DIY rivnut tool

 So in my YT feed t'other day I got a video touting a new rivnut tool. It was cool and worked with an electric drill. That made  the 4" long tool somewhere around a foot long and in some places where I've put rivnuts impossible to use.

   It made me think.

I've been using this little aluminum body tool for years. It uses a ramp to pull the rivnut up tight and does 2 sizes 1/4-20 and 10-32.

There is a tiny bar to help prevent the tool spinning. I found that instead of using a wrench on the bolt to pull the ramps together I could use my drill with a 7/16" drive on it.

Due to it's small size it does well getting into small places! Sometimes I need to stick a longer screwdriver in the bar hole to steady the tool.

I'm not getting rid of it, it is wearing out though and I am mostly done putting in rivnuts(I think).

    After watching the above mentioned video I wondered about a simple DIY tool and the possibilities. Thinking about it for a day or so I came up with this idea;

     I bought a 1/2- 13 connector, well the hardware store was out of them so I got a 1/2-13 x 3/8-16 connector which actually worked out good since it provides a smaller hole and the 1/4- 20 bolt won't wobble around as much. I also bought a 1/2-13 x1" bolt. I needed a through hole in the bolt for my 1/4" bolt to drop through, so 17/64".

    Beginning with my 3/16 drill bit upside down in my drill press, I set my vise under it and clamped the vise on the bit. This allows for the bit to be aligned with the chuck and the center point the same for both. Now I needed to lower the table to get the upside down 1/2" bolt in the chuck. So then I needed to reset the bit in the vise and clamp it all down again.

     Now the press works more like a milling machine, where the object turns and the bit is stationary.

I drilled the 3/16 and had to reset for the 17/64. Eventually I got through and my chuck and bolt were smoking HOT! I had to turn the bolt upside down to finish off the hole as my press range was too short.

A chamfer was put on both ends of the hole and it was time to try it out!

My adjustable wrench was clamped not too firmly in my vise and a hole drilled in some scrap metal. I slid a 1/4-20 bolt down the drilled hole and screwed the rivnut on and placed the metal over it. The 1/2" bolt takes a 3/4" wrench and with that I turned the bolt out of the immobilized connector until I felt it was a good tightness. Backed off a 1/4 turn and unscrewed the 1/4 bolt from the rivet. The rivnut was set!

An exploded view of the tool;

Now there was the question of a handle. I could probably used a wrench every time, but a handle seemed better. Digging piece off 1/2" rod out of the pile and using my crappy welder I stuck it on and then cleaned it all up. I put anti seize on the threads of the bolt to make it hopefully easier to use. I will use a washer between the 1/4 and 1/2 bolt in the future for less friction.

After cooling and setting overnight I'm painting it.