Pneumatic Rivet Gun vs Air Hammer: Which Should You Buy?

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Rivet gun vs air hammer: the short version

A pneumatic rivet gun is a setting tool. Compressed air drives the nosepiece cycle, the jaws grip the rivet mandrel, and the mandrel breaks off to set the rivet. An air hammer is a striking tool: the piston drives a chisel or hammer bit directly into the work. One fastens, the other breaks. They share an air hose, not a job description.

If your task list says “fasten sheet metal”, “install rivets”, “build or repair panels”, buy the rivet gun. If it says “cut sheet”, “chisel welds”, “split metal”, buy the air hammer. Both live happily in the same shop on the same compressor.

The two rivet guns we featured

Proster PST230aus: the kit pick

The Proster PST230aus (model PST230aus) is the kit: 5 nosepieces from 3/32 to 1/4 inch (2.4 to 6.4 mm), a 3-claw head with 360° grip, an extra set of jaws and 500 blind rivets in 5 sizes. It has an aircraft-grade aluminum body, a silencer, a US-spec air inlet and a GRS 4.0 recycled-materials certification. It weighs 6.42 lbs and states an 18-month warranty.

One listing note: for rivets with length 10-16 mm, a single 10 mm stroke is insufficient to set and break the mandrel, so two pulling strokes are required. Plan for that on longer rivets.

Proster PST283-US: the power pick

The Proster PST283-US (model PST283-US) states 3924LBF (1780KGF) of pulling force at 6-8 kg air pressure, with 5 nozzles from 3/32 to 1/4 inch, a 3-claw head with 360° grip, spare jaws, a silencer and a rivet collection bottle that catches spent mandrels. It weighs 4.64 lbs, has an aircraft-grade aluminum body and the same GRS 4.0 certification. The listing states the 16 mm maximum stroke handles most rivet lengths with one pull, but also says to pull twice for mandrel lengths of 10-16 mm: take the conservative reading and expect two strokes on longer rivets. No warranty is stated.

See our best pneumatic rivet gun for more rivet gun options.

Nosepieces decide which rivets you can set. The PST230aus kit includes 5 nosepieces covering 3/32 to 1/4 inch, plus 500 blind rivets in 5 sizes from 2.4 to 6.4 mm, and spare jaws. The PST283-US states 5 nozzles for the same 3/32 to 1/4 inch range but states no included rivets. If you are starting from nothing, the kit with rivets gets you working; if you already stock rivets, the bare gun is enough.

Rivet gun vs air hammer: head to head

Question	Pneumatic rivet gun	Air hammer
What it does	Sets blind rivets	Hammers, chisels, cuts
Typical jobs	Sheet metal, auto body, HVAC, gutters, boat building	Cutting, chiseling, scraping, driving
Consumables	Blind rivets (steel, iron, aluminum)	Chisel and bit sets
Precision	One rivet at a time	High-impact blows
Stainless rivets	Not per these listings	Not applicable, sets no rivets

Air supply and pulling force

The PST283-US states its 3924LBF (1780KGF) pulling force at 6 to 8 kg air pressure, which is the pressure your compressor must deliver at the tool. The PST230aus kit does not state a pressure figure, so check its manual. Pulling force is what sets the rivet: the PST283-US states 3924LBF, and both listings state a 3-claw design with a 360-degree grip and aircraft-grade aluminum bodies with silencers.

Air hammers are rated differently, by BPM and stroke, because they break rather than pull. Do not compare a rivet gun’s pulling force to an air hammer’s BPM; they measure different work. For the rivet gun, the figures that matter are pulling force, rivet range and the stated air pressure. For the air hammer, BPM and stroke length decide how fast it breaks.

What to check before buying

Air supply

Both picks are air powered; the PST283-US states its 3924LBF figure at 6-8 kg air pressure. Check that your compressor meets the pressure the listing states, and use the US-spec inlet fittings the listings describe.

Rivet sizes

Both picks include 5 nosepieces from 3/32 to 1/4 inch, so one gun covers the common range. The PST230aus adds 500 rivets in 5 sizes (2.4 to 6.4 mm), which is handy for immediate use. Neither is for stainless steel rivets: both listings state steel, iron and aluminum only.

Weight and build

The PST283-US is lighter at 4.64 lbs versus 6.42 lbs for the PST230aus. Both state aircraft-grade aluminum bodies with silencers, 3-claw heads and spare jaws.

Warranty

The PST230aus states an 18-month warranty; the PST283-US states none. If coverage matters, the kit pick wins this one.

The verdict on pneumatic rivet gun vs air hammer

Buy the rivet gun when your work is fastening: auto body, HVAC ductwork, gutters, boat building and panel work, where the 3/32 to 1/4 inch range and the pulling force figures of these listings apply. Buy the air hammer when your work is destruction: cutting, chiseling and scraping. A shop that does both kinds of work needs both tools, because a rivet gun cannot chisel and an air hammer cannot set a rivet.

Shop Notes

• Match the tool to the task: rivet gun fastens, air hammer breaks.
• Both picks are air powered; the PST283-US states 6-8 kg air pressure.
• Rivet range: 3/32 to 1/4 inch on both, no stainless steel.
• The PST230aus states an 18-month warranty; the PST283-US states none.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a rivet gun chisel or cut?

No. A rivet gun sets rivets; chiseling and cutting are air hammer work with chisel bits.

What air supply does a pneumatic rivet gun need?

The PST283-US states its 3924LBF (1780KGF) pulling force at 6-8 kg air pressure. Check your compressor against the listing’s stated pressure.

Which rivets do these guns take?

Both listings state steel, iron and aluminum blind rivets from 3/32 to 1/4 inch. Neither is for stainless steel rivets.

How many rivets are included?

The PST230aus kit includes 500 blind rivets in 5 sizes (2.4 to 6.4 mm). The PST283-US states no included rivets.

Which is louder?

Neither listing states a decibel figure. Both are pneumatic tools running on shop air, so expect air tool noise and wear hearing protection with either.

Related guides

See every air tools guide and all air compressors guides.

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