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Rivnut tool... how to use?
thepest - 23/1/08 at 06:55 PM

I just bought myself a rivnut tool but it has no instructions. I have been trying a few blanks on some scrap. My question is: How far should you pull? Its not like a pop rivet where you break the end off so how would you know how far to pull the thread till it secures in place?

turbodisplay - 23/1/08 at 07:00 PM

There is normally a screw to prevent pulling too far, you set it once you have got it right.
I go by force, it is quite hard to damage steel rivnuts, ali it is quite possible.

Darren

Mr Whippy - 23/1/08 at 07:11 PM

certainly with the ones I've tried the tool 'automatically' snaps in half with a loud bang preventing the rivnut becoming too tight, which is fine if you have only one to fit

IDONTBELEIVEIT - 23/1/08 at 07:23 PM

hi, screw the rivnut onto the thread until the end is flush,insert in hole(fnah,fnah)squeeze handles initially they will be quite easy and then you meet more resistance this is the time to stop,slow and steady wins the race wayno!!! Rescued attachment bikepics-215271-320.jpg
Rescued attachment bikepics-215271-320.jpg

thepest - 23/1/08 at 07:41 PM

ok thanks, So there is no setting to use depending on the thickness of the material you are riviting in?

Mr Whippy - 23/1/08 at 08:13 PM

no not really, you can tell when they go tight, the thing is when you bolt the final fitting on, say a skuttle, the rivnut just tightens up even more so it should never go slack, fool proof.

Macbeast - 23/1/08 at 08:20 PM

When the tool strips the thread in the Rivnut, that's just too much force

Seriously, if you take it easy, you can feel the Rivnut deforming and then it gets tighter. That's the moment to stop.

mad-butcher - 23/1/08 at 08:22 PM

Just one point about rivnuts make sure you buy the serrated ones, as they fold the serrations grip the metal preventing them from spinning, the plain shank ones tend to spin
Tony

tomblyth - 23/1/08 at 10:27 PM

just my opinion but i think riv nuts are poo I always weld a nut into the rails!

02GF74 - 25/1/08 at 02:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tomblyth
just my opinion but i think riv nuts are poo I always weld a nut into the rails!


I totally disagree. It depends on what you are using them to hold.

... but back to the question. You need to work outthe preset on some similar thickness scrap and you can see when the flange has formed.

I was too lazy to do that and after stripping an aluminium one, I put on a steel nut onto the tool behind the rivnut (making fixing on sctuttle to hold a dashboard) whcih ofcourse won't be possible if you are doing it blind.

In that case it is getting the feel or presetting the tool.