Pneumatic Rivet Gun vs Rivet Nut Gun: Which One Should You Buy?

GarageToolHQ earns a commission when you buy through links on our product pages, at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Pneumatic rivet gun vs rivet nut gun: what each one does

A rivet gun pulls the mandrel of a blind rivet until the rivet body swells and the mandrel snaps off. All three rivet guns in this guide do that job: the Proster, the FICHFOYE and the WINTOOLS. A rivet nut gun works differently: its mandrel threads into a rivet nut, the tool pulls the nut to collapse it against the sheet, then unthreads from it. Only the KIARUO here is a rivet nut gun, with 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 mandrels and M6, M8 and M10 rivet sizes. If your job ends with a bolt threading in, you need the nut gun. If it ends with a flush rivet head, you need the rivet gun.

The four tools in this guide, ranked

The Proster pneumatic rivet gun kit leads this group. It ships with 5 nosepieces covering 3/32 inch to 1/4 inch, which the listing gives as 2.4mm, 3.2mm, 4.0mm, 4.8mm and 6.4mm, plus 500 blind rivets split 100, 150, 130, 100 and 20 pieces across those sizes. The 3-claw design grips with a 360-degree action, spare jaws are included, and the US-spec air inlet returns the cylinder rapidly for high-speed work. It handles steel, iron and aluminum rivets, but the listing says not to use stainless steel rivets. The spec table states an 18 months warranty.

Second is the KIARUO rivet nut gun, the only rivet nut gun of the four. It comes with 3 self-locking heads in 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8, and the head self-locks so you can swap mandrels without tools. A speed adjust knob controls the gas, and an embedded muffler keeps working noise at or under 65db. The maker says to lubricate the mandrel before use, or the inner wall of the rivnut can wear and the screw can jam. It cannot rivet stainless steel rivnuts; aluminum and galvanized rivet nuts only.

Third is the FICHFOYE heavy duty rivet gun: 5 rivet heads from 3/32 to 1/4 inch, 2 wrenches, 3 claws, a US-standard air nozzle and a removable collection bottle. Its headline number is a 4000 lbf pulling force from an air-hydraulic drive, which the listing converts to 1814KGF. It is listed for aluminum, steel and iron rivets. It weighs a listed 4.55 pounds.

Fourth is the WINTOOLS air hydraulic pop rivet gun, the simplest of the four. It includes 4 nose pieces from 3/32 to 3/16 inch and sets rivets up to 3/16 inch. It is the only pick that states air supply numbers: a 1/4 inch NPT air inlet, a 3/8 inch hose and 3 cfm average air consumption. It weighs 5.5 pounds.

Rivet sizes and pulling force

The Proster and the FICHFOYE both cover 3/32 through 1/4 inch rivets; the WINTOOLS stops at 3/16 inch. For rivet nuts, the KIARUO covers 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 with M6, M8 and M10 rivets. Pulling force is stated on one pick: the FICHFOYE at 4000 lbf. The Proster answers a common question in its own Q and A: when the rivet length falls between 10 and 16 mm, a single 10 mm stroke is not enough to set the body and fracture the mandrel, so two pulling strokes are required. Do not read that as a defect; it is how the tool is sized.

Air supply and shop fit

These are air-powered tools, so the compressor matters as much as the gun. The WINTOOLS states 3 cfm average air consumption through a 3/8 inch hose on a 1/4 inch NPT inlet. The other three listings do not state air consumption, so check your compressor against the job before you buy. The air tool CFM guide explains what that number means, and the best pancake air compressor roundup covers small compressors. The air tool oiling guide covers the lubrication habit the KIARUO’s manual asks for.

What to check before the first job

Match the nosepiece or mandrel to the fastener before you pull the trigger: the wrong size is a common cause of a bad set. The Proster ships with one nosepiece pre-installed, so check which of the five is on the gun. Lubricate the KIARUO’s mandrel before use, or the screw can jam in the rivnut. Respect the stainless steel limits: no stainless steel rivets on the Proster, no stainless steel rivnuts on the KIARUO. Browse the air tools and air compressors categories for the rest of the setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a rivet gun set a rivet nut?

No. A rivet gun sets blind rivets; a rivet nut gun threads into and collapses a rivet nut. They are different tools for different fasteners, which is the whole point of this guide.

Can these tools rivet stainless steel?

The listings say no. The Proster states not to use stainless steel rivets, and the KIARUO states it cannot rivet stainless steel rivnuts, only aluminum and galvanized ones.

Why did the rivet not break off in one stroke?

The Proster’s own Q and A explains it: when the rivet length falls between 10 and 16 mm, a single 10 mm stroke is insufficient to fully set the body and fracture the mandrel. Two pulling strokes are required to complete the fastening.

How loud are these tools?

The KIARUO states working noise at or under 65db with its embedded muffler. The Proster lists a silencer without a stated decibel figure; the FICHFOYE and WINTOOLS state none.

What air supply do I need?

The WINTOOLS is the only pick that states it: a 1/4 inch NPT inlet, a 3/8 inch hose and 3 cfm average air consumption. The other three do not state air numbers, so size the compressor to the job.

Related: the air tools and air compressors hubs, the best pancake air compressor and what CFM air tools need.