I was skeptical at first—could this little adapter really replace my bulky manual riveter? After struggling with hand tools that left my palms sore and rivets half-set, I took the plunge. The moment I chucked it into my 18V drill, it felt like unlocking a secret weapon.

The aluminum body has a satisfying heft, like a precision instrument rather than a cheap accessory. Changing nose pieces? A breeze with the included wrench (though I’ll admit wrestling them back into the case’s tight slots feels like solving a puzzle). Pro tip: Carve out some foam if you plan to store it with larger nosepieces attached.

Real-world magic happened when I tackled my jon boat project. Drilling holes with one hand and setting 3/16" aluminum rivets with the other—no hand cramps, no misfires. The tool *snaps* onto mandrels with authority, and reversing the drill ejects spent stems cleanly. It’s almost therapeutic watching stainless steel rivets seat perfectly where my manual tool used to struggle.

Two caveats: First, measure your rivet protrusion carefully—that 0.5" max draw distance is non-negotiable. Second, lube soft rivets religiously unless you enjoy playing ‘unjam the jaws.’ But when used right? This thing turns marathon riveting sessions into quick work breaks. For the price of a fancy dinner, it’s saved me enough labor to justify buying backup nosepieces ‘just in case.’