A variation of the hand squeezer uses a compound action that increases forces to the rivet as the squeezing motion reaches the latter part of its travel, allowing the setting of a -4 rivet with relative ease. This squeezer is useful for -3 rivets and can also be used for -4 rivets, but most people will find the large hand forces for a -4 rivet are difficult to achieve. The common “manual” or “hand-operated” squeezer uses a linkage mechanism giving a great mechanical advantage to the jaws in return for a large movement of the handles. Rivet squeezers come in a variety of types.

It is very important to begin the squeezing operation with the rivet factory head as tight to the material as possible, allowing the setting to take place at the shop head of the rivet (Figure 2). The material pieces are firmly clamped together and also firmly clamped to a workbench or jig, and the squeezer is operated smoothly and axially to the rivet to set or deform the shop head. To use the rivet squeezer, the correct rivet die (universal or flush) is installed on the factory side of the rivet squeezer, and an anvil (or flush) die is installed on the shop head side of the squeezer (Figure 1). The rivet gun is an impact type of a tool that provides repeated axial impact forces (think hammer) to deform and set the rivet. The rivet squeezer is a compression type of tool that applies a continuous axial force to the rivet, deforming the shop head. Next, the individual material pieces need to be firmly clamped together during this setting process so that no intermediate space allows the rivet to swell between the materials.įinally, the components cannot be allowed to move relative to each other during the setting, or the rivet or the forces applied to the rivet will tend to deform the material and not the rivet. Any nonaxial force vector will tend to bend rather than expand the rivet. This axial force must be applied to the rivet in order to mushroom the shop head concentrically. If you consider that deformation must occur at a value above the yield strength of the rivet, you can calculate that the setting force of a -3 (3/32-inch diameter) rivet is in the order of 345 pounds and of a -4 (1/8-inch diameter) rivet, 615 pounds. Rivet shop head deformed to correct tolerances.Rivet shop head concentrically deformed about its original axis.Material pieces clamped firmly together.Here is what you want to achieve in the finished joint: September 2015 - The objective of a riveted connection can be broadly stated as, “a connection, held by properly driven rivets that maximizes the strength and enhances the appearance of the joint.” You will note two noteworthy components in this sentence-“maximizes strength” and “enhances appearance.” These two conditions are not mutually exclusive, because if one condition is met, the other usually follows as well.

Arbor press rivet squeezer