Hello hive mind….

I need a riveter to put my bike rack back together. Are they all created equal? What can you recommend?

Cheers!

TBH a bike rack will take no effort in comparison to what they are made to do, so if a riveter couldn’t cope with that it would really have to be sub standard to fail. I would pick the cheapest with an eye on the ability to change rivet size in case you need it for something else at a later stage.
Also look at starter packs with rivets included as most rivets are sold in packs of serious multiples so will cost a fair bit by themselves.
HTH.

Cheers.

I’ve got the basic Draper one, one of these:

https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/9265162855277740571?q=draper+rivet+gun&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=PIX&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&sqi=2&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.73231344,d.ZGU,pv.xjs.s.en.pILta_SWMTQ.O&biw=1920&bih=946&tch=1&ech=1&psi=AknxU_XpDaPQ7AbB1IGIAQ.1408321789904.3&ei=DUnxU_KgBuSe7AbWjIDgCA&ved=0CKMBEKYrMAM

It’s done a couple of hundred alu rivets with no bother, it’s hard work with stainless ones but it did manage (killed my hands though) Jams up on the mandrel occasionally after breaking off but it’s easy enough to clear. All in all, a cheap and nasty bit of kit but more than up for the job.

+1 for the Draper (or Toolstations version of it). Plenty good enough for home use. I used mine a hell of a lot for several projects.

I use a Halfords one at work, it’s done 100s of rivets and still going strong.