Topic: Budget tubular rivet squeezer

[Bossbill]

I know there are people here that will gladly do your ashtray, grill and other riveting.
Of course grills are hard to ship and I like to do stuff like this myself.

The http://yardstore.com offers a rivet squeezer and mandrels for doing this job.
The squeezer has a 3" throat (others avail for less) and is $80 and the mandrels are $45/pair. Shipping is free.
For $125 I got a rivet squeezer that is adjustable for depth and is a quality piece to boot.

Shipping was very fast.

[J_Speegle]

Hows the access with the tool, given the design, to the spots we may need to access and install rivets?

Thanks for sharing

[Bossbill]

Jeff -- This unit is identical to almost every hand rivet squeezer out there as far as design. This same unit sells for almost $50 more elsewhere.
You can pop the pins out and buy a different anvil (the C section), but 3" fits most Mustang applications. Others can chime in on what anvil works best in those special cases.
I opted for the larger of the three at 3" for the added throat reach.

The pin that goes into the tool itself is threaded for depth of material.
Screw in and out to adjust crush.

The die is the kicker here. The set I bought are standard dome and tubular for 1/8" rivet. The height, called "L", is approx 0.25" tall and will not allow you to do the rivet behind the snuffer part of the ashtray. This has nothing to do with the tool as almost all of these are designed like this  -- it is a function of the die itself. You can buy longer ones but I'm not sure they sell one of height 'L'=1".
For this one area I'll just whittle up a spacer on my lathe rather than look for this oddball die.

[jwc66k]

Great find Bill. I've been looking for an inexpensive deep throat (my apologies to Linda) rivet tool for another application.
Jim

[jwc66k]

I think this is it -
https://www.yardstore.com/riveting/squeezers/hand-squeeze/universal-economy-hand-squeeze-with-3-yoke-3-16
The dies -
https://www.yardstore.com/riveting/squeezers/dimple-die-set
I use this outfit for rivets -
https://rivetsinstock.com/
Jim

[67gtasanjose]

You might remember I made one from a C-clamp and just the dies

[J_Speegle]

You might remember I made one from a C-clamp and just the dies

Love the low tech. Plus its much easier to store

[HDAshmore]

Thanks for sharing!

Can anyone specify the exact rivets I need to redo my 70 ash trays?

Thanks,
Dan in Kansas

[jwc66k]

Can anyone specify the exact rivets I need to redo my 70 ash trays?

Dan,
Get out the dial calipers and do some measuring. For my 65-66 ash trays, I had to drill out a rivet to get the shank diameter. I used my 0-60 drill index for that measurement, and a magnet to verify material, steel or aluminum. Then do some "shopping". I found this source - "jay/cee sales & rivets inc" -  https://rivetsinstock.com/ - They had what I needed.
You want the "semi-tubular" style.
Jim

[Bossbill]

Tubular rivets are speced out using the thickness of the materials to be joined plus a crimp allowance.

[HDAshmore]

Thanks all!!!

Dan

[Bossbill]

I should add that while the rivets are reasonable in price, by the time you add shipping and tax you are over 30 bucks.
If you can, spec out all your rivets at once.
You should also consider "bracket buying."
Go up one length and down one length.  I'm not sure the indicated clinch allowance works all the time.