A bucking bar is a crucial tool used in the process of installing rivets, particularly in metal fabrication.
Bucking bars are used in the process of “setting” or “driving” rivets in aircraft, bus, boat and various manufacturing industries to fasten, primarily aluminum and steel sheet metal components together. These tools provide an inertial mass behind the material being riveted, against the tail of the rivet as it is being deformed (or "driven") by a riveting hammer or gun from the opposite side.
How Bucking Bars Work
When a rivet is installed, a force is applied to the head side of the rivet, typically with a riveting gun that uses pneumatic pulses. On the opposite side, the bucking bar is held firmly against the tail of the rivet and the material. The bar's mass and the force applied against the tail cause the tail of the rivet to expand and form a second head (called the bucktail), securing the components together. The weight and shape of the bucking bar are important as they absorb the energy from the rivet gun and help form the rivet tail correctly.
Common Applications
Bucking bars are essential tools in fields where structural integrity and reliable fastening are paramount. As mentioned, their primary applications include:
- Aircraft Manufacturing and Maintenance: Crucial for assembling and repairing aircraft structures, often involving aluminum alloys.
- Bus and Boat Construction: Used in the fabrication of chassis, hulls, and other structural elements.
- General Manufacturing Industries: Applied in various assembly processes involving sheet metal fastening.
These industries rely on bucking bars to create strong, permanent joints between components, most commonly made from aluminum and steel sheet metal. The specific shape and weight of the bucking bar can vary depending on the type and size of the rivet being driven and the accessibility of the work area. They come in numerous shapes and sizes to fit into confined spaces and provide the necessary mass for effective riveting.
