Rivnuts!

Post by **poshbuggers** » 09 Feb 2007, 13:37

Can anyone tell me where to buy rivnuts and if I need any special tools to use them?

Never used them before and I now have a project that requires a few.

Post by **T'Onion** » 09 Feb 2007, 13:40

You will need a rivnut gun and i think halford do rivnuts

or fleabay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nutsert-Kit-brand ... dZViewItem

Post by **poshbuggers** » 09 Feb 2007, 13:51

Thanks for that Mark.

Post by **ringo** » 09 Feb 2007, 14:33

You don't actually need a special tool. If your going to be doing a lot then the rivnut tool (which is expensive normally) is a good idea.

However, you can just use a larger nut (than the thread of the rivnut), get the rivnut, superglue the larger nut to the outside edge of it, put the bolt in the rivnut and screw it in till it just reaches the over sized nut, place the rivnut (covered in superglue) in the hole intended and then tighten the bolt while keeping the oversized nut from spinning with the correct size spanner.
Keep tightening until you know the rivnut is fixed solidly (but dont overtighten).

It sounds a bit wierd and get easier with practice - however, the few i've had to do i've found really easy.

Ringo

PS that kit on fleabay is quite cheap - may well be worth investing in that! However, its probably complete pooh.

Post by **T'Onion** » 09 Feb 2007, 14:44

Surely one of the Dublimal crew has one that you could borrow ? or one of the t'other members close to you

Post by **HarryMann** » 09 Feb 2007, 15:54

The cheaper ones only do up to M5 or M6, and the really cheap ones probably only so many before something 'goes'... about £20~£25

A good one of course is £50 ~ £80 IIRC

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 09 Feb 2007, 23:01

HarryMann wrote:The cheaper ones only do up to M5 or M6, and the really cheap ones probably only so many before something 'goes'... about £20~£25

A good one of course is £50 ~ £80 IIRC

Clive's correct, the industrial one we have was ~£120 and does M4 > M10. There's a perfectly good smaller one available, similar to a hand pop-riveter which can be had for ~£75 including a small selection of rivnuts.

Cheers,Ian.

Post by **HarryMann** » 09 Feb 2007, 23:14

.. and then there's the £20 ones

which I've got

and yet to use

Post by **poshbuggers** » 10 Feb 2007, 16:01

I only need to put 4 in the cab doors to take the LT mirrors properly so it all seems a touch expensive LOL

Post by **HarryMann** » 10 Feb 2007, 16:27

Self tappers then... bang them in with a hammer when all is aligned and finish off with a quick screw, just like VW main dealers do

Post by **ringo** » 11 Feb 2007, 18:13

poshbuggers wrote:I only need to put 4 in the cab doors to take the LT mirrors properly so it all seems a touch expensive LOL

I take it my advice made no sense whatso ever then.

I have installed four rivnuts without the need for a tool perfectly well using that method.

If i was doing rivnuts regularly i would buy the tool because they are really quick - but you can do a perfectly good job without it.

Ringo

Post by **poshbuggers** » 11 Feb 2007, 20:00

I'm off to Hellfrauds in the morning to get a few and give it a go.

Never had any experience of them so I guess it will make sense when I see one.

But its got to be a go.

Thanks Ringo

Post by **ringo** » 11 Feb 2007, 21:30

No worries - it will make more sense when you see one. They are like pop rivets, but to compress them you pull in the nut that is internal to the rivnut. This bends the metal rivnut so it fits tightly to the hole that you made for it. Then you can use the nut in it for erm, bolting things to.

Bizarly, the superglue helps. It stops the rivnut turning in the hole when you are trying to compress it.

Ringo