Solid rivets aren’t set the way pop rivets are — there’s no pull-mandrel, no blind-side trick. A solid rivet gets driven with repeated impact from a pneumatic hammer while a bucking bar backs it up on the other side, upsetting the shank into a tight, permanent joint. That means the right tool here is either a direct-impact air riveting hammer for sheet metal and nameplate work, or a full air hammer kit with bucking bars and swappable rivet sets for auto body and aircraft-grade work. We pulled the current Amazon lineup, checked real-time pricing and availability, and narrowed the field to gear built specifically for solid rivets rather than pull-style blind rivets.
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Quick Picks: Best Rivet Guns for Solid Rivets
- Best Overall / Best Value: KooingTech 190 Type Air Rivet Gun
- Best Rivet Set Upgrade: Krenlory A1620 Rivet Set for Air Hammers
- Best Complete Air Hammer Kit: HRH 3X Air Hammer Kit for Solid Rivets
- Best Premium/Aviation-Grade: Wicks Aircraft 3X Rivet Gun Kit
- Best Lightweight Alternative: OW-190 Pneumatic Air Riveter Gun
Quick Comparison: Key Specs
| Model | Price | Type | Rivet Range | Bucking Bars | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. KooingTech 190 | — | Direct-impact pneumatic | 2-10mm | Not included | Overall value |
| 2. Krenlory A1620 | — | Rivet set (.401 shank) | 3/16″ brazier head | N/A (accessory) | Upgrading existing hammer |
| 3. HRH 3X Kit | — | Air hammer + kit | 3/32″-3/16″ | 2 included | Complete kit |
| 4. Wicks Aircraft 3X | — | Air hammer + kit | 3/32″-3/16″ | 2 included | Aviation/pro use |
| 5. OW-190 | — | Direct-impact pneumatic | 2-10mm | Not included | Lightweight budget |
| 6. Chicago Pneumatic CP717K | — | Air hammer + kit | .498″ shank | Case + 4 chisels | Trusted pro brand |
| 7. AIRCAT 5200-A-T | — | Direct-impact pneumatic | .401″ shank | Not included | Long-stroke power |
| 8. Wicks Aircraft 4X Deluxe | — | Air hammer + kit | Multi-size | 4 included | Largest bucking bar set |
| 9. AIRCAT 5100-A-T | — | Bare air hammer | .401″ shank | Not included | Low vibration comfort |
| 10. HRH 2X-737 Deluxe | — | Air hammer + kit | 3/32″-3/16″ | 2 included | Budget complete kit |
Prices above are pulled live from Amazon and may have changed since — click a model name or the Amazon product card below for the current price.
1. Best Overall / Best Value: KooingTech 190 Type Air Rivet Gun
For sheet metal, nameplate, and light fabrication work, a direct-impact pneumatic riveter like this KooingTech is the simplest way into solid riveting without the cost of a full air hammer kit. It handles rivets from 2-10mm in diameter at up to 3,000 impacts per minute, running on a standard 1/4″ air inlet with a 0.6-0.8 MPa (6-8 bar, roughly 90-115 psi) pressure requirement. The compact, handheld body keeps it maneuverable in tight spots, and it’s rated for the full range of solid rivet materials — aluminum, iron, stainless steel — plus flat and spherical head styles.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Handles a wide 2-10mm rivet diameter range • 3,000 impacts/minute for fast work • Compact and lightweight for handheld use | • Requires a compressor rated for 140L/min air supply • No bucking bars or rivet sets included |
2. Best Rivet Set Upgrade: Krenlory A1620 Rivet Set for Air Hammers
If you already own a .401-shank air hammer, this Krenlory rivet set is the cheap way to add proper 3/16″ brazier-head solid riveting capability rather than buying a whole new tool. It’s a direct OE-style replacement for the common A1620/AJX-A1620 rivet set, CNC-machined and hardened from solid carbon steel, with a mirror-polished brazier-head seat that distributes pressure evenly across the rivet head. Swapping it in takes seconds — unscrew the retainer, deflect the spring, and pull the old set out.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Lowest price on this list • Direct OE replacement fit for standard .401 shank hammers • Hardened carbon steel resists deformation | • Not a standalone tool — requires an existing air hammer • Single 3/16″ size only |
3. Best Complete Air Hammer Kit: HRH 3X Air Hammer Kit for Solid Rivets
This is the step up from a standalone rivet gun: a complete 3X pneumatic air hammer bundled with everything needed to start bucking solid rivets the same day it arrives. The kit includes two bucking bars, four cupped universal head bits covering 3/32″ through 3/16″, a 1″ flush die for countersunk work, and two retaining springs. It’s built around the same 3X air hammer platform used across auto body and light aircraft repair, making it a reasonable one-stop purchase for anyone setting up a home or mobile riveting station from scratch.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Complete kit: hammer, bucking bars, sets, and springs • Covers 3/32″ through 3/16″ rivets plus a flush die • One purchase to fully equip a riveting station | • Significant jump in price over a standalone gun • Limited stock availability at times |
4. Best Premium/Aviation-Grade: Wicks Aircraft 3X Rivet Gun Kit
Wicks Aircraft and Motorsports builds this kit specifically for aviation-grade solid riveting, and it shows in the details: a 3X pneumatic rivet gun with a built-in pressure regulator and quick release, two of the most commonly used bucking bars, five straight rivet sets covering 3/32″ through 3/16″ plus a 1″ face flush set, and both standard and beehive retainer springs. Everything ships in a rugged case built for shop or mobile use. It’s the most expensive option here, but it’s aimed at builders and mechanics who need aircraft-standard reliability rather than an occasional home project tool.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Built-in pressure regulator and quick release • Five rivet sets plus a flush set, both spring types included • Aviation-grade build quality and rugged case | • Highest price in this roundup by a wide margin • More capability than most DIY users need |
5. Best Lightweight Alternative: OW-190 Pneumatic Air Riveter Gun
The OW-190 covers the same direct-impact niche as the KooingTech above — nameplates, aluminum doors and windows, general metal fabrication — in a slightly different package. At about 1,638 grams, its lightweight handheld design is easy on the wrist during extended sessions, and its specs land almost identically to the KooingTech: 3,000 impacts per minute, 2-10mm rivet capacity, and a 1/4″ inlet. It’s a solid alternative if the primary pick is out of stock or you prefer its particular ergonomics.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Lightweight at roughly 1,638g for extended use • Same wide 2-10mm rivet range as pricier options • Compact and easy to store | • Nearly identical to other 190-type guns on the market • No bucking bars or rivet sets included |
6. Best Trusted Pro Brand: Chicago Pneumatic CP717K Air Hammer Kit
Chicago Pneumatic is one of the most established names in industrial air tools, and the CP717K brings that pedigree to solid riveting in a complete kit built around the CP717 .498″ shank super-duty air hammer. The kit adds a 4-piece chisel set, a spring-style retainer, and a heavy-duty carrying case, all sized for the tougher .498″ shank platform rather than the lighter .401″ shank most budget kits use. It’s a tool built for repeated daily use in a body shop or metalworking setting rather than an occasional home project.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Established, trusted industrial air tool brand • Heavier-duty .498″ shank platform than most budget kits • Includes a 4-piece chisel set and heavy-duty case | • .498″ shank chisels aren’t interchangeable with more common .401″ sets • Premium price versus budget direct-impact guns |
7. Best for Long-Stroke Power: AIRCAT 5200-A-T Composite Long Stroke Air Hammer
AIRCAT’s 5200-A-T steps up from its medium-stroke sibling with a longer piston stroke that trades some cycle speed (2,100 BPM versus 3,000) for more force per blow, which helps on heavier-gauge sheet metal and larger-diameter solid rivets that the medium-stroke hammer works harder to set. It shares the same composite housing built to cut down on vibration and noise over long sessions, and it runs on the same widely-supported .401″ shank as most rivet sets and bucking-bar kits on this list, including the Krenlory upgrade set above. It’s a bare hammer rather than a kit, so bits and rivet sets are sourced separately.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Longer stroke delivers more force per blow than medium-stroke hammers • Composite housing reduces vibration and noise • Standard .401″ shank works with widely available rivet sets | • Slower cycle rate (2,100 BPM) than shorter-stroke hammers • No rivet sets or bucking bars included |
8. Best for Largest Bucking Bar Set: Wicks Aircraft 4X Deluxe Rivet Gun Set
Wicks Aircraft’s 4X Deluxe set steps up from their 3X kit above with a 4X rivet gun, four bucking bars instead of two, and ten rivet sets — the largest bucking bar and rivet set count in this roundup. That extra bar variety matters most for builders working a range of panel shapes and access angles, where a single bucking bar geometry doesn’t reach every joint cleanly. It’s built to the same aviation-grade standard as the rest of the Wicks Aircraft lineup, and it’s aimed at the same audience: builders and mechanics who need broad coverage in one purchase rather than buying individual bars and sets over time.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Four bucking bars covering more panel angles than a 2-bar kit • Ten rivet sets included, broad size coverage • Aviation-grade build quality from an established brand | • Premium price for the extra bars and sets • More kit than an occasional user typically needs |
9. Best for Low Vibration Comfort: AIRCAT 5100-A-T Composite Medium Stroke Air Hammer
AIRCAT built the 5100-A-T around a composite housing specifically to cut down on the vibration and noise that make long air hammer sessions fatiguing, while still delivering 3,000 blows per minute on a standard .401″ shank. It’s a bare hammer rather than a kit, so it pairs with any .401″ rivet set — including the Krenlory upgrade set above — making it a flexible base for anyone who already owns rivet sets or bucking bars from a previous tool. The medium-stroke design favors control on lighter sheet metal work over sheer brute force on heavier stock.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Composite housing reduces vibration and noise • 3,000 BPM on a standard, widely-supported .401″ shank • Works with any compatible .401″ rivet set you already own | • No rivet sets or bucking bars included • Medium stroke favors control over raw power on heavy stock |
10. Best Budget Complete Kit: HRH 2X-737 Deluxe Air Hammer Kit
The HRH 2X-737 trims down from the 3X kit above to a lighter 2X air hammer platform while keeping the same practical accessory spread: two bucking bars, four cupped universal head bits (3/32″, 1/8″, 5/32″, 3/16″), a 1″ flush bit, and two retainer springs. The lighter 2X hammer is easier to control for extended sheet-metal work, though it trades off some of the raw driving force of the heavier 3X and 4X hammers in this roundup. It’s a reasonable way to get a genuinely complete kit — hammer plus bits plus bars — at a lower price point than the premium aviation kits here.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| • Complete kit at a lower price than the premium aviation options • Lighter 2X hammer is easier to control on extended jobs • Same practical bit spread as the pricier HRH 3X kit | • Less raw driving force than the 3X/4X hammers in this roundup • Not ideal for the heaviest-gauge riveting jobs |
Things to Consider Before You Buy
Solid rivets vs. pop rivets: Solid rivets require impact from a pneumatic hammer plus a bucking bar to upset the shank — they’re not compatible with pull-style pop rivet guns, and vice versa. Make sure the tool you buy is actually built for solid riveting before ordering.
Air supply requirements: Most direct-impact riveters need a compressor capable of supplying 140L/min or more at 0.6-0.8 MPa (roughly 6-8 bar, or 90-115 psi). Check your compressor’s output before buying — an underpowered compressor will leave the tool starved for air and underperforming.
Rivet set sizing: If you’re buying a bare gun or a rivet set upgrade rather than a full kit, confirm the shank size (commonly .401″, though some pro-grade hammers like the Chicago Pneumatic CP717 use .498″) matches your existing air hammer, and that the rivet set covers the diameters you actually work with.
Standalone tool vs. complete kit: A standalone pneumatic riveter is cheaper if you only need to drive rivets in one common size. A complete kit with bucking bars and multiple rivet sets costs more upfront but covers a wider range of jobs without separate purchases.
Related Guides
- Best rivet guns
- Best rivet nut guns for threaded inserts
- How to use a rivet gun
- How does a rivet gun work?
FAQ
Can I use a pop rivet gun for solid rivets?
No — pop rivet guns pull a mandrel through a blind rivet and can’t drive a solid rivet. Solid rivets need direct pneumatic impact and a bucking bar on the opposite side.
What’s a bucking bar and do I need one?
A bucking bar is a solid steel or steel-alloy block held against the back side of a solid rivet while the air hammer drives the front — it provides the resistance that upsets and sets the rivet. For conventional solid riveting, you normally need access to both sides of the joint: the rivet gun works on the manufactured-head side while the bucking bar supports the tail side. If you only have access to one side, use a blind-rivet solution designed for that situation instead.
Do all air hammers use the same rivet set shank size?
Most consumer and light-professional air hammers use a .401″ shank, which is what the Krenlory rivet set and most kits above are built around — but heavier-duty hammers like the Chicago Pneumatic CP717 use a .498″ shank instead, so always confirm your specific hammer’s shank size before buying replacement or upgrade sets.
Prices and availability shown above are pulled live and may change — always confirm the current price on Amazon before buying.
