Rivets are a great tool for any DIY. But it is frustrating if it doesn’t break off when you need it the most.
So, you may be wondering why are your rivets not breaking?
One of the common reasons why rivets aren’t breaking is misalignment. You may be placing the rivets wrongly to the rivet gun. Because of loose rivet attachment, your rivets aren’t breaking. Also, broken rivet guns can be another reason behind such problems. Because it cannot function properly.
Such problems need extensive troubleshooting. To sort everything out for you, we have gone through everything.
Let’s get started, shall we!
Why Is Your Rivets Not Breaking: 4 Common Reasons
Rivets have been utilized as a cost-effective and long-lasting fastening mechanism throughout history. Rivets are especially well-suited to shear pressures, although they can also withstand tension.
Source: wikihow.com
But, you may face the common issue of rivets remaining unbroken. Well, most of the DIYers have been there once in a while. Similarly, your planer might not pull wood through at times, making it a common issue.
So, what is the reason behind rivets not working? Well, let’s see 4 common reasons behind it.
Problem 1 of 4 Misalignment
Rivets work as a joint between two or more materials. So, it has to be perfectly placed. But, you have been misaligning the rivets with those materials. Thus, your rivets are not breaking off as you had been expecting.
Problem 2 of 4 Loose Rivets Attachment
Another common problem is loose rivets attachment. Rivet guns have attachments for several sizes of rivets. But, the one attachment you may have been using can be loose. For which, rivets guns cannot function properly.
A strong, solid rivet gun can make your life easier. Try our recommendations:
| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | NEU MASTER Rivet Gun | Check Price |
  | Arrow Heavy Duty Rivet Gun | Check Price |
  | Heavy Duty Hand Riveter, Rivet Gun, | Check Price |
These are long-lasting rivet guns made for heavy-duty work. Test them out!
Problem 3 of 4 Broken Rivet Gun
Rivet gun or Riveter being broken is a major issue. The broken rivet gun cannot function properly. For which it cannot break off riveters. Also, it causes wastage of riveters, which most of us DIYers hate to see, right?
Problem 4 of 4 Bad Rivets
Rivets are made of either steel or aluminum. However, some rivets were not made properly. And sadly, you may have got a batch almost full of bad rivets. This makes rivets not break properly.
These all can be the reasons why your rivets are not breaking off. However, we need to go deeper and find solutions to the problems.
Source: assemblymag.com
At any point in your projects, any tools can cause problems. Troubleshooting those problems are necessary before you impulsively try out new tools. Just like troubleshooting Ridgid 535 pipe threader
Let’s jump to the next section for troubleshooting the issue.
Rivets aren’t Breaking Off: Troubleshooting
Rivets are your most essential component. It holds multiple materials better than screws or bolts. But, if your rivets aren’t breaking, then it is useless.
Nevertheless, we’re here for you. We have provided solutions for each problem behind your rivets guns not breaking off.
Let’s see all the solutions for each problem below.
Troubleshooting 1 of 4 Misalignment
At any point in a DIY project, misalignment can happen. Let it be a drilling machine or placing nails in the wood, it is very common. In the case of rivets, the issue can happen too.
The issue arises when you hold the rivet gun too vertically or horizontally. This makes the rivets wiggle around. Thus, your rivet guns cannot apply pressure centrally.
Let’s see the easy solutions behind it.
Solution
Firstly, when you punch rivets using a rivet gun, make sure to hold it tightly. Try to keep the gun between 90° to 120°.
Then make sure the two surfaces are correctly placed. If they are not placed correctly, rivets cannot pierce through those surfaces.
Lastly, rivets should be aligned straightly to rivet guns. Otherwise, rivet guns cannot apply pressure adequately.
Troubleshooting 2 of 4 Loose Rivet
As mentioned before, rivets guns have several attachments for rivets. Mainly for the personal job you need rivet attachments with sizes of 5⁄16″, 1⁄8″, 3⁄16″. However, if you place rivets in the wrong size, your rivets will become loose.
Then, oil or other liquid materials can make rivets lose in rivet guns. Also, dust or other slippery components can cause the issue.
Let’s see possible solutions for this.
Solution
Rivets sized are mentioned on the box or packets of rivets. So, place the rivets according to the attachment size.
Secondly, your rivets can get loose because of oil or liquid. If that’s the case then you need to clean the rivet attachment carefully. Using a piece of cloth and bleach wipes can do the work fine.
Troubleshooting 3 of 4 Broken Rivet Gun
Application of Rivet guns is very important in using rivets. However, your rivet guns can be broken. It can happen because of several reasons.
Source: rapiddirect.com
Firstly, your rivet gun is defective from the date of being produced. This is just sheer bad luck for you.
Secondly, grease can cause your rivet gun not to function properly.
Lastly, excessive dust or debris can cause your rivet gun to break down.
The solution to the problem is given below.
Solution
If your rivet gun is not functioning properly from the first, it is defective. Nevertheless, defective rivet guns can easily be replaced if you have a warranty. Yet, we recommend you buy Arrow RT200MKIT or Astro Pneumatic Tool.
Secondly, grease can break your rivet gun down. But, don’t worry. Remove the grease using baking soda and hot water to clean that up. Apply baking soda to the greasy part and leave it for an hour. Then wash it with hot water. This will do the trick.
Lastly, if dust or debris is accumulated in your rivet gun, it will get broken. However, by cleaning up the dust, your broken rivet shaft can be fixed. Using dust-off disposable compressed gas, you can easily clean each part of your rivet gun.
Troubleshooting 4 of 4 Bad Rivets
Rivets made out of bad material or under improper condition cannot be broken off. It happens cause either the rivet is stronger than usual, or it’s too flexible. Either way, your rivet gun won’t be able to break it.
The easiest solution for this is given below.
Solution
We have mentioned before that steel or aluminum is the main component of rivets. For projects like steel bookshelf, hinges, pipework, etc. steel rivets are used. And as aluminum is lighter, it is used in vehicles, aircraft automotives, or boats.
So, make sure to use each rivet in each project. We recommend the Snug fastener for steel rivets. And, the Ispinner for aluminum rivets.
That’s all about troubleshooting the problem. While using rivet guns be careful. Because it can cause health hazards like hand pain.
FAQs
Is It Possible to Rivet into a Blind Divot?
Yes, it is possible to rivet into a blind divot. Divot rivets can be installed in a machined slot. Thus, you can rivet it into a blind divot.
Are Rivets Free to Turn?
Yes, rivets can turn. However, the scenario happens only if your rivet is old or rusty.
What is the Most Robust Rivet?
The strongest rivets are stainless steel blind rivets. It is composed of stainless steel of the ISO 304 standard. They provide a strong and long-lasting connection.
Conclusion
That’s all about the issue of rivets not breaking off. Hope the article will help you and you can go back to DIY projects.
Try using quality rivets to avoid such problems in the future. Take necessary precautionary measures before going through the troubleshooting.
Have a great day!
