Rivet Guns
A rivet gun is for when you need a solid fixing fast, but you cannot get behind the work for a nut and bolt.
From guttering and cladding to brackets and sheet repairs, a decent rivet gun pulls consistent rivets without chewing the mandrel. If you are doing volume, a cordless rivet gun saves your hands and keeps the pace up.
What Is a Rivet Gun Used For?
- Fixing gutter brackets, unions and end caps where you need a quick, weatherproof mechanical fixing that will not shake loose like a self-tapper can.
- Joining sheet materials like aluminium, steel and plastics for ducting, flashing, cladding trims and general site repairs when you only have access from one side.
- Installing number plates, signage, cable tray tags and light brackets where you want a neat head and a repeatable pull without over-tightening.
- Doing van and plant repairs on thin panels where welding is not practical and you need a controlled fixing that will not blow holes in the metal.
- Batch work on refurbs and maintenance runs where a battery rivet gun or electric rivet gun keeps the pull force consistent and speeds up repetitive fixing.
Choosing the Right Rivet Gun
Match the rivet gun to the rivet size and the volume of work, not just what is cheapest on the shelf.
1. Hand Rivet Gun vs Electric Rivet Gun
If you are only popping the odd rivet on a repair, a manual rivet gun is fine. If you are doing runs of guttering, cladding trims, or repetitive brackets, an electric rivet gun keeps the pull consistent and stops your forearms getting ruined by lunchtime.
2. Cordless Rivet Gun and Battery Platform
If you are up ladders, on scaff, or moving bay to bay, a cordless rivet gun is the sensible choice because you are not dragging leads or hunting sockets. If you are already on an 18V system, an 18v rivet gun that matches your batteries is the one that earns its keep.
3. Rivet Size Range and Nosepieces
Do not assume one tool covers everything. Check the nosepieces and the stated rivet diameter range, because a gun that is happy on small aluminium rivets can struggle when you step up in size or material, and that is when you start snapping mandrels and wasting rivets.
4. Mandrel Collection and Site Mess
If you are working in finished areas or over people's driveways, pick a gun with proper mandrel retention or an easy empty system. Loose snapped mandrels are sharp, they end up in tyres, and they make you look sloppy on handover.
Who Uses Rivet Guns?
- Roofers and gutter installers who need reliable rivets on joints and brackets without fighting awkward access at height.
- Cladders, duct fitters and shopfitters joining sheet and trims all day, where a cordless rivet gun saves time and hand strain.
- Maintenance teams and fabricators doing quick repairs on panels, brackets and covers when you need a strong fixing without setting up for welding.
- Auto and fleet lads sorting number plates, light mounts and small body repairs, keeping a rivets gun in the van for call-outs.
The Basics: Understanding Rivet Guns
A rivet gun is simple kit, but knowing what it is actually doing helps you pick the right tool and stop failed fixings.
1. Blind Rivets and One-Side Access
Most site rivet work is with blind rivets, meaning you only need access from the front. The gun pulls the mandrel, mushrooms the rivet behind the material, then snaps the mandrel off so the joint is locked in place.
2. Pull Force and Consistency
Manual guns rely on your grip and leverage, so results vary when you are tired or working awkward. Electric rivet guns and battery rivet gun models pull the same way every time, which matters when you are doing long runs and want every rivet seated properly.
3. Rivet Diameter, Material and Grip Range
The rivet has to match the thickness you are clamping and the material you are fixing into. Get the grip range wrong and it either will not clamp tight or it will deform the sheet, and no rivit gun in the world will fix a mismatched rivet.
Rivet Gun Accessories That Stop Wasted Rivets
The right extras keep your rivet gun pulling cleanly and save you grief when you swap rivet sizes on the job.
1. Spare Nosepieces
Having the correct nosepiece to hand stops the classic site mess of forcing the wrong size, chewing the mandrel, and ending up with a loose rivet you have to drill out.
2. Assorted Blind Rivets
Keep a mixed box for common diameters and lengths so you can match the grip range to the material thickness, especially on guttering and sheet where one size does not cover every joint.
3. Spare Mandrel Collector or Catch Bottle
If your gun uses a catcher, a spare or replacement keeps snapped mandrels off the floor and out of tyres, and it is a lot safer when you are working over finished surfaces.
Shop Rivet Guns at ITS
Whether you need a simple hand rivet gun, an electric rivet gun for bench and workshop work, or a cordless rivet gun to keep up on site, we stock the range in the sizes and types trades actually use. It is all held in our own warehouse, in stock and ready for next day delivery.
Rivet Gun FAQs
What is a rivet gun used for?
It is used for installing blind rivets to join two materials when you can only access the front face. Typical jobs are guttering joints, cladding trims, ducting, brackets and sheet repairs where you want a secure fixing without nuts, bolts, or welding.
Can I install rivets without a rivet gun?
Not properly for blind rivets, no. A blind rivet needs the mandrel pulled to set the back of the rivet, and that is what the rivet gun does. You might bodge something for a one-off, but on site it usually ends in a loose joint and a rivet you have to drill out.
How to use a rivet gun on a gutter?
Dry fit the gutter joint or bracket, mark and drill the correct hole size for your rivet, then push the rivet through both layers. Seat the rivet gun square on the head and pull until the mandrel snaps cleanly, then check the joint is tight and the rivet head is fully seated before moving on.
How many types of rivet gun are there?
In day to day trade use you will mainly see manual hand rivet guns, electric rivet guns, and cordless or battery rivet gun models. Within that, they vary by the rivet sizes they accept, the nosepieces supplied, and whether they retain snapped mandrels or drop them.
Do I need a cordless rivet gun or will a hand gun do?
If you are doing occasional fixings, a hand gun is fine and it is hard to beat for simplicity. If you are doing repetitive work like long gutter runs, cladding trims, or production fitting, a cordless rivet gun is worth it for speed and consistent pulls, especially when you are working overhead or at height.
