Quality air hammer

[mrk5]

I was watching videos on replacing ball joints on the C10, and the upper joint is riveted to the control arm. The dude in the video used an air hammer with a chisel and cut the rivet head off reasonably quick. I have a HF air hammer and I know from experience doing shackle flips and changing the hangers on the crew cab, my air hammer won't cut the head off a rivet.

I'm curious what air hammer I would need to buy to be able to do this. Anyone have one that can cut the heads off rivets?

I'm sure we have the air system to handle it.

 

[folkenheath]

Look at the brand on your left compressor and buy the same brand air hammer, Ingersol Rand, and the more money to spend, the faster it will cut it off.

However, the plasma cutter with a gouge tip will cut it off quicker yet. Then use the IR air hammer to punch it out.

 

[thearborbarber]

https://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-Tool-4980-Riveter/dp/B01C2RTJZK

 

[KirsL]

https://shop.snapon.com/product/PH3050BR

Not cheap, but I have an older version of this one. It's a beast compared most models out there. Course I use it often so it's worth the cost to me.

 

[Big Ray]

I have an Ingersoll Rand air hammer. It does good, I need a bigger compressor. I'm thinking of getting a rivit gun. They hit slower than an air hammer, but they hit harder. I think a 9x should cover my needs!

 

[swettysblazer]

I have an IR one as well... works good for whatever I have needed it to. I cut a bunch of rivets off my frame.

 

[ryoken]

sorry to say, can't beat the long barrel Snappys...

 

[wyo_tom]

I have an Ingersoll Rand air hammer. It does good, I need a bigger compressor. I'm thinking of getting a rivit gun. They hit slower than an air hammer, but they hit harder. I think a 9x should cover my needs!

Holy crap lol. Nothing like bowing a wing box.

 

[mrk5]

I ended up ordering a used Snap-On PH3050B from eBay.

 

[bp71k5]

Interested to hear how it works. I had a HF version and the frame rivets just laughed at it.

 

[mrk5]

That's what I've had and I just thought air hammers were silly and not much use. Then a buddy used his nice one on a project and I realized maybe I just needed a better one.

 

[ktmoutfront]

The heavier the air hammer the better. Cut off wheel on a die grinder or a grinding wheel on right angle grinder.

 

[ryoken]

it's got to be a long barrel.... shorts are great for bodywork, but for snot, ya need the long...

 

[mrk5]

The one I bought looks like it has a long barrel. This is the best picture I have now that the listing is closed.

 

[ryoken]

The one I bought looks like it has a long barrel. This is the best picture I have now that the listing is closed.

View attachment 316267

yup, that's a newer long barrel... should blow rivets up, especially if ya run a 2-stage....

 

[bigjbear]

I have an Ingersoll Rand air hammer. It does good, I need a bigger compressor. I'm thinking of getting a rivit gun. They hit slower than an air hammer, but they hit harder. I think a 9x should cover my needs!

A 9x, yeah that’ll do

 

[bp71k5]

Any feedback on how it works?

 

[mrk5]

I haven't cut any rivet heads off yet, but it worked great for knocking ball joints out of the control arms in my 73 C10.

 

[6872xtc]

Ya, I know, I am late to this..
The long barrel makes a big difference. After years of experience with cleaning concrete off of trucks to work on them, I can attest to that.
I bought a Matco long barrel one several years ago. It will shoot rivet heads across the garage when they come off, no cuts in the rivet head required. But one slice with a cut-off wheel makes them come off slightly faster and safer.
Less chance of them flying!
Good chisels are a must as well, I have watched cheap ones dull much faster. I got one with a curve by the tip and single bevel cutting edge that lessens the surface damage while cutting the heads off.

 

[mrk5]

You have chisel recommendation @6872xtc? I wasn't finding encouraging results when I last searched.