HF Hand Riveter?

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Does anyone own and use any of the HF hand riveters?  I need it to attach some VIN plates to trailers. Not needed every day, but wanted to see if anyone had one, and which model and if they are okay for minimal use?thanksTxDoc's Photos Lincoln SP175 PlusLincoln Power Mig 256Lincoln 250 LX Spool Gun Lincoln Precision Tig 225 Hypertherm 600 KMG 2x72 Belt GrinderBaldor 812RE Grinder
Reply:Bought the 38353 model years ago, look like they have it on sale for $4.99, and it has always done the job. Sometimes a bit finicky about releasing the rivet stem after setting the rivet, but nothing major for a drastically cheap tool to get an occasional job done. Well worth the money for occasional work.Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:Thanks WyoRoy.  That one, you posted, got good reviews. The people who complained of stuck rivets seemed to be helped by a poster who said, "I had the stuck stems problem everyone else indicated. I finally managed to fix it. The simple answer is use the next bigger rivet holder tip."  I also noticed this onehttp://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...tle-66422.htmlgot good reviews and a lifetime guarantee.  I appreciate the reply.Last edited by TxDoc; 03-06-2013 at 10:12 PM.TxDoc's Photos Lincoln SP175 PlusLincoln Power Mig 256Lincoln 250 LX Spool Gun Lincoln Precision Tig 225 Hypertherm 600 KMG 2x72 Belt GrinderBaldor 812RE Grinder
Reply:TxDoc,That larger riveter might be just the ticket for installing VIN plates if you have enough access...looks like a single one-shot action instead of the 2-3 open and shut actions of the smaller unit. Both would probably work well enough that you wouldn't be out searching for alternatives soon after buying either one. Not much in the way of rocket science involved in either model, which bodes well for them lasting a good long time. Generally I shy away from Harbor Freight tools, but for such an occasional use item that riveter of mine has surprised me on its ability to get the job finished and it's sturdiness. Best of luck whichever way you go.Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:I have the 94100 that also does rivet nuts(nut-cert?). Very handy to have around.
Reply:Originally Posted by gimpyrobbI have the 94100 that also does rivet nuts(nut-cert?). Very handy to have around.
Reply:I had that cheap red one bread on me after the first rivet. The one before that lasted a few rivets longer.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Are you doing aluminum or stainless rivets? I have a Balkamp hand riveter that I bought at Napa. It does great on the smaller rivets but can take some muscle to do the 3/16" stainless. I haven't tried anything larger. Have you thought about a pneumatic riveter? I recently picked up a pneumatic riveter off CL for $20 that looks similar to the HF pneumatic version but older. Oiled it up and it works great. Does the 3/16" stainless rivets so quick and easy. I'll likely never go back to the hand riveter. I should have bought one years ago.
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireAre you doing aluminum or stainless rivets?
Reply:I'd think a portable air tank would run a riveter thru quite few cycles.                                             MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleI had that cheap red one bread on me after the first rivet. The one before that lasted a few rivets longer.
Reply:Originally Posted by TxDocI don't know, as I have never bought one, before. Is the stainless better over the long-term? I looked at the air riveters at HF, but, may need to go out to a barn or field or someone's place that doesn't have an air compressor. I guess I could take a pancake compressor along.
Reply:Avoid #40690. A coworker had one and it broke after a couple rivets.If I ever needed to buy another one I do not think I would cheap out on the tool. Using a crappy one is pretty frustrating.Mcmaster Carr looks like they might have nice ones. It would be nice if they had actual pictures though.Last edited by mikecwik; 03-07-2013 at 09:00 PM.
Reply:For what those McMaster hand guns cost, you could buy an air riveter from Speedway Motors and a small tank.http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Air-Riveter,1549.html   I just bought this one, after breaking my HF air riveter a couple weeks ago.  Have not needed to use it yet, though.  I did get a couple years out of the HF riveter, but for me, that equates to perhaps a hundred rivets.__David Hillman