Has anyone used a rivet squeezer?

[SmellOfCordite]

I have been wondering if a rivet squeezer will do the job for a Romy AK. Does the tool have the ability to do all the rivets or just the trunnion rivets? I understand that most people use screws for the trigger guard if they go with this method. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions regarding the use of this tool? Also are there any other good ways to smash rivets other than using a press? Thanks calgunners

[69Mach1]

That tool can only do the 6 rivets for the front trunnion, and if you have a "Y" trunnion it will work for the two front rivets. It cannot rivet on trigger guards or be used to set long rivets or center support rivets.

[SamsDX]

In the builds that I have done, I riveted the trigger guard rivets using a tool like this: (never did it with screws)

http://ak-builder.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29922

Toth Tools also makes a trigger guard riveting jig that doesn't require a press:

http://www.tothtool.com/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=44&osCsid=8388962bd658d6e81b5701d395901b79

I prefer the AK-builder trigger guard jig over the Toth one, but I definitely prefer the Toth bolt cutter riveting tool over the AK-builder trunnion riveting jig - it's much simpler and the results are cleaner.

Only other thing I have to say about the bolt cutter riveting tool is to make sure that when closed, the jaws are exactly parallel to each other. Also, make sure you apply sufficient pressure to the workpiece (upwards or downwards, depending on the way you've got it oriented) so that the rivet head is flush against the receiver. You don't want to crush it while it's sticking out halfway.

Besides these tools, I've heard of people using air hammers.

[CSACANNONEER]

You don't need a press and jigs to smash rivets. They can be done with a backing plate and a rivet set but, it's more tedious and time consuming.

[SmellOfCordite]

I have been thinking of the air hammer/ rivet gun also but I am just trying to evaluate how I can do this without having to buy the Jig since I am not sure that I am going to build another AK. I was almost thinking of buying the jig and selling it after I completed my build.

[CSACANNONEER]

Go to a build party near you. That's the BEST advice I can give you. Otherwise, you'll need 3 different animals. One to rivet the long rivets, one for the short trunion rivets and a trigger gaurd jig for the trigger gaurd. I would stay far away from an air hammer or rivet gun. If you insist on not using jigs, an old rivet set (to be used with a hammer), the bolt cutter tool and some fabrication on your part should work OK.

[Alex$]

I do my center support, long back rivets and trigger guard rivets with a punch and hammer. I have a sturdy vice and use a chunk of I-beam for a backing plate if the vice isn't up to the job.

If an AK can be built in the Khyber pass with basic hand tools and a vice, why not in your garage? Just like the Khyber copies your end result will depend on your fabrication skills, some of the Khyber pass copies are excellent firearms.

[Arisaka]

^^^ Punch and hammer works just fine, it can get dicey on the rear trunnion rivets though. It can be tough to get a nice button head going. Also, if you slip you can dent your reciever (ask me how I know). When I hammered my rivets, the cops came over because of the noise. Hope you don't live in an apartment.....

[Alex$]

True on the round head with a punch, made a punch with a concave face the size of the rivet head I wanted, (Dremel with a ball mill on it) no problem now. ( used an air hammer chisel and flattened it, then milled out the end.

If you think hammering rivets with a hammer is loud, try an air hammer...

I too have a nice crescent shaped dent next to the center support on one of my builds, started hammering away on the center support without a punch, it glanced off the side of the rivet and viola, I have a dinged receiver.

[TURBOELKY]

That bolt cutter rivet squeezer is absolutely like the jaws of life for ak builders!!!
Freaking awesome tool, couldn't get better AT ALL! Easy to use, and also does not put a 10ton press rod down on your receiver! I love it.

[darthnugget]

I just picked up a great rivet jig from AKMACHINEST over at the akfiles forum. Looks beautiful and works just as well as the akbuilder one. It was 155 shipped. Highlight recommend and save yourself $100. He has a great deal if you pickup all the tools to build an AK.

[nicoroshi]

I have toth tool blades in my bolt cutter rivet tool.
Absolutely nothing better to crush the front trunnion rivets.

[858casper858]

I too picked up the Toth Tools bolt cutter rivet jaws, I waited quite awhile back when he was out of stock.

I use them in conjunction with Restoreit's long rivet jig and trigger guard jig.

All great tools.

ETA- OP, is that pic from the guy on eBay selling a rivet squeezer? If so DONT BUY!
I made the mistake of going cheap and buying that one (while Toth was OOS) and it doesn't work at all. The grind on the jaws is totally off. Go with Toth Tools if you want the jaws.

[SmellOfCordite]

No that set is from gunbroker, but you guys have me thinking of Toth tools for the squeezers

[steelholder]

Works like a charm.