Best Rivet Gun Reviews 2018

Most people think that rivet guns are only needed in fabrication workshops or for big metal jobs. Let’s picture this. Have you ever broken the handle off your fryer at home, or your children’s toys, or your briefcase handle? If yes, how frustrating was it? Did you go looking for someone to fix it for you? If you'd have had a rivet gun at home, you could have picked it up and done the job yourself.

There are a lot of jobs that a rivet gun can help you do, both at home and in the workshop—this is a tool you’ll want to keep in your tool bag. Whether as a garden tool or a workshop tool, a rivet gun is a vital tool that you need to have. Jobs that an electric screwdriver would do may be similar to jobs done by a rivet gun. When you need to join thin pieces of metals, leather, or canvas where the other side of the material is not easily reachable, a rivet gun is your best option.

There are different types of rivet guns. There is the manual (hand-operated) rivet gun, and the pneumatic (air-powered) rivet gun. We will be classifying these rivet guns based on the speed of blows they deliver:

• Slow Hitting Guns – These are appropriate to be used on hard rivets because they deliver continuous blows to the rivet, provided the trigger is held down. They deliver an average of approximately 2,500 blows per minute. For inexperienced users, these are a better option, since they offer greater accuracy and better control than guns that deliver a single blow.
• Fast Hitting Guns – These guns strike multiple lightweight blows at a high rate ranging between 2,500 to 5,000 blows per minute. They're also known as vibrators, and are mostly used with softer rivets. They are more convenient for materials that require softer riveting, since the light blows do not cause a dent on the material.
• Squeeze Rivet Guns – These guns are used when working on edges, where you can access both sides of the item you are working on. They operate by using air pressure to provide a squeezing action, which compresses the rivet from both sides.
• Pop Rivet Guns – These operate on the same principle as the squeeze guns, except that they only compress the rivet from one side.

Now that you know the types of rivet guns and how they operate, you should have an idea of the type you want, bearing in mind the type of job(s) you need to do. Not getting the picture yet? Don’t worry, you will by the time we are done with this review.

If you’re planning to set up a work station at home where you can work with your rivet gun, it is advisable to pick a bench vise that will help you keep your work item in place while you use your rivet on it.