Rivets stuck in rivet toolUpdated 10 months ago

With any rivet tool, sometimes the mandrel of a rivet will get stuck in it, after you pop a rivet. (The mandrel is the stem of the rivet that remains in the tool.)

To get the mandrel out, start by making sure the handles of the tool are fully open, and give the tool a good shake. Usually the mandrel will fall out.

If the mandrel is still stuck, you can disassemble the tool to extract the mandrel. See this YouTube video for instructions. The tool in the video is a different brand, but the steps are basically the same.

If you have this problem repeatedly, it's usually caused by lack of lubrication and/or foreign material in the tool. Give the tool a squirt of silicone spray once in a while, and work the handles a few times to make sure the silicone is distributed.

If you think there might be metal shavings or other material inside, disassemble the tool following the instructions above, clean the parts, and lubricate.

This problem can also occur if you don't use the proper size bit on the rivet tool. Always be sure that you use the bit that best fits the rivet you are installing.