Spar riveting technic ?

[Concorde]

Thank you all very much for your help, I posted earlier but for some reason it disappeared.
I can borrow a 3x gun from my Friend,he thinks it's adequate but we'll see.
Ben

[vernd]

I'm currently riveting my spars using 3x gun. It is working fine. Just take your time and make sure to set a bunch of practice rivets first.
There is definitely some technique to it, but another new skill learned is good.

[Concorde]

What's the best way of riveting the spar using the gun ,on it's side like we do in bolt and hammer technic and use the air gun instead of hammer, or have it standing up.
Ben

[vernd]

I built a stand and have mine sitting vertically along the edge of the bench. That way I can hold the rivet gun about waste level and lean into it. Left hand reaches over and holds bucking bar. I'm sure there are many different approaches to this. Be interested in hearing other techniques also. One thing I've learned - it's really important to keep control of the rivet gun. I have my arm rested against my hip and continue to apply steady pressure to the gun while riveting and for a second or so after letting off trigger.

[n982sx]

Ben, the 3x gun should work fine.

That's what I used on my spar. I back riveted just as if I was using the hammer and bolt method. Don't try and use the gun and hold a bucking bar unless you are well practiced at riveting. Use the back rivet method for both flat head and domed head rivets. Easy

By the way, the hammer and bolt method is easy as well. You have to do some that way and I found them easy to do. Three well controlled and not hard hits with a two pound hammer and they are set. Look just as nice as the ones done with the gun.

[Rynoth]

I know the Sonex way of hammer and the bolt technic , but looks like it's a lot of hammering and hard work especially doing it solo in a nice 95 degree work shop for someone who is no longer 25.

I understand your concern, it's hard work no question about it. If you have propper solid rivetting skills & tools, by all means do that!

However, for those contemplating the Sonex Hammer & Bolt method, it's not as bad as some would make it out to be.
Looking back at my log, I spent just over 10 hours on the first spar and just over 5 on the second one (I must have gotten better at it along the way, or less critical :D), took me about 2 weeks in total to get them done.
I remember far worse tasks than this one building my airplane (cowling, canopy, wing rigging, ...)

Ditto this post. I tried a lot of techniques (granted not having the big time equipment people are suggesting here such as 4x+ guns or rivet squeezer) and in hindsight the hammer-bolt method was fine. Yes it was grunt work but no more grunty than so many other parts of the project and a lot less time consuming than most.