Brand ARES has been a unique company from day one producing high-quality and resourceful tools which are and would always be accepted professionally.
This particular review is based on one of their manual production which is ARES 70418.
The Ares 70418 is a manual heavy-duty rivet nut setter made in a reliable and efficient manner with respect to their motto of convenience, transparency and positive experience.
Ergonomics
Ares 70418 is a blind lightweight nut rivet gun weighing 4.83 pounds and constructed in Taiwan from high carbon steel with shockproof handles to improve lifelong expectancy.
The red “head” is machined aluminium. The bolts are grade 12.9 (high-strength alloy steel). The remaining structural parts are steel.
Arms are “U” formed steel 0.1″ thick with an overall cross-section of 0.77″ x 0.63″ and 10.5″ long with dual durometer polymer handles. The black is softer with more grip.
The knurled tension nut is threaded on and uses a set screw on a shaft flat to lock in place.
The included two-toned hand grips are made to increase the user’s comfort and reduce the usual hand fatigue that does occur during long usage.
And It requires developing a “feel” of the handle force to get proper rivnut compression which depends on the gage of metal and the rivnut.
A user might start with the handles open to 90 degrees when rivnut compression begins. Then fully close the handles.
With a mandrel installed the overall length of the Ares 70418 measures up to 13″.
Compatibility
In terms of compatibility, the Ares 70818 nut setter features a compatible and interchangeable 6 mandrel set which are M5, M6, M8, 10-24, 1/4-20, and 5/16-18.
Each mandrel set also comes with 10 rivets nuts to match various applications.
It comes with a wrench for swapping the mandrel and it also has a tool-less quick change mechanism, that is it could easily be changed with hands in order to set the next nut for rapid installation.
Lastly, the Ares 70418 includes a hard portable case with outer dimensions of 13 1/4 x 9 3/4 x 2 1/2″ meant for organizing, transportation and convenience.
Application
The rivet gun has been tested with different materials of aluminium, steel and stainless steel rivet nut in which the finished product all came out well.
The tool is also found to be resourceful in tighter and more difficult angles or spots without stressing the user’s arms.
The application ranges from instruments, furniture, buildings, decorations etc
Pros
- Handy sturdy carrying case
Great ease of usage - Affordable
- High and durable quality
- Sets rivets nut fine and smoothly
- Solid product
- Good for tight spots
Cons
- Found the rivnuts is not hard enough to suit some few applications
- The included short handles limit the leverage for setting larger nuts easily.
- The nosepieces were noticed to jam sometimes and this requires disassembly.
- The tool would not set stainless and stainless steel rivet nuts greater than 8mm easily. In other words, 10mm rivnuts is a no-no.
Conclusion
Considering the past tools manufactured by ARES. The 70418 tool is also worth the purchase value. It is tested to be efficient and widely accepted among professionals for various applications.
Although there are more tools on the market that could work better but yet with the Ares 70418 price and features. It tends to be a handy tool in every household toolbox.
