Ritchie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 765 
Club RR Member Number: 12
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Rivnut / Nutsert Tools?Ritchie
@ritchie
Club Retro Rides Member 12
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Jun 18, 2019 17:27:18 GMT
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Does anybody know of a good tool which will work with thin steel such as body panels?
In my experience and from the tools I’ve looked at, they only work properly when the material is thicker and the insert has something to bite into.
I need one to attach P clips etc.
Cheers.
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Jun 19, 2019 17:15:43 GMT
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I bought one from the NEC last year (or maybe the year before) which I've only used a couple of times, but seems to be OK. It's got an adjustable stop so you don't pull the thread out of the centre. I'll try to remember to look at what make it was, but it was only a tenner or so. Bergen, maybe.
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Jun 19, 2019 17:57:38 GMT
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Both my tools work well with thin sheet, one a Ebay £10 job the others a RS components branded one in a fancy case, bear in mind any thing over 8mm you will need a larger type or hydraulic tool
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It will come in handy even if you never use it
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Jun 19, 2019 18:17:10 GMT
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Mine's a Silverline (£12 off Amazon so probably the cheaper end of the market) - works great on the wafer thin panels of my 80s French hot hatch.
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 984
Club RR Member Number: 13
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Rivnut / Nutsert Tools?ferny
@ferny
Club Retro Rides Member 13
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There are different types of rivnut.
I've found the ones which slip over themselves to be utter rubbish.
The ones with serrations which expend are the only ones I'll use now. They work well on thin sheet metal as they really bite in.
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Ritchie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 765
Club RR Member Number: 12
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Rivnut / Nutsert Tools?Ritchie
@ritchie
Club Retro Rides Member 12
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Great, thanks for the pointers lads.
I'll probably look for one through RS components.
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Rivnut / Nutsert Tools?slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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As above the ones with a flange and serrations to stop them spinning are much better for most applications than the 'flush' type.
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village
Part of things
Always carries a toolbox. Because Volkswagen.......
Posts: 567
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I had some spare cash (there's a first time for everything) so I bought a Memfast setting tool. Not used it yet though......
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"The White Van is strong with this one...."
Chris "Chesney" Allen 1976-2005 RIP
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I have a love/hate relationship with Riv nuts. I use a middle priced tool (I think it was about £30-£40), and it works OK for 4mm to 6mm holes (M4 - M6). The M8 is hard to set though. I never had any trouble with varying thicknesses of material, just closing the arms on the M8 size. I used a extension bar and the tool bent! Now I don't bother with M8 size. That Memfast setting tool is what I really would like to try. village let us know how this works for you. One tip I have for using rivnuts in steel panels - I screw the rivnut to the tool and before inserting in the hole, I dunk the tip of the rivnut in zinc paint. Then fix the rivnut in place whilst the paint is wet. Wipe away the access and the paint acts as rust protection as well as a bit like 'glue'. Never had a riv nut spin once fitted. |
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Jun 20, 2019 12:07:07 GMT
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I had some spare cash (there's a first time for everything) so I bought a Memfast setting tool. Not used it yet though...... They're excellent, although they should be considering what they cost now. Once I had used mine a couple of times, I gave my original riveter type tool to the first mug who would accept it. It sets M8 rivnuts effortlessly, without you warping the sheetmetal it's going into |
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Jun 20, 2019 12:11:14 GMT
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Rivnut / Nutsert Tools?slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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If you have a chance buy a proper pneumatic tool. Bolhoff, FAR or simlar. Well worth the extra investment if you use them regularly. Second hand you should pick them up for 150-200quid.
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Had this one approx 20 years.American I think brilliant piece of kit does all sizes inc 10mm and also have the imperial adaptors.Occasionally come up on eBay.Most important thing on all these is buy good quality inserts.Paul.   |
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and also have the imperial adaptors. That's interesting, obviously the new ones only seem to have metric threads, which caused me a problem when I was trying to fit 3/16 UNF rivnuts for my door mirrors. I ended up using a high-tensile steel bolt and some washers and nuts to compress the insert - luckily those small ones compress quite easily. |
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I had one of the cheap nasty ones and it wasn't very well made, it worked but was very hard to compress 6mm never mind 8mm. The arms bent in the end from having to try so hard on 6mm. Now i have a U.S.Pro one like this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333031152044, still cheap but works much better. I use it for 4mm,5mm and 6mm without issue, no need to use extensions to be able to compress a 6mm rivnut as they have the pivot ratio much better. For 8mm rivnuts (which i rarely use) i have a tool like 1430mk1 posted above, which works well. I don't install enough rivnuts to warrant a more expensive tool. |
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squonk
Part of things
Posts: 858
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Jun 24, 2019 12:06:41 GMT
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2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71
2005 Mercedes CLK320 Cabriolet
1996 Mercedes C180 Elegance Auto Saloon
1996 Rover 620Ti (Dead fuel pump)
1992 Toyota HiLux Surf
1987 Range Rover Vogue (Rusty)
1992 Range Rover Vogue SE (More Rusty)
2006 Chrysler Grand Voyager
2008 Corsa 1.4 Design
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Jun 24, 2019 12:42:05 GMT
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I could see that being handy to get into some places and it does normal rivets as well. Plus only £31 for a new one on eBay |
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