Need some rivet advice. I see the plastic rivets are used to hold together one plastic body panel to another. The aluminum seems to be used to hold the plastic panels to the metal spaceframe.

I bought one of those large rivet guns from harbor freight thinking it would do both. I tried it on the plastic rivets and the shafts of the plastic rivets broke before even doing any compressiion of the rivet. The rivet just fell out of the hole. Do I need a special rivet gun for the plastic rivets?

the plastic rivets use a smaller hand held rivet gun with a big tip the gun you have is to strong for them.
you will have to go to a paint supply store to get one.

Bought one of these for setting plastic rivets. Very handy and unlike the longer tools, fits tight places and the bottom of the door panels (without having to jack up the car).



http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/mar48000.html

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-25-2008).]

Fierostore one, $40 though its what I have and works great


PLASTIC RIVET GUN
This is the perfect tool for you Fiero owners who like to work on your own car. Many of the Fiero body panels are held in place with plastic rivets. This pop rivet gun is made exclusively for use with those plastic rivets.
Part #50930
Price:$39.95

There is a difference in the one for metal and for plastic rivets. Dont interchange them or it may jam. The big one you show is used to set VERY LARGE heavy duty ones like to hold on exterior door handles on later model cars.

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: Need some rivet advice. I see the plastic rivets are used to hold together one plastic body panel to another. The aluminum seems to be used to hold the plastic panels to the metal spaceframe. I bought one of those large rivet guns from harbor freight thinking it would do both. I tried it on the plastic rivets and the shafts of the plastic rivets broke before even doing any compressiion of the rivet. The rivet just fell out of the hole. Do I need a special rivet gun for the plastic rivets?

Well I bought one of these and the Fiero Store rivets get stuck in it. i tried shaving down the shaft and I managed to get one in there. I then ruined two more. I am returning it. I want one that works and I need it tomorrow. IDEAS?

When you go to Harbor Frieght to return the monster rivet tool, pick up this one. It works perfectly and you can even get various sized rivets for it at the same place.

http://www.harborfreight.co...taf?Itemnumber=97757

[This message has been edited by CopperBender (edited 09-28-2008).]

Thanks for the various links and ideas for the plastic rivet guns. Pluses for everyone who has not received one already.

quote Originally posted by CopperBender: When you go to Harbor Frieght to return the monster rivet tool, pick up this one. It works perfectly and you can even get various sized rivets for it at the same place. http://www.harborfreight.co...taf?Itemnumber=97757

LOL! That's the same one from the Fiero store.. Wonder if they buy them from HF and mark them up to $40, or if they get them even cheaper from somewhere else.. Paying for the convenience of getting all your Fiero stuff from one site I guess..

For plastic rivets I bought the one mentioned from NAPA. Worked fine. I am going to try to avoid the big aluminum rivets in favor of rivnuts or nuts and bolts.

Thx.

For those guys in Canada...

Princess Auto now has plastic rivets and rivet gun for $24.95 in their catalog - The gun appears to be the same one that Fiero Store sells.

See page 231 in their catalog. http://downloads.princessauto.com/?Lid=E

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner