Clever DIY tool

Did you know you have a rivnut installer in your toolbox? This is so simple it hurts.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23584&category_id=400&category_parent_id=

Hey, that's pretty cool.

Am I seeing this right? It's a standard screw, a nut with no threads (or oversized nut?) that you can put a wrench on, and a star washer that bites into the rivnut and the threadless nut to keep the rivnut from spinning...right? Seems like the bite offered by the star washer could be a PITA, but it's worth trying. I can't believe they charge $5 for this!

Here's another cheap option that's DIYable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzZc9FZ-pfo

Bryce

berkeley rivnuts.

Kit I bought about 3 years ago...(about $70) I've used it on my car 3 times... and a few times on friends cars... works well.

The advantage, as I see it, to this method leverage(or pneumatic) is the rivet part is set with pressure(pulling), and not twisting. But if you have to set just one... the screw method might be effective

I love rivnuts. We have a pneumatic setting tool at work, it makes life SOOOO much easier than the type shown above. I might give the bolt trick a try sometime to see how it works though.

The oversize nut, star washer, and bolt idea works just fine (been doing that for years) if you are going to screw something down and leave it there. If you need to unbolt whatever you fastened using the rivnut it will end up spinning the rivnut much sooner than if you use the regular tool.

If you are doing a lot of them or unbolting frequently , the pneumatic tool is the only way to go.

I still like the original rivnut tool over the clinch-type rivet gun or pneumatic tool. I used them in the Air Force when working in tight spots and still I prefer to work with them 35 years later.

That's the only way I know to install them! Never seen the tool.

Joey