Hand Riveter - TopMaster, Aluminium Body, 255 mm, 4 Nosepieces, 491155

TopMaster Hand Riveter, Aluminium Body, 255 mm, 491155

TopMaster 491155 is a hand riveter with an aluminium body, 255 mm long. Four interchangeable nosepieces are supplied, stored screwed onto the body of the tool itself.

What a riveter is for

A riveter makes a permanent joint between two sheets of material with no access from the far side. That is what makes it indispensable on sheet metal, guttering, ducting, aluminium window frames, body panels and signage: a bolt needs a spanner held behind, whereas a rivet is pulled entirely from the front.

How it works

The rivet goes into the hole and its mandrel stays in the nosepiece. Squeezing the handles makes the jaws pull the mandrel inwards, the rivet body swells on the far side and clamps the two sheets together. When the set tension is reached the mandrel snaps off - that is the sound that tells you the joint is made.

The four nosepieces

Every rivet diameter wants its own nosepiece. Too large and the jaws slip on the mandrel and never grip; too small and the mandrel will not enter at all. That is why the four nosepieces screw onto the body rather than living in a separate box - loose nosepieces are the first thing lost on site.

The aluminium body

The body is cast aluminium - stiff enough for the pulling forces and considerably lighter than steel. Working overhead, on a roof or up a facade, that matters: the riveter is held in one hand while the other holds the sheet.

Rivet or screw

The choice is not a matter of taste. A rivet is for a joint that will not be taken apart, is made from one side and does not shake loose - which is why it is standard on sheet metal, guttering and bodywork. A screw suits anything that must come off for maintenance, but wants access from both sides or a self-tapping thread, and needs locking where there is vibration. On thin sheet the rivet has a second advantage: it spreads the load over a larger area and does not tear the material around the hole.

The handles

The handles are long - 255 mm overall gives the leverage that heavier rivets need. A clip at the back locks them closed for the bag, so they do not spring open and snag.

Technical specifications

Questions and Answers