tubular rivet tool UPDATE

[Mitch//pa]

for those of you that have purchased the tonka tubular rivet tool c clamp style....what size die did you order with it? i need to do the hood leathers and bumpers.

thanks

here is a link to the ebay ad
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201074425251

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

On mine, I did not have that option. One side has a ball machined into it and the other side is just a concave shape.

[Mitch//pa]

hmmmm
so what would you do if you needed one

[Wrenchy61]

I just use an air gun bb and a c-clamp. Works for me.

[Aerocraft]

Here is what I use. Works for brake linings as well. Much less expensive. Gar Williams

http://www.skygeek.com/aircraft-tool...-tool-kit.html

[ericr]

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we discussed this once before, obliquely.....isn't the Tonka tool rather expensive?

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by ericr

we discussed this once before, obliquely.....isn't the Tonka tool rather expensive?

yes it was discussed recently and mentioned about the ease of use vs the hammer style when working with a restored delicate hood... the cost is no object i just want the best one man with two hands tool available .

[TinCup]

I use the Tonka tool and while a little pricey the results are great. I use the 1/8 die set.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by TinCup

I use the Tonka tool and while a little pricey the results are great. I use the 1/8 die set.

thank you tin ,
thats the answer i was looking for what size die for that tool..
so 1/8 does it

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

thank you tin ,
thats the answer i was looking for what size die for that tool..
so 1/8 does it

1/8" may work ok, but all the tubular rivets I can think of that are used on the body and hood were 9/64". Consequently that is what I use for tooling.

[Joe K]

Hanson Rivets sells the squeezer dies - made for brand of manual squeezers that they sell.

http://www.hansonrivet.com/riveting-squeezer-dies.htm

These can be adapted to other squeeze machines. Such as below like mine...



Joe K

[Dan Partain]

I believe the rivets should be rolled and not just smashed if you are going for the original look. The tool head has a special shape. I thought this had been discussed on FB before and a photo posted but couldn't find the thread.
Here's the idea -
http://www.clevedon-fasteners.co.uk/...-rivets-5.aspx
A tool used with a hammer -
http://www.jmurrayinc1944.com/produc...ubular-rivets/

[Mitch//pa]

thanks for the replies
i contacted the ebay seller who knows quite a bit about his product and rivets in general. he seems to think a 5/32 die would work good. i am going to send him a sample 9/64th rivet then we can decide what works..
i will post the outcome
thanks

[Mitch//pa]

tool and info update
the ebay seller in post #1 is first class. he worked with me to figure out what size die is needed to do a proper job. i sent him a couple sample rivets to check out and we went with
5/32 dies. i just did the hood bumpers and corner leathers and it came out primo. now i have to do the floorboard irons and shift plate cover clips
this tool rolls the rivets

[jw hash]

I was kind of fallowing this post and Aerocraft came up with a site to get a tubular rivet tools. I already have five different kinds of the tools but the one that caught my eye was part #A404 on that site, so I bought one and boy is it a nice tool. My tonka one has installed maybe 60 rivets and it is about done. this one is well built and looks like it will last for a long time.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Somehow I missed this thread when it was new. I also bought the same type as Aerocraft, and it works fine. I always put a drop of oil on the tool to help the rivet roll over smoothly without cracking.

[Russ B]

I did a hood about a year ago using the squeeze tool and was happy with the results. Here is a quick set of pics showing how I did it.

I think the set was 9/64", but I got several sets, 5/32 and one other.

I painted the hood sides and rivets separately to make it easier to polish the sides without worrying about rivets paint burning. Not the way Henry did it, I'm sure, but painting everything separately also gets full paint on the mating surfaces so it will be less likely to have rust stains down the road.

a lot of rivets and pieces to paint separately


a bit of blue tape on each rivet before squeezing.


finished handle, sorry about the iPhone reflection.


finished hook latch clip

The round rubber bumper was initially too long and had to be ground down a bit by trial and error to keep it from popping the latches.

[Mitch//pa]

Here is a pic of the tool with the 5/32 die installed

[Terry, NJ]

Mine's the same as we used on aircraft. It looks the same as a miniature Dake arbor press. But I'm not using it for body rivets, only brakes.
Terry

[Tom Wesenberg]

I've done hood rivets while the hood is mounted, but it takes two people, one to hold the hood and anvil, and one to hold the tool and swing the hammer. Best to have the hood off the car.

[DennisR]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

Here is a pic of the tool with the 5/32 die installed

I have a couple of these hanging around, do you think they would do the same job if I could get hold of the dies and modify the clamp ?

[1931 flamingo]

Me, I used little machine screws/nuts, painted the heads black and even with the hood open you can't see how it's fastened.
Not up to Mitch's standards, but cheap and effective for a driver.
Paul in CT

[30blutudor]

Here's the tool I found works great for tubular rivets. Can't do the hood on the car but I've done plenty off. Picked it up a few years back at a swap meet. Works great for brakes too! 😀

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by DennisR

I have a couple of these hanging around, do you think they would do the same job if I could get hold of the dies and modify the clamp ?

Dennis
You can just buy the dies ..it should work fine if they fit on the ends...is there a name on your c-clamp??

[Mitch//pa]

Dennis
Here is one link to the dies for my tool.. theis place seems pricey but maybe you can search for something cheaper... just a lead to get you going.. they sell the dies separately

http://tubularrivetclincher.yolasite...tegory=2216613

[2manycars]

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Originally Posted by 30blutudor

Here's the tool I found works great for tubular rivets. Can't do the hood on the car but I've done plenty off. Picked it up a few years back at a swap meet. Works great for brakes too! 😀

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

I have one of those old brake rivet tools, and have used it often to install hood bumpers and corner leathers.

[DennisR]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

Dennis
Here is one link to the dies for my tool.. theis place seems pricey but maybe you can search for something cheaper... just a lead to get you going.. they sell the dies separately

http://tubularrivetclincher.yolasite...tegory=2216613

Thanks Mitch, no name on the clamp...........

[Dan Partain]

The links in my post above don't work anymore, here's a view of the rivet and tool that shows the rolled rivet.

[captndan]

OK, make it easy. I only have two rivets to put in. What should I use?

[taffrail]

For two rivets, a cheep C clamp and ball bearing, some of the cheeper clamps have a depression on the screw that you can set the ball in. tap the end of the screw while tightening. good luck