Thread: Rivnut tool experience?

Should be noted that not all tools are compatible with all inserts. Avdel seem to be the most common brand I've come across and looking at the Dafra ones they look similar. But you do need different nose pieces for different types (straight, hex, splined)

I used to use Nutserts at work, they bought a you beut tool & Telstra spend lots of money on tools from Blackwoods so it wouldn't have been cheap, but I found you could do a better job by using a High tensile nut & bolt set to wind them in by hand. Don't know if Rivnuts & Nutserts are different but I don't think you really need to spend any money on a tool. Just lube your thread & Nuts to make it easier to wind them up. The tool looked like a big rivet gun but for most jobs was not used.

Actually I just saw Daves post above with a link to how to do it without a tool - check that out.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Some good points raised.
- Portability isn't really an issue for me as I have an air compressor and tank in the car so could use the pneumatic one as easily as a manual one.
- The majority of its use would be in the workshop. I want to make a storage system in the back of the D90 that is relatively easily removable but also solidly mounted when fitted. Because the door opening width is substantially less than the distance between the wheel arches, the system will need to be somewhat dismantled before removal. The use of Rivnuts will make this quite simple if the system is made of aluminium. (Easy to tack weld nuts for steel panels).
- I have a couple of situations where 10mm, and a few more where 8mm Rivnuts will be required, so a "...tool for $35 from Tradetools..." I don't think will cut it. (My original post did say "I won't go there" wrt "cheap" tools).
- The cordless drill adapter is pretty cool ... but means you have to have a cordless drill and have it charged up too.

Looking at some of the links people kindly attached, I suspect my options are limited for 10mm Rivnut tool. Maybe a solution is a manual tool for my own use and take my projects somewhere for the big jobbies. I have removed a subframe from a motorcycle and taken that somewhere to have an 8mm Rivnut inserted a year ago. I could avoid that hassle by having the capability at home but maybe the tool-less method could be used for those "odd" occasions.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the info, views and links.
Cheers
John B

I have a manual gun and have none of the issues that others have mentioned.
It just works

The mandrels/nose pieces should be able to be changed between sizes. The manual gun I had would run 3-12mm plus associated imperial sizes in unf/unc.

my experience has not been good, I find over time when the bolt or screw threades become corroded rusty or dirty the rivnut just turns inside the hole and then it becomes very difficult to remove.

Actually, you just reminded me. I meant to ask this dumb question before, but forgot

Would it be useful to smear some Loctite onto the rivnut before fixing into place? I assume that copper grease is required for any bolts that are inserted.

[QUOTE=disco2hse;1678016]Actually, you just reminded me. I meant to ask this dumb question before, but forgot

It is better to ask a dumb question than make a stupid mistake!


Cheers, Mick