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Realized one of my vent handle posts was missing when I went to start building doors (hate when that happens). Ordered new one from Midfifty — of course after I placed a small order a few days before.
Anyway, dumb question: I have a rivet gun in the ol’ toolbox but have never used one before. Looks simple enough (thanks YouTube), but not sure about what they sent me — rivets need the long post to insert in tool, so what’s with these pieces? They look like just caps?
The rivet with the long stem through it is a "Pop Rivet". What they sent you is a semi-tubular rivet. (I'm assuming the end is hollow)
If you don't have the machine to install them, you just need a tool that starts the rivet to flair, then finish it with a hammer. If the rivet is inside the frame, where you can't get to it with the hammer, you can use a flat punch.
I use a center punch to start mine:
Honestly, you can make your own tool to do it out of an old bolt. Cut the threads off and grind a point into it on a bench grinder.
Many of the places that sell the tubular rivets sell a kit with the proper tool. Usually pretty cheap. You can get by as instructed above and make a tool or use the center punch to start the flare and a flat punch to finish as EffieTrucker suggested.
