How to Use a Rivet Gun Like a Pro

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Simple instructions for using manual, pneumatic, and electric rivet guns
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If you need to thin sheets of metal, plastic, or wood, a rivet gun can make your job a lot easier. Whether you’re working with a manual rivet gun or you’re using a heavy-duty pneumatic or electric rivet gun , we have everything you need to know about how to use it—from step-by-step instructions to how to choose the right rivet for the job .

How do you use a rivet gun?

  1. Line up the materials you want to attach.
  2. Drill a hole through the materials the same diameter as your rivet..
  3. Fit your rivet gun with the nozzle that fits the rivet you’re using.
  4. Open the rivet gun and insert the rivet.
  5. Slide the rivet into the hole you drilled.
  6. Pump the handle on the rivet gun until the pin snaps off the rivet.
  7. The rivet is fastened—discard the pin.
Section 1 of 4:

Using a Manual (Pop) Rivet Gun

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  1. 1
    Line up the two things you want to attach and measure their thickness. To know the length of the rivet you’ll need, measure the thickness of both materials stacked together. Then, use a rivet chart to find the right length and diameter for your project.
  2. If you're installing the rivet around your home, chances are you will be using a 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) sized rivet. Larger rivets come in 5 ⁄ 32 inch (0.40 cm) and 3 ⁄ 16 inch (0.48 cm) lengths, but are typically used for outdoor applications. Make sure the size of the rivet matches the drill holes you made. [1]
    • Each rivet is made of 2 pre assembled parts: the body (tubular in shape) and the setting mandrel (the long side pulled out of the body).
    • Be sure the rivets are rated for the weight they’ll hold. To determine the maximum weight your rivets can hold, look at the back of the package for their shear strength.
    • To learn more about which type of rivet is best for your project, jump to our section on choosing a rivet .
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  3. Hold the pieces securely in place, then drill a rivet hole all the way through both pieces. Make sure to choose a drill bit that’s the same size as your rivet. For example, a 5 ⁄ 32  in (0.40 cm) hole is created with a number 21 drill bit, and you'll need a 5 ⁄ 32  in (0.40 cm) rivet with the proper nozzle attachment. [2]
    • Take a look at this chart for rivet sizes and their corresponding drill numbers and drill sizes.
  4. The nozzle of your gun holds an attachment that secures your rivets. Most rivet guns come with 3 nozzle attachments located in their handle. These attachments can be removed using the small wrench also located inside their handle. [3]
    • To remove the attachments, use the wrench to turn them counterclockwise. After removing an attachment from the gun's handle, gently screw it into the nozzle by turning it clockwise with your hand.
    • Use the small wrench to tighten it by continuing to turn it counterclockwise.
  5. The rivet won’t go into the gun unless it’s open, so pull the handles apart as far as they’ll go. Insert the narrow end of the rivet into the attachment tip that you put on the nozzle. [4]
    • Once the rivet is in place, squeeze the handles slightly to keep the rivet from falling back out.
  6. Push the shorter side of the rivet through the holes in both of your materials, then hold the gun parallel to the piece of metal. Push down lightly on the gun to put pressure on the rivet so you’re holding it firmly in place. [5]
    • Keep steady and apply consistent pressure before squeezing the trigger.
  7. Squeeze the two handles together, then release and squeeze again. Keep pressure on the rivet as you squeeze. Every pump will pull the metal pin in the rivet through the body. Once the pin's head reaches the small end of the rivet, you’ll hear a pop and the pin will snap. [6]
    • Once the pin snaps, the rivet is fastened.
    • Discard the pin (the longer side of the rivet) after you’re finished—you won’t need this part. Some rivet guns have a small cup or container attached to catch the pins, but on most riveters, you’ll have to remove the pins by hand before inserting a new rivet.
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Section 2 of 4:

Using a Pneumatic or Electric Rivet Gun

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  1. Place both pieces against each other, then drill a hole all the way through both pieces. After drilling your hole, you can determine the best rivet size. For example, 3 ⁄ 16  in (0.48 cm) holes are created with a number 41 drill and accommodate a 3 ⁄ 16  in (0.48 cm) rivet. [7]
    • Never use an electric twist drill if you're working on or near an aircraft—they are considered to be a fire hazard. Use pneumatic twist drills instead.
    • Take a look at this chart for rivet sizes and their corresponding drill numbers and drill sizes.
  2. Solid rivets are used for situations that require more safety and reliability than blind rivets can provide. Although they are more expensive, they are invaluable when working with important structural joints.
    • Solid rivets cannot be used if one side of the structure is inaccessible.
  3. Also called 3X guns, slow-hitting guns are the most common type of pneumatic rivet gun and are best for medium-sized rivets. They are easiest to control, and recommended for first-time users. [8]
    • Medium-sized rivets will be labeled as such.
    • Slow-hitting guns typically have a repetition rate of around 2,500-blows-per-minute (bpm) and strike heavier blows.
  4. Also known as 2X guns or vibrators, fast-hitting rivet guns are ideal for soft rivets (which are made of soft aluminum alloy). They continue to hammer as long as the trigger is held down. Keep in mind that they are harder to control than slow-hitting guns. [9]
    • Fast-hitting guns strike lighter blows at around 2,500 to 5,000 bpm. [10]
  5. Air pressure (PSI) influences how much pressure you need to put on the trigger when using your gun. The bigger your rivet, the more air pressure you need. Always make sure that you change air pressures when switching between rivet sizes. [11]
    • A 3 ⁄ 32 inch (0.24 cm) rivet requires 25 PSI, 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) rivets require 40 PSI, and 5 ⁄ 32 inch (0.40 cm) rivets require 60 PSI.
  6. Pneumatic guns come with cup sets designed for particular rivet sizes. These are similar to the nozzles on a handheld rivet gun. The cups are made of two parts: a shaft that inserts into the gun, and a polished area that meets the head of the rivet. Use flush cup sets for flush rivets and universal sets (also known as domed head sets) for universal rivets. [12]
    • A spring on the end of the gun holds your rivet sets in place, allowing you to swap set sizes as needed.
  7. Slide the rivet into the hole using your hand. Afterwards, hold the rivet gun so it is horizontal with the top side of the metal. [13]
    • The tip of the cup set is the polished area that attaches to the shaft inserted into the gun.
  8. Some pneumatic rivet guns have a rivet squeezer, which is a part that sits behind the rivet to brace it. If yours doesn’t have one—or if you can’t access the back of the rivet with the gun—hold a solid steel bucking bar against the back side of the rivet with one hand and operate the rivet gun with your other hand. [14]
    • Bucking bars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so choose one that works best for your project.
    • You may need someone else to hold the bucking bar in place while you operate the rivet gun.
  9. With your bucking bar held firmly in place and the gun engaged with the rivet head, squeeze the trigger for a few moments until your rivet is in place. Triggers are designed to tease airflow, giving you precise control over the strength and duration of the impacts delivered through each rivet set to its head. [15]
    • The amount of time you need to hold the trigger depends on the power of your gun and its air pressure.
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Section 3 of 4:

Choosing Rivets

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  1. Blind rivets can be installed from 1 side and create secure fastenings without the hammering process necessary for solid rivet installation. Standard blind rivets are the most affordable type and are great for holes that are regularly shaped and aligned properly. [16]
    • Use standard blind rivets for securing metal pieces that aren't going to carry lots of weight.
    • Stainless blind rivets are a good option if you’re working on an outdoor project.
    • Blind rivets may not be strong enough for important structural joints. For heavy-duty jobs, use solid rivets with a pneumatic rivet gun.
  2. Sealed rivets possess an enclosed mandrel (the longer end) that creates a water-tight seal upon installation. They can fasten many kinds of materials and perform well across varying temperature fluctuations and thicknesses. [17]
    • Sealed, waterproof rivets are good for securing projects like gutters or shower walls.
    • If you don't need a water-tight seal, opt for standard rivets instead—they're typically cheaper than sealed products.
  3. Interlock rivets are best if you need increased pull-out and shear strength, such as in structural applications. They come in large sizes that typically don't fit the smaller rivet guns.
    • Interlock rivets work great for closing big gaps and preventing sheet movement.
  4. Dome head rivets are the most common type for pop guns due to their versatility and simple application. They're best used for situations that require reliability and safety. For example, thousands of dome head rivets are used to create the structural frame of modern aircraft. [18]
    • If you're unsure of the applicability of dome heads for your situation, take a look at their packaging to determine the shear strength (listed as weight in pounds) that they can support.
    • Use dome heads when connecting material similar to carbon steel, when the rivet is close to the edge of the material you are fastening.
    • These blind rivets are also called roundheads.
  5. Flat rivets are countersunk and ideal for soft materials, which are defined as anything easily deformed by temperature extremes or fluctuations, such as polymers, granular materials, and soft biological materials. This is due to their large head that increases their load-bearing area. They are also ideal for situations where nearby rivets and structures make it impossible to accommodate round heads. [19]
    • Load-bearing area is the region that the load-bearing structure can reliably hold up.
  6. There are many different kinds of rivet materials. Always match the rivet to the type of metal you're attaching whenever possible. For example, aluminum metal should be fastened with aluminum rivets. [20]
    • If you're fastening leather with a rivet, always use copper, aluminum, or brass. Steel rivets will rust due to leather's tendency to retain moisture.
    • Steel mandrels tend to corrode and can also create a reaction with surrounding materials. Avoid purchasing rivets that are made from steel mandrels paired with a stainless steel or aluminum body. [21]
    • Purchase a variety pack for a wide selection of rivets of different sizes and materials.
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Section 4 of 4:

FAQs

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  1. 1
    Do you have to drill a hole to use a rivet gun? Yes, rivets are meant to be inserted into a pre-drilled rivet hole. Rivet guns work by crimping the ends of the rivet to secure them in place—they don’t provide the force that would be needed to drive a rivet through an undrilled piece of metal, wood, or plastic.
  2. 2
    Are rivet guns easy to use? Yes, rivet guns are a simple tool that is easy to use. Just insert the rivet into a pre-drilled hole and pump the handle or trigger until the pin snaps on the rivet.
  3. 3
    When would you use a rivet gun? Rivet guns are helpful when you need to join two pieces together. They’re most commonly used to join two pieces of metal, but they can also connect wood and plastic, including combinations of these materials.
  4. 4
    What are the pros and cons of different types of rivet guns? Manual rivet guns are inexpensive and easy to use, but they can strain your hand over time. Pneumatic and electric guns are fast and powerful, but they’re more expensive and you’ll need access to either compressed air or electricity.
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Tips

  • Always wear safety goggles, gloves, and a safety jacket when working with a rivet gun. Avoid wearing loose clothing and jewelry, and carefully restrain your hair.
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  • Never use a rivet gun near explosive or combustible materials.
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  • Never attempt to repair a rivet gun by yourself – always bring it to your local hardware store for maintenance.
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References

  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/WPwNsQMnx88?t=70
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/WPwNsQMnx88?t=78
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/WPwNsQMnx88?t=14
  4. ↑ https://www.rapid.com/en-gb/guides/riveting-guides/how-do-i-use-a-rivet-gun/
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/WPwNsQMnx88?t=102
  6. ↑ https://www.rapid.com/en-gb/guides/riveting-guides/how-do-i-use-a-rivet-gun/
  7. ↑ http://navyaviation.tpub.com/14018/css/Drilling-Rivet-Holes-548.htm
  8. ↑ https://youtu.be/p2LxpSS0NP8?t=15
  9. ↑ https://youtu.be/p2LxpSS0NP8?t=23
  1. ↑ http://navyaviation.tpub.com/14018/css/Pneumatic-Riveters-527.htm
  2. ↑ http://navyaviation.tpub.com/14018/css/Pneumatic-Riveters-527.htm
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/p2LxpSS0NP8?t=56s
  4. ↑ https://youtu.be/p2LxpSS0NP8?t=170
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/p2LxpSS0NP8?t=92
  6. ↑ https://youtu.be/p2LxpSS0NP8?t=170
  7. ↑ https://youtu.be/1fzMZQCbHPc?t=23s/
  8. ↑ https://www.rapid.com/en-gb/guides/riveting-guides/rivet-guide/
  9. ↑ https://www.wuerth-industrie.com/web/media/en/pictures/wuerthindustrie/technikportal/dinokapitel/Kapitel_10_DINO_techn_Teil.pdf
  10. ↑ https://www.wuerth-industrie.com/web/media/en/pictures/wuerthindustrie/technikportal/dinokapitel/Kapitel_10_DINO_techn_Teil.pdf
  11. ↑ https://youtu.be/1fzMZQCbHPc?t=23s
  12. ↑ https://www.steelconstruction.info/Corrosion_of_structural_steel

About This Article

Article Summary X

To use a rivet gun, start by using a standard twist drill to drill a hole in your material to fit the rivet. Then, attach the appropriate nozzle to your gun, such as a 1/8-inch nozzle if your rivet is 1/8 inch in diameter. Insert the longer part of the rivet into the gun and make sure the shorter end is already in the hole. Next, squeeze the handle trigger on the gun until the rivet pops into place. Once you've secured both materials with the rivet, discard the pin from the long side. For tips on how to choose the right kind of rivets for your project, keep reading!

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