHigher efficiency, suitable for medium-scale tasksVery high efficiency, suitable for large-scale, continuous work
ApplicationSmall repairs, DIY projectsMedium assembly, industrial maintenanceLarge industrial production, assembly lines, automotive, construction
Pulling ForceLimited pulling force, suitable for small rivetsStrong electric pulling force, suitable for small to medium rivetsVery strong pulling force, suitable for large rivets and thick materials
PortabilityMost portable, no need for external powerGood portability (wireless) or limited by power cord (corded)Less portable, requires connection to compressed air
Maintenance NeedsSimple maintenance, basic structureRequires motor and battery maintenance, moderate complexityRequires regular maintenance of air supply, compressor, and pneumatic components
Rivet Size RangeSuitable for small rivets (typically 3/32″ to 1/4″)Supports small to medium rivetsSupports a wide range of rivet sizes, including large-diameter rivets
CostLowest costMid-range costHigher initial cost, requires air compressor
NoiseAlmost silentLow noise during operationNoisy, significant airflow and exhaust noise
Work ContinuityLimited continuity, hand fatigue over timeLimited by battery life or power supplyCapable of continuous operation, ideal for high-frequency work
Suitable MaterialsSuitable for thin materialsSuitable for medium-thickness materialsSuitable for thick and various materials
Rivet ConsistencyHuman-operated, quality varies with hand forceElectrically controlled, relatively consistent qualityStable air pressure, high consistency in rivet quality
Ease of UseSimple to use, but tiring for frequent operationsEasy to use, requires little effortSimple to use but requires air compressor setup, slightly longer prep time
Repair ComplexitySimple structure, easy to repairMore complex, requires professional maintenance for motor and batteryComplex pneumatic system, requires regular maintenance of air and internal components

You can choose the riveting tool that best suits your needs!

What are Rivet Guns Used for?

After reading the above information, we have understood that there are different types of rivet guns. So do you know what scenarios they are used in respectively? Do you know what are the best conditions for their use? Let’s find out next.

Application of Hand Rivet Tools

can rivets be used on wood

Manual rivet guns are suitable for low-intensity, low-frequency riveting jobs, with rivets typically ranging from 3/32 inch to 1/4 inch in diameter. Due to the need for manual operation, it is not suitable for high volume or continuous work, but is ideal for personal projects or small one-time repairs. Commonly used applications are listed below:

  • Small repairs: metal furniture, vehicle parts, small appliances.
  • DIY projects: suitable for personal projects such as carpentry, goldsmithing, etc.
  • Small structural assemblies: can be used for joining lightweight materials such as thin sheet metal .

Application of Electric Rivet Guns

Electric rivet guns can handle small to medium sized rivets and are suitable for materials of medium thickness. Requiring either power or battery operation, the cordless model is more suited to outdoor use, while the plug-in model is suitable for workshops or fixed locations.

Electric rivet guns are suitable for medium sized industrial and assembly jobs.

  • Medium-sized assembly and repair: such as appliance assembly, furniture manufacturing.
  • Industrial assembly: for assembly of small and medium-sized structural parts in production lines.
  • Vehicle maintenance: for fixing metal sheets or parts in small and medium-sized vehicle maintenance.

Application of Air Powered Rivet Guns

What Are Pop Rivets Used For? - Pop Rivets for Electronic Devices

Pneumatic rivet guns require the use of compressed air to drive, so in most cases, an air compressor is required. Pneumatic rivet guns are suitable for handling large-size rivets and materials of greater thickness, and are widely used in applications requiring high-strength riveting.

Pneumatic rivet guns are mainly used in large-scale industrial production and high-frequency assembly line operations.

  • Large industrial production: such as automobile manufacturing, aircraft assembly, shipbuilding, steel structure installation.
  • Construction projects: such as building frames, curtain walls, bridges and other large-scale riveting work.
  • Efficient assembly line work: suitable for continuous high intensity riveting.
A large quantity of rivets

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How Do I Choose The Right Rivet Gun?

With that said, how do you choose the best rivet gun for your project? It really depends on a few conditions:

  1. Application Scenario
  2. Rivet size
  3. Workload and frequency
  4. Operational portability
  5. Cost budget

Application Scenario

First of all, clarify which application scenario the riveting work you need to carry out belongs to, different rivet guns are suitable for different occasions:

  • Small repairs or DIY projects: If the workload is small, such as repairing furniture or carrying out personal DIY projects, a manual rivet gun is the right choice. It is simple, portable and inexpensive.
  • Medium-sized assembly or industrial maintenance: for medium-sized tasks, such as appliances, vehicles or small to medium-sized assemblies. Electric rivet gun is recommended, it is efficient and suitable for medium frequency operation.
  • Large-scale industrial production: If you are engaged in high-intensity, high-volume riveting tasks. Such as automotive manufacturing, construction or assembly line operations, pneumatic rivet guns are the most suitable choice, providing faster working speed and stronger pulling force.

Rivet Size

Different rivet guns support different sizes of rivets. When selecting one, make sure the tool supports the required rivet size:

  • Manual Rivet Guns: Typically suitable for small diameter rivets such as 3/32“ to 1/4” rivets.
  • Electric Rivet Guns: Capable of handling medium sized rivets, typically also in the 3/32“ to 1/4” range, with some models supporting slightly larger rivets.
  • Pneumatic Rivet Guns: Suitable for large diameter rivets, usually with a wide range of support, capable of handling thicker materials and large rivet sizes.

Workload and Frequency

  • Low Frequency Work: If the riveting task is small and does not require frequent operation, manual rivet guns are the economical and practical choice.
  • Mid-frequency work: For mid-frequency work, such as small to medium scale production or assembly lines, electric rivet guns are efficient, easy to operate and can reduce fatigue.
  • High-frequency, long-time work: high-volume, high-frequency riveting work is the most suitable for the use of pneumatic rivet guns, pneumatic drive can support a long period of continuous operation, and greatly improve work efficiency.

Operational Portability

  • Manual Rivet Guns: Portable and inexpensive, but require more physical effort, suitable for small tasks.
  • Electric Rivet Gun: easy to operate, does not require too much manual operation, suitable for long time use. Wireless models for mobile work, wired models suitable for fixed places.
  • Pneumatic rivet gun: operation is also very simple, but need to connect the air compressor, the initial setup is more complex, suitable for use in fixed production lines.

Cost Budget

When considering your budget, you need to weigh the price of the tool against the efficiency of the work it brings:

  • Manual Rivet Guns: the least expensive, suitable for low budgets or small one-off projects.
  • Electric Rivet Guns: Moderately priced and suitable for medium sized riveting tasks in industrial environments.
  • Pneumatic Rivet Guns: Higher initial investment, as compressed air equipment needs to be purchased in addition to the tool itself, but offers significant economic benefits in mass production.

Order Rivet Guns for Your Project

Are you looking for a reliable rivet gun for your project? At Rivmate, you can get manual rivet guns, electric rivet guns and pneumatic rivet guns. These types of rivet guns can rivet any type of blind rivets and structural rivets.

Contact us today!

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