Hand Rivet Squeezer?

[supercub43]

I've never used one, but considering buying one. How are they to use? Does it take a lot of pulling power to squeeze .-3 or -4 rivets? When pulling, is it hard to keep it stable on the rivet? I'm talking solid rivets, not pop rivets.
Thanks
Brian

[martymayes]

I've never used one, but considering buying one. How are they to use? Does it take a lot of pulling power to squeeze .-3 or -4 rivets? When pulling, is it hard to keep it stable on the rivet?
Thanks
Brian

Where usable, they are awesome! Much easier to use than a gun and bucking bar, much less likely to drive a bad rivet. "Almost" idiot proof. I would like to say completely idiot proof but I have already demonstrated otherwise......:(

[CHICAGORANDY]

For small pop-rivets - 1/8" diameter - the usually yellow one-hand squeezing device is fine and requires just 'normal' force.

For 3/16" and larger - there is a long handled two-hand unit that applies the needed leverage IF you have room to use it in your application.

If you only are doing three or four rivets of either size? Harbor Freight is your answer.

https://www.harborfreight.com/swivel-head-hand-riveter-63396.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-17-1-2-half-inch-hand-riveter-with-collection-bottle-66422.html

[ikelee]

Where usable, they are awesome! Much easier to use than a gun and bucking bar, much less likely to drive a bad rivet. "Almost" idiot proof. I would like to say completely idiot proof but I have already demonstrated otherwise......:(

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/418OrTR6XBL._AC_US218_.jpg
i believe he asking about a solid rivet squeezer. I used one when I took my Airframe Oral & Practicals and it worked out great. I watched an A&P trying to install some nut plates on a C-47 access panel with a rivet gun and bucking bar. He was really struggling and keep bending the rivets. After watching him for a while I finally went over and asked if I could show him a different way of doing it. At first he as a little hesitant, because I wasn't and A&P at the time. I installed all four nut plates in a matter of minutes and each rivet was set perfectly with the rivet squeezer. However the are a lot of times that you can not use a rivet squeezer. I only use a rivet gun and bucking bar, when I can use my river squeezer. I have 6 different head for my squeezer, so that are a lot of places I can use it.

[CHICAGORANDY]

Well then my response will border on the useless to the OP - LOL

[Kyle Boatright]

I've never used one, but considering buying one. How are they to use? Does it take a lot of pulling power to squeeze .-3 or -4 rivets? When pulling, is it hard to keep it stable on the rivet?
Thanks
Brian

I love my rivet squeezer. It is an inexpensive Tatco model, with a 1 1/2" yoke. I can easily squeeze -3 rivets. -4 rivets require a little more work. When I was building the RV-6, I added cheater bars to the handles to make it easier when I needed to squeeze a number of -4's.

Right now, I'd love to find an inexpensive no-hole yoke squeezer, which allows you to work in very tight spaces, but I haven't found one at the right price..

If I was looking for a squeezer, I'd try something like this:

https://www.aircraft-tool.com/shop/detail.aspx?PRODUCT_ID=ATSRS-3SD

It has a 3" yoke which is nice.

[martymayes]

Well then my response will border on the useless to the OP - LOL

But Randy, it has something in common with most of the responses here.......haha

[Auburntsts]

IMO the Cleaveland Tool "Main Squeeze" is hands down the best squeezer available http://www.cleavelandtool.com/Main-Squeeze-model-22/productinfo/SCH22/#.WZVoOsv3af0. If you are going to hand squeeze a lot or squeeze 1/8" rivets it's worth the investment. Also it uses the same yokes as a pneumatic squeezer.

[gbrasch]

IMO the Cleaveland Tool "Main Squeeze" is hands down the best squeezer available http://www.cleavelandtool.com/Main-Squeeze-model-22/productinfo/SCH22/#.WZVoOsv3af0. If you are going to hand squeeze a lot or squeeze 1/8" rivets it's worth the investment. Also it uses the same yokes as a pneumatic squeezer.

Bingo! My go to squeezer throughout my whole build, liked it over a pneumatic one I had.