Strengths: tool is narrow (HUGE strength for tight areas), has a GREAT handle offering excellent grip, marking wheels swap out easily, meets OSHA requirements for safety guards. HOWEVER, this is not exceptionally durable. The plastic axle has a metal wheel grinding on it (for some reason, the hub of the marking wheel is hexagonal, not round). Bear in mind you will be putting pressure on this tool to mark your model. After minimal use (marked about 14 inches of plastic aircraft), I inspected the hub and found wear evident. If theu had used a 10-cent metal shaft/axle, this would be a great tool. If you are doing serious work, you would probably prefer the smaller-diameter wheels such as Rosie-The-Riveter or RB-Productions mini wheels. Large wheels can get unruly and out of control on tight curves, and CANNOT get into corners, so you will have to use a pin to mark anyway. Marking will take practice to get the pressure correct. The marks left are not round (usually have to look closely). If your tool is not 90 degrees from the surface, the marks will look more triangular. :( The saefty guards DO obstruct your view...significantly. I filed them down (again, significantly) so I wouldn't be working blindly, but one shouldn't have to modify a precision tool. I ordered a different tool with a smaller wheel after 1 week of use, but will keep this one around as it dies have some strengths.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Not happy with this at all. I attempted to save a few bucks and am now stuck with this rivet tool. Admittedly I am new to modeling (after 30 years I am new again) so perhaps some of this is learning but the two things that jump out at me immediately were 1) the holder and guard actually obscure your view of the surface, so getting the tool to land on the line you draw is more difficult that it needs to be. 2) The wheel is so large that you can't get close to anything leaving that last 1/4 inch "unrivetted" ... 3) This may be practice, but even when using a straight edge, I find that the wheel tends to wander across the surface of the model. 4) ALso the wheels are floating and no case is provided. Not a HUGE deal but I would have thought that when selling a tool with several floating parts you would provide at least a cheap container to keep them in. Anyway, I can't afford the one I want so I will either figure this one out or learn to do rivets using a push pin ... but I would recommend that folks spend a little extra $$ and get a good riveting tool to start with. .Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I bought this as a test to see how much difference putting rivets on a model makes, and it makes a world of difference! The tool feels durable and works well for what it is designed to do. The down side is the wheel is large so there are areas you cannot get to, and the cover to prevent damage to the wheel blocks your view which can make it difficult to stay aligned. I have learned already to use a thin piece of aluminum or plastic straightedge to keep the lines straight. I would recommend this unit if you are just starting out to get comfortable with the idea of making rivets on your models. You can’t really beat it for the price.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The pitch(s) are to small for any of the train scales. The embossing tip is a triangle in the rolling axis. So if you emboss hard enough to see the "rivets", the indentations are rectangles, much longer than wide. If the description had included a close up picture and pitch measurements I would not have bought it. I threw it out the first day.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Wonderful for detailing planes and model Jets it's a must-have for all model builders does the job perfectly
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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