Dewalt recently launched their first-ever 20V Max cordless rivet tools, DCF403 and DCF414.
Both models are similar in design, but with different max pulling strengths and fastener setting capacities.
The two Dewalt cordless rivet tools can be used to fasten blind rivets made from aluminum, steel, and stainless steel.
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The brushless rivet tools are designed for broad use, such as in HVAC, roofing, prefabrication, assembly, and automotive applications.
They feature on-board nosepiece storage and a removable mandrel collector to help keep your working area cleaner. Both tools also have a built-in LED worklight.
Dewalt DCF403 3/16″ Cordless Rivet Tool
The Dewalt DCF403 can deliver up to 2,100 pound force (lbf) pulling strength and has a 0.98″ stroke length. Dewalt says it can set up to 800x 3/16″ stainless steel rivets per charge (with a 2Ah DCB203 battery).
It’s compatible with 3/32″, 1/8″, 5/32″, and 3/16″ rivet sizes.
The DCF403 is available in tool-only format (DCF403B) or in a kit (DCF403D1) with a 2Ah battery, charger, and tool bag.
Price: $299 for the tool, $369 for the kit
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Dewalt DCF414 1/4″ Cordless Rivet Tool
The Dewalt DCF414 is more powerful, delivering a pulling force up to 4,500 lbf. It can drive up to 300x 1/4″ stainless steel rivets per charge (with a compact PowerStack DCPB034 battery).
This model has a longer stroke length – 1.18″.
It’s compatible with 3/16″, 15/64″, and 1/4″ rivet sizes.
The DCF414 is available in tool-only format (DCF414B) or in a kit (DCF414GE2) with 2x compact and oil-resistant PowerStack batteries, charger, and tool bag.
Price: $799 for the tool, $959 for the kit
Both kits look to be bundled with Dewalt’s compact charger, DCB1102, which provides a 2A charging rate and is compatible with the brand’s 12V Max, 20V Max, and FlexVolt batteries.
Dewalt DCF403 and DCF414 Differences
Both tools have similar features and can be used on aluminum, steel, and stainless steel rivets. The DCF403 is designed for working with smaller rivets, and the DCF414 for larger ones.
The tools are also kitted differently, with the DCF403 bundled with a standard compact battery, and the DCF414 with oil-resistant PowerStack batteries.
DCF403
2,100 lbf pulling force
0.98″ stroke length
Includes nose pieces for 3/32″, 1/8″, 5/32″, and 3/16″ rivets.
DCF414
4,500 lbf pulling force
1.18″ stroke length
Includes nose pieces for 3/16″, 15/64″, and 1/4″ rivets.
Nathan
is it my imagination or does it seem bulky? Interesting it seems all the big players have one now. I guess I didn’t realize pull rivets where used that much.
I see them alot in hobby projects and the like and pneumatic pullers have been around for years.
I notice they say roofing – do people pull rivet metal roofs? I guess I always thought they were seamed or welded or screwed with sealant.
Andrew
Pull rivets can make sense for attaching flashing, but generally you are correct, no need for rivets for standing seal metal roofs in my experience.
I’m guessing for roofing what they really mean are gutters and downspouts where rivets make a lot of sense.
fred
If you look at a metal roofing tool company, you find lots of mechanical seamers and soldering tools – but little in the way of rivets. One example is Stortz – who does sell copper pop rivets – but mostly other ways to fasten metal to metal:
https://www.stortz.com/
In our fabrication business – we had many aerospace-aligned customers, did a lot of aluminum fabrication and rivets (blind or otherwise) were often chosen. We had tooling from folks like Cherry Aerospace
https://www.cherryaerospace.com/product/insttools
Leo B.
I believe some metal roofs detail a riveted ridge cap- at least RR Buildings on YouTube has done it that way. Some trims also get riveted as well. Maybe that’s a personal preference.
fred
Blid rivets are also pop-ular for use in gutters and downspout coinstruction.
Harrison
It’s really up to the installer, it can look a lot cleaner than a screw for drip edges, ridge caps, and other flashings if they’re going to be right in the customer’s face.
Jesse
why such a price increase when going up to 1/4″ riveting capability? also I can’t even find 1/4″ rivets at the store. They’re always special order.
Stuart
I’m not sure how popular 1/4” rivets are in different industries, but they’re not uncommon.
They don’t sell air riveters at home centers either, or Cleco products.
I’m thinking that more than double the pulling strength requires everything to be significantly more robust, but I’m a little surprised by the price difference as well.
MM
They might be priced that high because that’s what a typical user of that size rivet tool is willing to pay. There are a lot of power tools whose price is not consistent with their complexity, and it’s usually the more specialized stuff.
For example, a basic mag base drill costs about $2k. It’s main components are a 2-speed gearbox & drill motor, a magnetic base, and a rack-and-pinion. A heavy-duty 2-speed stud and joist drill costs $300, a lifting grade magnet is $500. And I’m not sure what a rack-and-pinion costs to mass manufacture but a hundred bucks is being generous. The specialty nature of the tool results in the price doubling.
A drill-driver can be had for under a hundred bucks despite containing a variable speed control, motor, gearbox, clutch, and chuck. Likewise there are grinders and saws at a similar price point with similar electronic and mechanical complexity. Meanwhile there are worklights that cost double that or more which contain little more than an LED and an on-off switch.
The complexity of the tool is only a floor for the price, the rest depends on what people are willing to pay.
fred
There may also be fixed and other costs associated with putting any tool into the marketplace. If the tool is expected to sell in the millions – each tool’s share of those costs may be only pennies added into the retail price. For a tool with a more limited market, the manufacturer may need to add a lot more than pennies into the retail price in order to recoup those costs. You can make money on a high volume of sales at a low markup – or low volume at a high markup.
fred
If I recall correctly, we could specify blind rivets in both nominal and 1/64 oversize dimensions – from 1/32 to 1/4 inch. Specs were chosen based on factors like material thickness (rivet grip range) – the measurement confirmed with a gauge. I believe that hole dimensions (drill size) were not always the nominal size of the rivet – but rather a size specified by the rivet supplier. I remember your recent discussion about letter and number (wire gauge drills) – and this (drilling for blind rivets) is certainly a place where they come into play.
Franco
I would love one of these, and I love cordless tools but these are just too expensive compared to hand or pneumatic cost so much less. If I were a pro using it daily, maybe. But for my needs, too much.
fred
I’m not sure what niche this will fit into at this price point. It is much cheaper than what they sell some of the Cherry Aerospace tools for these days – but way more expensive than what the typical hand riveter costs. It seems to be priced to compete with the Milwaukee M18.
For a remodeling contractor – based on what blind-rivet work we used to do in that one of businesses – I suspect it would be overkill. For the fabrication business I was once part of – it might be worth a look for field technicians. Maybe if your business is repairing RV’s it might be the perfect fit.
Franco
“For the fabrication business I was once part of – it might be worth a look for field technicians. Maybe if your business is repairing RV’s it might be the perfect fit.”…exactly what I think.
“but way more expensive than what the typical hand riveter costs”…or even a decent pneumatic will cost a third or less and work great.
This is probably great, as the M18 and other brands also have, and all this expensive. I just don’t use pop rivets enough to spend this much. Like a Martinez hammer, if I was a framer, awesome, but for the few nails I use these days….just not in the budget.
Stuart
“Expensive” is relative.
Stanley’s Dewalt 20V Max-powered PB2500 cordless rivet tool retails for close to $2000. There’s also the PB2500 Smart.
The new models are somewhat specialty tools, designed for heavier and more frequent users. I’d expect much less user fatigue compared to manual tools and much less hassle than with air tools.
fred
I have an old Craftsman hydraulic hand rivet gun that beats the fatigue issue. Mine has never failed me – but I heard that it was discontinued lang ago because of safety issues.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265902293521
I’ve never seen a modern equivalent.
Shane
If it was able to seat 1/4 x 20 rivnuts, i would buy it for that price
Stuart
Maybe that’s on the roadmap?
There’s an existing Dewalt-powered Stanley blind rivet nut tool – NB08PT-18 .
Shane
I didn’t know that was out there! Probably because of the price…ouch
Stuart
The Stanley blind rivet tool has been out for a while too, but I felt it to be too much of a specialty tool to post about.
The new Dewalt models look to be far more ergonomic and mainstream.
Metabo has a cordless rivet nut setter, but only with metric nose pieces.
Nathan
indeed I play with airplanes and a living, I guess. and cherry max is a different thing. well, sort of -I’d say they are a calibrated pull rivet but anyway. Meets an MS and AN spec, are sample tested and they have tighter tolerance but also provide a specified connection strength.
So I did a bit of reading and it seems with AL car bodies becoming more prevalent, some body repair now uses pull rivets as the start of a repair.
and as stated earlier I suspect the market is small for this hence the prices and specifically intro prices.
also that’s an odd battery charger.
JoeM
Strange timing… I was just talking to a friend about whether I was ever interested in trying to do Rivet-Assembled constructions. Since I list so many skills I’ve tried, and enjoy doing still. This usually ends up with the question “What Haven’t you done at least once in your life?” and is usually accompanied by some story about coworkers that would kill to have my skills (or “Skillz” in the vernacular. I’ve tried to get people to stop using that, but it is what they’re saying. I find it both insulting and an exaggeration.)
Rivet Construction is one of those things I’ve never done, like Welding. Seems strange, at my age, to have never done things other “makers” consider basics, but I just have never done it. Now DeWALT comes out with 20V series Rivet Pullers? Seems like the world is trying to tell me something.
Stuart
These aren’t tools for someone that has never used blind/pop rivets before. Start with a hand tool from Stanley or Arrow at less than 1/10 the price.
William
Can you tell us more about that charger? I haven’t seen that before. It looks like it slides on top of the battery vs. the battery sliding into the charger.
Stuart
I mentioned all I could find – 2A charging rate, 12V Max, 20V Max, FlexVolt compatibility.
It looks to be a compact charger. These are the first kits I’ve seen it bundled with, and there’s no other context to go on.
It does have wall mounting slots too, which makes it a sort of hybrid style charger.
Big Richard
It is their new compact charger, DCB1102. – https://www.dewalt.com/product/dcb1102/12v-max20v-max-2-amp-charger
I’m not sure if it is replacing their “standard” 2A charger, the DCB112, but it does seem set to replace the compact 1.25A DCB107 charger.
The 4A DCB115 is also likely being replaced by the 4A DCB1104. All their chargers are going to the 2 stage LED light format. The 8A DCB118 was updated to include it as well.
Big Richard
Sorta related for metal workers, DeWalt’s new 20v band file should be hitting shelves sometime in the next month or so. Model is DCM200, not a ton of info on it at the moment. You can see a pic of it in Fastner Inc’s latest flyer – https://fastenersinc.net/pages/fasteners-inc-sales-and-promotions-flyer
The new ultra torque DCF961 is also listed in there.
MM
Nice find! Glad to see more on the 961, though I’d honestly rather have a 3/4 drive version.
Have you heard any updates about the DCG460 grinder? If I recall correctly it was supposed to be out early last month but I haven’t found any for sale yet.
Big Richard
Yeh, still surprised it is a 1/2″ considering the 900 is only around a year old and is already at the limit of what a 1/2″ impact can/should do. 3/4″ is definitely less common, but seems like it would be a better fit for this wrench. Who knows.
And I have not heard anything on that grinder since they previewed it at WOC. Every planned tool release seems to be off by a couple months, so their Jun2023 release date could very well be more like Aug-Sep.
Flotsam
I had seen a while back where Milwaukee had a 12v Rivet Gun for their M12 platform. It was $250 sans batteries. Its about the same $300 for M18 platform. I can’t say i do enough riveting to need a separate tool but after doing a bit of duct work i can see how it is beneficial.
As an alternative Astro Pneumatic makes a tool universal in use with a drill. https://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-Tool-ADN14-Adapter/dp/B01JBO58FM/
This is around $85
Flotsam
what i meant to add for my original post was that Makita’s option for their platform is around $1500 or so!! Have no idea of what makes it so expensive.
Ridgid has no too option as of yet.
This would a great option for Ryobi (which is a platform i have as well) and maybe they could break the sub-$150 price point. I like Ryobi for this kind of tool that you don’t necessarily use on a regular basis, like glue gun or caulk gun (both great for the money) .
Franco
Yes on the Ryobi. I have their caulking gun and their glue gun, both work very well and cost like $30-$40. Makita, Milwaukee or Dewalt, want $200-$300 for a caulking gun. I don’t know if these 3 make a cordless glue gun, but I suspect it would not be cheap.
If Ryobi made a rivet gun, for sure the price would be much less, then it could be a consideration.
Mitherial
In addition to the M12 rivet gun Milwaukee also has a larger M18 rivet gun (which seems to broadly match DeWalt’s in terms of price and performance).
Will
These rivet guns look really good in the reviews. I would love to get one. I really dislike the manual rivet guns. I hope there is a big discount on this for black Friday, but not holding my breath, since it’s a niche item. It’s just out of my price range. I bet they aren’t going to move many of these to non professionals at these prices point.
Really cool dewalt made these, if they come out with rivnut attachments for them, I’ll have to buy one.