Rivet tool dilemma

**SeaRay** · 04-01-2018, 07:47 PM

I know this a bit unusual question but I'm stumped. I installed a hatch cover on my boat and I used pop rivets to secure it. The rivets I had were aluminum and I figured that would be less likely to rust or corrode. The first two i had a problem getting the pop rivet shaft out of my tool. The third one stuck in there and i could not get it out. It appears the tool is scoring the rivet shaft as it pulls it out and finally one was so scored it is stuck in the tool.
Any ideas on what caused this? I've used these before with no problems. These were fairly long rivets because it had to go through the hatch frame and the fiberglass deck so it took a bit more force to seat the rivet.

**SeaRay** · 04-01-2018, 07:58 PM

Well that was dumb. While I was posting the question, it occurred to me that I should have put another rivet in there and see if it would force the other one out. It did! The scoring on the rivet shaft was keeping it from falling out as it usually does. Don't know why i didn't think of this 4 hours ago.
I tried driving it out with a nail the same size but that didn't work. I probably need to go to bed now, before i break something.

**deltarat** · 04-01-2018, 10:22 PM

The scoring is the gun grabbing the pin so it can pull it. You should be able to pull the handles apart all the way and the pin should fall out.

**moecarama** · 04-01-2018, 11:16 PM

yup been there done that always kept a ice pick handy just in case.

**Barnacle Bill** · 04-02-2018, 05:23 AM

You might not have that problem with monel rivets. However at 2 bucks a pop you might not want to use a whole lot of them.

**Tracker123** · 04-03-2018, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

You might not have that problem with monel rivets. However at 2 bucks a pop you might not want to use a whole lot of them.

Why use Monel? Just curious.

**doggone** · 04-03-2018, 07:53 PM

They make an aluminum rivet with a steel mandrel ....and an aluminum rivet with aluminum mandrel.

Seems like I use to have the all aluminum ones do that.

But I don't use them as much as I use to. I have been doing some repairs to a Jon boat and have been using 1/8" and 3/16" in two different lengths lately and no problems.

Their out in the shed and it's raining right now. But I can check maybe tomorrow and past back on which ones I have. But I'm betting its your tool...or you have all alum rivets...or both.

**BarryG** · 04-03-2018, 08:18 PM

The jaws inside the riveter may be loose! Take the nose off and see if you can tighten the collar where the jaws come thru, give a little shot of oil and put it back together and should be good to go.

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