I've got the heavy duty CBS one, and it's ok, but difficult to judge how much squeeze I'm putting on the ally rivnuts, and can be quite difficult to even start the steel ones.

Has anybody got the circular type? It strikes me that it would be easier to judge the amount one was compressing the rivnit by, especially in material of varying thickness. I would guess that one would just do so many turns once one started to fell the resistance?

John

I got the CBS one first and, yes, it's not easy to use. When I broke the mandrel I got a Makeendsmeet one instead and I find it much easier.
www.industrialfastenings.co.uk

I do it up until the resistance suddenly increases which I assume is the optimum crush. I haven't stripped threads recently which I used to do occasionally with the CBS

[Edited on 30/3/09 by Macbeast]

Have just used the M.E.M. rivnut tool, and yes, it works very well with Al rivnuts. Haven't tried the s/steel ones yet.

If you use the M4 mandrel, be very careful not to over-torque. The tensile load will snap the mandrel thread (as I found out!!).