Thanks to everyone who replied here and privately. The 8/32" setup works
so we measured the 6/32" mandrel. It's out of spec (too small diameter)
which is likely what is allowing the threads to pull through. I found
that JC Whitney (ugh) sells the same unit that my friend has and they
have replacement parts so he's probably going to order another mandrel
from them. Whitney also sell steel rivet nuts, which I think I'd rather
use in this application.
The stuff that McMaster-Carr sells looks quite a bit nicer. If I were
going to buy one for myself I'd probably go that route.
--Kent
-----Original Message-----
From: Kent Sullivan [mailto:kentsu@corvairkid.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2002 5:04 PM
To: Shop Talk (shop-talk@autox.team.net)
Subject: Tool 1, User 0 ("nut plate" gun)
After one quarter of play has elapsed, the Tool has outscored the User
one to nothing but the User has called for reinforcements... <g>
I'm trying to use a borrowed tool. It's never been used (so the owner
isn't of much assistance) and the owner's manual is missing. I may get
some terms wrong as a result...
The tool is basically a pop rivet gun but is used to install "nut
plates". The box it came in is marked "Revere". The nut plates are
threaded aluminum cylinders with a shoulder/collar at one end, much like
a pop rivet. The gun has a selection of "mandrels" that thread into the
appropriately-sized nut plate.
I want to install these plates in some holes in the body of my '66
Corvair, specifically at the rear of the car where the engine air
exhaust grille attaches. This grille is held in with sheet metal screws
from the factory and, of course, the holes enlarge over time.
So, I chose a nut plate size that was fairly snug in the hole (not sure
what the O.D. is but the screw one uses after installation is 6/32") and
loaded the appropriate mandrel into the gun. I screwed a nut plate onto
the mandrel, shoulder side up/out, inserted the contraption into a hole
in the car's sheet metal, pulled the trigger, and (drum roll...) the
mandrel pulled out of the nut plate without scrunching the plate. The
mandrel basically stripped the soft aluminum threads. I tried again with
a couple more nut plates and used varying amounts of pressure with the
gun but no dice. I couldn't get the plate to "fatten" in the hole.
If any of you have used something like this before, I'd appreciate some
advice.
Related question: Do nut plates come in mild steel? I'd prefer to use
that material for longevity (of the threads mainly).
Thanks.
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