I want a threaded insert rivet gun - any recommendations?

newbury · Dec 11, 2018

LS mt125 owner said:
I needed one to replace some threaded inserts on my jeep. They were put in by some off road shop, but whoever did them messed up about half of them. I got the one from HF and it worked well for the 12-15 that I had to do. I purchased the inserts from Fastenal, much cheaper and better quality. I'm not sure if the HF one will hold up if your going to use it often.

The HF ones get many poor quality easily broken reviews.

ddbackhoe said:
Thats the size / style I prefer for rivets and rivnuts. I got this one nutsert - Smittybilt (about $40) and get the nuts/inserts from McMaster-Carr

Looks good for a manual setter.

mcfarmall said:
The threaded insert setter we have at work came from McMaster-Carr and was reasonably priced and easy to use.

They now list 2 - McMaster-Carr
is the $275 one "reasonably priced"?

I'm still looking for one. I've run across some you-tube DIY videos on using an electric drill. Just need to get the correct combination of nuts and time to try it out,
One mfg makes "Astro Pneumatic Tool ADN14 Rivet Nut Drill Adapter Kit" for $96.

TractorGuy · Dec 11, 2018

You can install them with a short bolt and flat washer also. Had a couple 8mm hex base missing on my backhoe and had to order the inserts from china. Bolt and flat washer cinched them down just fine.

Round base may not be as easy if they try to spin.

ruffdog · Dec 11, 2018

JD855guy said:
You can install them with a short bolt and flat washer also. Had a couple 8mm hex base missing on my backhoe and had to order the inserts from china. Bolt and flat washer cinched them down just fine.

Round base may not be as easy if they try to spin.

The important thing is to cinch the rivet without wearing out the threads in the process.

crazyal · Dec 11, 2018

I got a no name one off of ebay and it works fine for aluminum rivnuts but I don't know how well it would handle a steel one. I find the aluminum rivnuts threads strip out kind of easy. Back in the day (before trucks got high tech) a rivnut was how you would attach a mirror to the side of a door. If you're good about not loosing tools I would buy a good quality one (vs a HF) and just accept that it's money well spent.