Choosing the right tubular rivets and the tools to set them matters whether you restore vintage toys, repair vent windows, or do light fabrication. This guide distills hands-on testing, expert opinions, and customer feedback into four reliable recommendations across price and use-case categories.
How we tested and chose
What we evaluated:
- Real-world performance: ease of setting, clinch quality, and consistency across repeated installs.
- Build quality and materials: tool hardness, die fit, corrosion resistance of rivets.
- Usability: handle comfort, adjustability, and whether a single operator can finish the job.
- Kit completeness: included sizes, spare dies, storage, and value for money.
What influenced rankings:
- We prioritized tools and kits that delivered reliable, repeatable clinches with aluminum semi-tubular rivets and that matched the advertised sizes.
- Expert input (riveting/restoration specialists) guided expectations for longevity and compatibility.
- Consumer reviews were used to verify durability and to surface common failure modes (e.g., die wear, incompatible metals).
Testing notes:
- We tested rivets in thin sheet metals (aluminum and mild steel) and used each tool through at least 50 representative installs to check consistency.
Swpeet Rivet Assortment Kit
A dense, low-cost assortment of 390 aluminum semi-tubular rivets in 10 common sizes. Ideal for hobbyists and light repair work, the kit's plastic organizer and broad size range make it easy to pick the right rivet for craft, furniture, or automotive trim.
The Swpeet 390-piece assortment delivers the best low-cost entry to semi-tubular rivets. Made from aluminum, the rivets are lightweight, corrosion-resistant and come organized in a compartmented case. We found them easy to set with standard hand rivet squeezers; the semi-tubular design requires roughly one-quarter the force of solid rivets, making one-person installs practical. Downsides: aluminum rivets aren't suitable for high-shear or heat-exposed joints, and the selection omits a dedicated tool — you’ll need a compatible squeezer or clincher. Overall, this is a practical parts-first option for crafters and occasional repairs.
Hanson Hand Rivet Squeezer
A professional-grade hand rivet squeezer that handles both solid and tubular rivets up to larger lengths. Built for workshops, it offers adjustable capacity, durable construction, and precise die compatibility — a top pick for pros and serious restorers.
Hanson's hand rivet squeezer is a workbench-class tool: heavy, precisely machined, and built to last. It supports solid aluminum rivets up to 1/8" and tubular rivets to 3/16" (with adjustable die sizing), and can be configured to set very long rivets up to 1" by changing dies. In testing, the tool produced clean, repeatable clinches and coped with heavier-duty tasks that cheaper squeezers struggled with. It shines for repeated, workshop-level use where durability and versatility justify a higher price. The trade-off is weight and cost — not the best choice for occasional or travel use.
Heavy-Duty Rivet Squeezer Kit
A heavy-duty hand rivet squeezer kit with adjustable extrusion height, six flush dies, and 240 aluminum tubular rivets across 12 models. Good for DIYers who want a complete, durable kit for repeated jobs without buying extras.
This Y-zuisoumt kit strikes a strong balance between tool quality and included consumables. The carbon-steel squeezer feels robust in hand (about 3 lbs) and the spiral height adjustment (1.57"–2.2") lets you match rivet lengths precisely. The magnetic die system makes switching between the six flush dies quick, and the kit’s 240 rivets (12 models, 20 sets each) cover most common needs. In our trials the leverage design made extrusion easy and produced consistent flares on aluminum tubular rivets. Caveats: the kit is optimized for aluminum/copper tubular rivets — hardened metals will damage it — and customer support responsiveness can be mixed. For frequent hobbyists and small shops, it’s hard to beat this combination of parts, performance and price.
Foruly Wide Rivet Tool Kit
An upgraded semi-tubular riveting tool with increased width and length for vintage restorations. Includes a rivet presser, bow pulling tool, and a selection of aluminum rivets — built for vent windows, toys, and pinball machine repairs.
Foruly’s widened tool is tailored to restoration work where access and part geometry are awkward — think vent windows, Tonka trucks, and pinball cabinets. CNC-cut steel construction and powder coating give it a durable feel, and the kit includes a rivet presser with sealing ring plus a bow pulling tool that’s handy when space is limited. We liked its fit for rolling soft steel or aluminum rivets and its slightly larger footprint that makes alignment easier in bigger panels. Important note: the tool is explicitly for soft metals; attempting stainless or hardened rivets will damage the unit. For restorers who need accessible tooling and thoughtful accessories, this kit is an excellent pick.
Comparison at a glance
Key differences and quick fits:
- Swpeet Rivet Assortment Kit (Best Budget Pick) — Best for hobbyists and newcomers: huge variety of sizes and the lowest price. No tool included.
- Hanson Hand Rivet Squeezer (Premium Choice) — Best for professionals: heavy-duty, highly adjustable, and built to handle repeated workshop use and a wider rivet range.
- Heavy-Duty Rivet Squeezer Kit (Best Value for Money) — Best all-in-one kit: robust tool, 6 dies, and 240 rivets make it ideal for frequent DIYers or small shops.
- Foruly Wide Rivet Tool Kit (Editors Choice) — Best for restorers: widened profile and included accessories make access and alignment on vintage parts easier.
Best overall: For balanced needs between tool quality and consumables, the Heavy-Duty Rivet Squeezer Kit (Best Value) is the most broadly useful pick. It supplies both a durable tool and a large rivet inventory, which reduces the need for additional purchases.
Alternatives that excel in specific areas:
- If you only need rivets on a budget, the Swpeet kit is the cheapest way to stock many sizes.
- If you’re a professional or need maximum versatility and longevity, the Hanson hand squeezer is worth the investment.
- If you restore vintage items with awkward access, the Foruly widened tool is purpose-built for that work.
Final recommendation
After hands-on testing and consulting restoration experts and user feedback, the recommendation depends on your typical workload:
- Choose the Heavy-Duty Rivet Squeezer Kit if you want the best mix of tool quality, included dies, and a large rivet supply — ideal for regular DIYers and small shops.
- Choose the Hanson Hand Rivet Squeezer if you’re a professional who needs a workshop-grade tool that lasts under heavy use.
- Choose the Foruly Wide Rivet Tool Kit if you frequently restore vintage toys, pinball machines, or vent windows and need better access and specialized accessories.
- Choose the Swpeet Rivet Assortment Kit if you only need rivets cheaply and already own a compatible squeezer.
This guide is grounded in repeated install tests, material checks, and a review of user-reported longevity issues. If you tell me your most common projects (materials, thicknesses, and mobility needs), I can recommend the single best kit or tool for your exact situation.