rivet guns and tools

[pontiac58]

Im not sure if this is the right spot to ask or post this, but im in a jam.

First this isnt for a airplane. I have to replace a section of roof on a box truck. The sides of the roof are bucked rivets. I havent bucked a rivet in close to twenty years and i cant remember the name of the tool that goes in the rivet gun. I also dont remember how to get the right size and shape. I also need a place to buy the tools.

I do remember not to use a air chisel, and found my air rivet gun that i used in school.

Someone or more then one take me to school.


thanks Jim

[Hemiman]

https://www.ustool.com/store/cart.php?m=content&page=6

[Ashley Briggs]

Yardstore.com
I've found to be very reasonable on cost and the service is first rate.
Cheers,
Ash.

[Cherrybomber13]

+1 yardstore

[The Inspector]

A 6X gun should handle what you are doing up to 1/4 inch. Rivet dies are matched to the type of rivet 'B' 'D' etc. so engraved on the shoulder of the rivet die should be something like BACST and a series of letters and numbers the BACST XX 'D' or whatever is for Boeing Aircraft Co. Shop Tool and the local F.B.O. counter guy can match the numbers up with the correct head size and shape. Don't forget to measure the thickness of the material and add 1 and 1/2 extra grip length to give you a quaity bucktail, diameters are measured in 1/16th of an inch, length is in 32nds and you're shooting for a finished shop head (bucktail) thats 1/2 the unshot protruding shank length and a diameter of about 1.5 times the unbucked diameter and no cracks across the bucked shop head.
Use enough bucking bar as the bar and it's operator are the critical parts of the operation and control the entire job, a shooter will tolerate a Bozo of a bucker if he's really good and on the ball, a #4 bar should be ample and have the bucker practice a lot as bouncing the bar will damage/destroy the fastener and the bucker should stay on the fastener until the shooter is done, rivets will talk to you as they progress starting with a sharp sound that flattens out in about 2 to 2.5 seconds. Few things sound as good as a good shooting team doing a lap seam or stringer installation, a rivet about every 5 seconds.
Screw one up? drill only enough to pop the head off (drill just a fraction deeper than the height of the manufactured head, be careful as the drill bit WILL walk on you and you'll have to 'drive it' to the center of the head) with a small hammer and punch and have your bucker 'back you up' by laying the bar alongside the shop head to absorb and concentrate the shock used to knock the tail out without ovaling the hole out.
Resist advise to put tape on the set to 'hold the rivet' I can't tell you how many rivets I marked up for being 'plaid' from the shooter using duct tape on the face of the set-when you hit the rivet it goes 'plastic' and partially melts which finishes it's heat treatment and solidifies the shank, it also embosses the head.

Treat your gun right and give it a couple drops of air tool oil before each use and it'll live a long, happy, and productive life.

[Pat]

...diameters are measured in 1/16th of an inch, length is in 32nds...

LOL, Whut?

I think you got that backwards, Mr. Inspector!

[The Inspector]

...diameters are measured in 1/16th of an inch, length is in 32nds...

LOL, Whut?

I think you got that backwards, Mr. Inspector!

Yeah! caught me-been a long while since I taught basic riveting principles.

[pontiac58]

thank you everyone. that was just what i needed. I ordered the tools and they will be here tomorrow.

[The Inspector]

thank you everyone. that was just what i needed. I ordered the tools and they will be here tomorrow.

Resist the urge to 'dry fire' the rivet gun, you'll screw up the piston and piston stops inside. NEVER point it AT anyone! squeezing the trigger will cause the die to fire just like a bullet, saw another instructor get hit in the knee at about 20 feet, he was OK but it cut his kneecap skin and raised one heck of a welt and bruise and it could put an eye out. The spring is only used to keep the die from falling out on the floor, not really to restrain the die.
Buy extra fasteners and go practice or regain your 'feel' for a rivet gun and to train your bucker so both of you have a feel for what the other can and will do.
One thing that I don't agree with is Boeings philosophy of 'pool' tools, if you use the same rivet gun and drill motors every day you know just how far you can push either and remain inside the safe zone.
Wear hearing protection please!!!!

[pontiac58]

well I got the job done today. We had plenty of extra rivets since they come in a 5lb bag and i only needed about 70. So i practiced with about 10 of them and then tried my luck. First 5 were perfect then i learned how to use a drill to remove three bad ones. After that all went well, except for the the last one. My boss wanted to try it out and well that didnt go real well but it was well worth the laugh.

Thanks again to everyone who helped out. Now enough of box trucks and back to warbirds

[The Inspector]

well I got the job done today. We had plenty of extra rivets since they come in a 5lb bag and i only needed about 70. So i practiced with about 10 of them and then tried my luck. First 5 were perfect then i learned how to use a drill to remove three bad ones. After that all went well, except for the the last one. My boss wanted to try it out and well that didnt go real well but it was well worth the laugh.

Thanks again to everyone who helped out. Now enough of box trucks and back to warbirds

Did he create what's called a 'rose bud'? that looks like the rose on the end of a fancy desert spoon handle by letting the gun/die get away from him?

[pontiac58]

Did he create what's called a 'rose bud'? that looks like the rose on the end of a fancy desert spoon handle by letting the gun/die get away from him?

No lets just say he wasnt ready for the air hammer. As soon as he pulled the trigger, he let go of it, all of it. He was all eyeballs and surprised look. Luckily i was holding the airline or the gun would have had a 12 foot fall to the ground.

I give him credit though, the man shouldn't use a screwdriver let alone a airtool, but he wants to try everything once. I cant wait for him to try the mig welder out. When one of the sparklers goes flying and ends up in between his loafers and ankle. The dance should be the best ever.

[ZRX61]

I cant wait for him to try the mig welder out. When one of the sparklers goes flying and ends up in between his loafers and ankle. The dance should be the best ever.

Was working on a farm several years ago that had a large workshop. Was walking towards it one day & I can see the arc from someone welding inside through the windows. Door suddenly burst open, guy came running/limping out of the place & jumped into the duck pond. He had a glob of weld about the size of a dime fall into his boot....Pond was about 10ft deep.