Before we introduce this wonderful tool from the 2 world-renowned manufacturing companies. On behalf of the riveting newbies. Let’s first discuss what huck and lockbolt mean in the riveting world and how it works.
It’s a fact that vibration-resistant bolts are commonly used when manufacturing heavy equipment, truck repair, automotive, rail, agriculture, mining, oil and gas and other applications in which old-fashioned nuts and bolts won’t stand up to the task.
What makes the Huck bolt so popular for heavy-duty fastener applications is that it is designed to be a permanent joint that resists vibration. Once installed, it won’t loosen up like regular nuts and bolts.
Huck bolts offer a clean and reliable alternative to welding, and they are faster and more efficient to install.
What is a Huck fastener?
A HuckBolt is a two-piece fastener that consists of a hardened metal pin and a metal collar that swages into the grooves of the pin, forming a specific, measured clamp force to hold assembled parts together.
The Birth of the Huck Bolt
The first lockbolt fasteners were patented in 1950 by Louis C. Huck, who developed these bolts for the U.S. Navy and for the railroad industry in 1944 as a means to overcome the problem of bolts loosening due to vibration.
The fasteners were branded as Huck Bolts® by Alcoa Fastening Systems, which later became Arconic Fastening Systems. To date, the industry has yet to improve on Louis Huck’s original design.
Whereas conventional bolts are set using a nut, a Huck bolt is set using a permanent sleeve or collar that fits around a grooved pin.
The collar is fitted into a pre-drilled hole and as the collar is tightened, it is squeezed and forced into the grooves of the pin to swage the collar.
The result is a direct, metal-to-metal joint that eliminates transverse vibration and delivers superior tensile and shear strength. A lot more knowledge of the huck bolt can be gotten from our source.
Difference between huck bolts and lock bolts?
Should in case the term Lock bolts used for this tool in review confuse you. Relax! Lock bolts are also known as two-piece fasteners which offer very high strength, high-security joints in applications that require the most robust fastening solution.
Hence the similarity of huck and lock bolts.
This means that a lock bolt and huck bolt are quite the same and are commonly used for one another. And for this post, we would be using the word lockbolts.
I believe by now, you should have an idea of what a lockbolt is and how it looks.
So, lets us continue with the purpose of this post which is a review of HUCK MAKITA BV4500 TOOL.
The lockbolt tool remains the brainwork of Makitatools in partnership with Huck Aerobolt, they are one of the foremost manufacturers of power tools in the world.
With substantial years’ experience, their products have been lauded worldwide for both performance and quality.
Brushless motor
Huck Makita Bv4500 Tool unlike other traditional rivet guns runs on brushless motors instead of brushed motors which are not efficient.
This made the tool highly resourceful and effective to last a longer life expectancy.
With its brushless motors, Huck Makita Bv4500 Tool renders an ideal running time better than brushed motors, hence transferring extra power to the motor.
Speed control
In terms of speed, the tool delivers riveting speedily with a pulling force of 4500lbs with a stroke of 1.18” (30mm) stroke having the power needed for its efficiency.
Ergonomics
The package is included with two Makita, (5.0Ah) five amp batteries having a recharge time of 46 minutes approx, consistent with the Makita heavy-duty line of lithium-ion batteries that are being used on all of the Makita products you see in the market these days, cordless drills, screwdrivers, saws.
This is the same exact adaptation of that. Included with a Makita 18-volt quick charger.
Huck Makita Bv4500 Tool was produced with efficiency and environmentally friendly designs in mind.
The tool came with a comfortable grip reducing hand and forearm strain weighing 13.7 pounds. The included lithium-ion battery also weighs 5.5pounds with the Makita 18v charger.
The tool Installations per charge has the capacity to set 1500 rivets & 500 Huck bolts Ø 6.4 mm.
It’s got a nice belt buckle that you can use, and a little belt buckle adapter to hang on the side of your belt. It’s got an electronic adjustable power
which was one of the only tools on the market right now that actually has the ability to control the Pull power, the pounds of traction power that the tool will actually stroke back on the fastener with.
There are three buttons on the downside of the tool with digital controls of the Pull power and then there are the standard Huck nose adaptations set up that you would see on Huck’s pneumatic line of tools.
The Huck Makita Bv4500 Tool has a removable pintail or mandrill collection bottle with a capacity of 100 pins, anything over that jams the tool.
The nose equipment typically will release the spent mandrel or the spent pin tail when the next fastener is placed in the tool.
Lastly is a portable rigid case with nice durable locks produced for mobility.
Compatibility
Huck Makita Bv4500 Tool has the ability to set both structural and non-structural rivets up to 1/4″.
This tool is designed primarily for ¼” (6.4mm) and 3/16” (4.8mm) diameter lock bolts and also 3/16” (4.8mm) and ¼” (6.4mm) diameter rivets as well.
But nose assembly is sold separately and the good thing is many of the nose assemblies that are used on the existing Huck family of products for pneumatic tools and their hydraulic tools will adapt directly onto this Makita BV4500 Huck tool.
The tool is suitable for stainless, Aluminium and steel materials with a professional wide range of applications.
While the nosepiece can be changed with a wrench or bare hands quickly in order to prepare it for the next riveting.
Pros
- One-hand operation
- Beautifully swage bolt
- Rapid speed and good ease of usage
- Highly durable and strong tool.
- Not too loud with minimal noise
- Electronic adjustable digital stroke setting
- A rigid case for packaging and mobility.
- Led work light for illumination esp in a dark area
- Installs both Huck bolts and rivets
- Compatible with 2 Makita batteries & charger
- Instruction manual available
Cons
- Nose assemblies are sold separately
- The huck tool is highly expensive
Conclusion
Makita BV4500 Huck tool is no doubt a resourceful tool for heavy projects, it’s really a good choice of tool in any tool inventory.
Especially with the electronic adjustable digital stroke settings which would be appearing on type of cordless tools that are now currently coming on the market lately.
If you are financially buoyant and capable to have one, then you would find out how best the choice you made when you get that desired project or contract delivered.
