Air Rivet Guns: Common Applications, Types and Features

Solid rivets are a widely used fastener in industrial applications for strongly binding together an assembly. They’re typically used in aircraft and automotive manufacturing, as they are more durable and create a more sturdy binding than a screw and nut. The process of “setting” a solid rivet requires a specialized tool called an air rivet gun.

Air rivet guns work by driving the rivet into place. The process begins by inserting the rivet into a pre-drilled hole, with the protruding end, called the shank, backed up by a “bucking bar.” Then, as the rivet head is driven with the rivet gun, the back end is deformed, creating a “shophead.” In the process, the rivet swells in the hole, creating an extremely tight bond.

There are numerous types of hydraulic and air-powered rivet guns, and they all have different capabilities. Some are slow-hitting, striking the rivet head with 2,500 hits-per-minute, or fast-moving, which is up to 5,000 hits-per-minute. Slow-hitting air rivet guns, which are sometimes called pneumonic hammers, are one of the most common types used in industry. Additionally, these guns are also determined by their size, shape and their ability to drive certain sizes of rivets. For example, a 2X rivet gun, which is on the lower end of the spectrum, can reliably drive 1/8” and 3/32” rivets, but it is not powerful enough to drive 1/4″ rivets.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Rivet Gun

Air rivet guns provide controlled hitting of the rivet head. They differ from other types of air-powered devices like an air hammer or air chisel, which strike too hard and too fast to be used in riveting. These types of tools can quickly damage or dent the sheet metal around the rivet.

Choosing the correct type of air rivet gun can be a complicated process. You should consider:

• Hitting speed: Hitting speed is the rate at which the rivet gun strikes the head of the rivet. Typically slow-hitting rivet guns – in the range of about 2,000 hits-per-minute – provide a greater degree of control, compared to fast-hitting guns. In addition, the fast-hitting rivet guns create more force, but aren’t typically necessary for smaller sizes of rivets.
• Size and Capacity: Capacity is one of the most important factors to consider. In general, this refers to the rivet gun’s ability to drive rivets of a certain diameter. For example, quarter-inch rivets or M6 rivets require a gun with a greater capacity to be properly set. This is generally measured in pulling power or RPM. The larger the rivet’s diameter, the greater the capacity of the gun will need to be.
• Stroke Length: This is the distance that the rivet gun’s driving head takes each time it hits the rivet. Some guns are adjustable, and there are also extension pieces available to increase the stroke length. Stroke length is important for applications in confined spaces, like a rivet that is attached within a protected hole.
• Rivet Set Sizes: You must match your rivet gun to the size of the rivet that you will be setting. There are two different types of measurements – Imperial and Metric. For example, an M6 air rivet gun can be used to drive M6 rivets. (This is the metric diameter of the rivet head, which is 6mm.) In general, many rivet guns are adjustable, allowing the operator to interchange heads to fit the type of rivet. To be safe, a rivet gun set with a range of sizes is a solid investment.

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