Very good rivet tool?

[nikitis]

Yeah those are the ones with holes in them, I can't use those without making my bus tacky.

 

[ewo1]

I tried a Harbor Freight gun and it stopped pulling reliably after about 400 rivets. I got frustrated trying to get it to work. The jaws suck, there are only two, not three, they are softer than they should be, and they don't match the serrations on the mandrel.

This is why I mentioned earlier about keeping them lubed up. you got to lube them all, no matter the brand. It is an air tool, water/moisture from the compressed air WILL affect ALL air tools! My HF air guns have 3 mandrels, and yes when they get dirty they will bind.

 

[AlphaHare]

100% agreement. I added a little oil every time I used it (and all other air tools) because I don't have a lubricator on my air line.

The jaws were the issue for me.

 

[nikitis]

On top of the oil comment, you don't want to just use any oil either. I believe you need a lighter oil with less detergents in it if I'm not mistaken.

 

[ewo1]

On top of the oil comment, you don't want to just use any oil either. I believe you need a lighter oil with less detergents in it if I'm not mistaken.

Yes, air tool oil, HF has it, very cheap....

 

[Timeline]

Thanks Alpha good information, and yeah that is a real rivet gun!

 

[sportyrick]

Also for newbee's if you need a threaded hole for mirrors, solar panels, hanging stuff on the inside of your bus etc. check out "rivet nuts". They work like an expanding rivet but it has threads in it and comes in many different sizes and metals (like SS). Yes it takes a special tool to install but they usually come in a kit with different sizes and yes metric also. A quality version can be obtained at McMaster Carr or your usual chinese supply houses for a...... limited time........

 

[AlphaHare]

FWIW - the differences between my Marson 38075 gun and my Harbor Freight Chief gun. Larger air cylinder, longer stroke (.56" vs 1.12") , 4800 pound pull vs 3400, three jaws vs two. Oil access is a screw on the top with a provided syringe if topping off is required - the HF needs disassembly from the bottom to get to the oil reservoir. The perspective is misleading - the guns are about the same height.

You get what you pay for here - if the HF gun works then that's great - I wish it had but it just didn't for me.

It's not apples to apples though. The HF unit is 'compare to Marson 79060' (meaning the tool we knocked off) which is a less expensive $250 ish tool. I'm tempted to buy some Marson replacement jaws and maybe a dedicated monobolt nose piece and spring and see if I can't revive the HF tool.

 

[heimlich]

How many rivets do you have to do? I replaced the emergency exist with maxx air fans. I had to rivet in a new plate. I did them with a two hand rivet tool.

 

[AlphaHare]

Good question - I don't know exactly. I'm skinning the bus with new sheet metal over the open bows, plus the new skins on the trolley roof, the escape hatch, plus the rear window deletes, blinker deletes, door mods, new lower bay access doors etc.... I'd guess maybe 2500 or so, with 75% being 1/4"?

I did the emergency hatch by hand when the HF tool started misbehaving. It's only an 18" one, so 3/16" was OK, 1/4" I was banging my knuckles together on each one.

 

[DeMac]

Never heard of anyone using aluminum rivets on a steel bus.

How many buck rivets will you and your partner be banging in? Like 1400-1800 of them?

I have never heard of anyone using Aluminum rivets on a skoolie.

I researched several platforms and books before I wrote a rivet/patch tutorial. In my studies, I've only seen steel rivets being used. The most popular seems to be all-stainless 3/16" & 1/4" with a sealed head.

The trade name and actual rivet size is not the same dimensions. Installers ought to size their drill bit per the rivet manufacturer's recommendations.

Any builder installing rivets will surely benefit from the experience of others. I documented my experience with OCD details & over hundred photos .

Convert Hatch to AC & Roof Patch

Thank you to those who have messaged me about Freddy's patchwork. ‐------------------- I know many have performed roof patches before me, yet I found only bits and pieces from each builders' process. I did read through several builds, and the knowledge I read within was applied to the meathod...

www.skoolie.net

 

[nikitis]

I've already pre-planned and counted the rivets I will have to add for my roof raise. It's 527 rivets, and they are steel rivets. I bought an Air Cat 3-7/8 inch barrel at 2,200 BPM. Perfect for the older steel solid rivets.

Just to put to rest what type of rivets I'm using and which air hammer. Here:

And here are the steel solid rivets:

 

[Hatch-SKO]

Just need a nice smooth indented bucker to keep that dome shape you like.

 

[nikitis]

Got that too.