Greetings,

I need to replace some rivets on my catamaran. What heavy duty hand riveters do you recommend? I am considering the Astro Pneumatic model 1426 (long handles, 21" in length and several nose pieces including 3/16" and 1/4"), the POP model PRG A475 and the ValueRivet model VHR-2. These riveters are similar in design. Are the longer handle hand rivet tools easier to use then the shorter handle ones such as the Marson HP-2 or Stanley MR100CG?

What blind rivet types do you prefer? Rivet types such as closed-end and structural monobolt retain the mandrel for a water resistant seal. Stainless steel mandrel and body offer higher shear and tensile strengths and corrosion resistance.

Thank you in advance for your advise.

The Marsom HP-2 does a good job on SS 3/8 rivets, but it takes two hands.

A word of caution on the Marsom, the nut that holds the spring in the top of the gun can come loose and it can shoot out. I had this part whiz by my ear like a bullet while riveting a SS rivet, keep your head clear and wear eye protection.

I replaced the Marsom with a Stanley from Home Depot, I dont have the model #, but it was $19 and yellow with a swivel head. It doesnt grab the rivet when you go to take the second squeeze and the middle of the rivet drops into your boat. Not recommended.

Bill

I am a huge fan of the

Marson 39010 - BIG DADDY Riveter

It will cost you ~110 bucks but worth every penny. IF you every have to build a mast with 30-40+ rivits in it your knuckles will thank you.
Mine is at least 12 years old and is still fine.

Cheers
Eric

I found a knock-off of the big daddy at a tool shop here in Jacksonville for $60 - Tool Aide... well-made and works great, but the tips (comes with five) don't get into super narrow openings like the Stanley one-hand models do. I bought the Stanley to do the tough-to-reach jobs, but my big, blue Tool Aide has been a dream to use on everything else. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bill, I had one of those too and it would do the same thing ... not grab on the second pull. However, they now have a new model in Home Depot with an orange handle - it works very well and is much easier than the previous model to pull the stainless rivets. I wouldn't go with the swivel head though.

If you have accesss to an air compressor this is the way to go.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93458

I borrowed a rivet puller that had two handles that each worked in compound leverage action that looked something like the one shown here. It pulled 1/4" very easily and that is the only time I have ever even thought about using the word "easily" when speaking of 1/4" S.S. rivets. It pulled 3/16" rivets like a knife through butter.

GARY

Seems I have a knock-off to the knock-off...Big Daddy style...$12.00 at Harbor Freight...lifetime warranty. I picked one up onde day, but must have forgot I had it in the garage...months later bought a second one, pulled a total of 5 1/4" SS's with it before the internal jaws came apart. Took it back to replace under the LT warranty...worked for the rest of the job and is still going strong ~100 pulls later. Then I found the first one I bought...so I have backup. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Mike.

for stuff like the traveler track etc where you need a narrow nose on the riveter, you can uase a little narrow sleeve slipped over the rivet stem before you put the riveter jaws over it, or failing the little sleeve, just slip a bunch of the old drilled out rivet heads (like little washers) to space up the rivet head to where the jaws can draw on the stem. Done.

And for those riveters that don't grab proper, you can buy new collets for most better quality pliers at the hardware.