---------------------------------------------------------- RV8-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 11/19/03: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 05:57 AM - Re: Rivets and rivet guns, etc. (Phil N) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 05:57:46 AM PST US From: "Phil N" Subject: RE: RV8-List: Rivets and rivet guns, etc. --> RV8-List message posted by: "Phil N" I am working on my A/P as well. At the school I attend we are fortunate enough to have both 2x and 3x guns, as well as hand and pneumatic squeezers. I took my structures course last fall, of course paying particularly close attention to the metal topics. During lab exercises (of which we had many) I got to mash hundreds of rivets with a variety of tools. At the risk of raising a rivetous person's ire, here's my $0.02 on the 2x/3x topic: I bought a 2x Sioux with my tool kit. I know I am far from an expert just because I've completed a structures course, but I feel more comfortable having an opinion because of it. I don't believe there will be many parts that I will need a 3x gun for and I am pleased with the results I get using a 2x. If I need more power I'll borrow a 3x from someone (or school), though I haven't seen any indication of where I will need to do so ( _yet_ ). (Hey, there's an idea..... Anyone want to start a kitplane tool rental?) I am a fairly strong guy, though getting advanced in years (I can say that now that I'm 40 :-) I don't think that I will need to invest in a pneumatic squeezer. If my hands/arms are _that_ tired I need to go inside and spend some time with the wife and let them rest for a bit. I'll put the $500 in the "wing kit" piggy bank. Phil > Is there a big difference between 3X and 2X guns? I know the > difference > on paper, but how about in use. > I heard there few rivets that need the 3X power (rv8 spar?), > but the 2X > could be pushed to accomplish > the job. I've just purchased a 3x Sioux, but I'm thinking > riveting the > .020 control surface skin I might want a 2X instead. > I'm an Airframe mechanic (i'llhave my cert next month anyways) and we > have 3x guns in school, which is why > I decided on a 3X and the Sioux guns seem to have a very good > feathering > trigger. Should I keep it?