Harbor Freight Pneumatic Rivet Gun

Sheet Metal Fabrication techniques, questions and help. "Tricks of the Trade"

Moderators: GlennW, Harold_V

Post Reply
User avatar
pwcphoto
Posts: 263
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:32 am
Location: Oxnard, CA
Contact:

Harbor Freight Pneumatic Rivet Gun

Post by pwcphoto »

Anyone have any experience with the Harbor Freight Rivet gun?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=97857


Is it up to the high Harbor Freight standards or does it actually work?

Thanks,

Phil
"I used to be a rocket scientist, now i am just a space cadet"

RMI 3.75" scale Prairie 2-6-2 under construction.
View Progress
http://www.southerncalifornialivesteamers.com/Forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=18&SID=336957b14adb9765a37dez9785dz6cz7&title=steam-locomotive-construction
JohnAspinall
Posts: 38
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:20 pm
Location: Lexington MA

Horrible Fright

Post by JohnAspinall »

I don't know about the rivet gun in particular, but let me mention in passing this collected bit of HF customer wisdom:
http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/08/06 ... e-abysmal/
which I have found useful.
User avatar
pwcphoto
Posts: 263
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:32 am
Location: Oxnard, CA
Contact:

Post by pwcphoto »

Thanks John, lots of good info there. Will see, it only has to last for a few hundred rivets. Wonder if they will stay in business when stuff from China is priced the way it should be and no longer subsidized.
"I used to be a rocket scientist, now i am just a space cadet"

RMI 3.75" scale Prairie 2-6-2 under construction.
View Progress
http://www.southerncalifornialivesteamers.com/Forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=18&SID=336957b14adb9765a37dez9785dz6cz7&title=steam-locomotive-construction
thruthefence
Posts: 61
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:49 pm
Location: Louisiana

Post by thruthefence »

The picture shows rivet 'sets' but the text refers to 'chisels'. Makes you wonder if this isn't an air hammer posing as a rivet gun.
Doug4d3s
Posts: 286
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:28 pm
Location: St Louis MO, USA

Re: Harbor Freight Pneumatic Rivet Gun

Post by Doug4d3s »

I was just wondering about the HF rivet hamer too... :D

I see they sell a $100 one specifically for driving solid rivets, and then they sell a few air hammers for much cheaper.

Other than maybe the rivet sets, what is the difference between these tools? The specs mention a gradual trigger, but the plain air hamers are more compact and look a lot handier.
~
User avatar
Falcon67
Posts: 444
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:42 pm
Location: Merkel TX

Re: Harbor Freight Pneumatic Rivet Gun

Post by Falcon67 »

Interesting HF review link. Also read the Brad Nailer review - I have one of those. It works great, and the recommendation for it came from a pro contractor site. Like everything ChiCom, YMMV with each tool acquired. One guy gets a metal bandsaw (#93762) that cuts precise like a $1000 saw, next guy gets one that does good to hold .060 over 2" or worse (mine LOL). Also - my $200 big Craftsman cabinet came out of the box (perfectly good box - no dents or dings) damaged. It's the world we live in.

The good thing is that the new HF site allows for reviews, and people so far seem to be giving good thumbs up/down as they find how the tools work.
Chris -
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
"Check all parts for proper condition before operation; if normal safety precautions are noticed carefully, this machine can provide you withstanding of accurate service."
Doug4d3s
Posts: 286
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:28 pm
Location: St Louis MO, USA

Re: Harbor Freight Pneumatic Rivet Gun

Post by Doug4d3s »

I have found elsewhere that the difference between a rivet gun and an air hammer/air chisel is that the rivet gun has a progressive trigger, and usually also has a lower speed.

People do use hammers for riveting, they just turn the air pressure down until it works okay.
~
caseguy
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:12 pm
Location: Burnt Hill, NY

Re: Harbor Freight Pneumatic Rivet Gun

Post by caseguy »

I worked a long time for the airline in sheet metal and thier is a big differance between a rivet gun and a air hammer. That gun is a 3x which is big gun as far as im conserned. It also has over 2000 Blows per minute Thats alot. I found the best guns have slow blow per minute and a long stroke gun. Do a search on google for a/c rivet guns.
Post Reply