FAQ
Answers on tungsten bucking bars, sizing, and ordering
Answers to the most common tungsten bucking bar questions, what they are, how to choose weight and shape, which bar fits your access, and how to get a quote.
What is a tungsten bucking bar?
A tungsten bucking bar is a dense hand tool held against the back of a solid rivet while it's driven, so the shop head forms cleanly. Its mass absorbs the rivet gun's blows. Tungsten is used because, at roughly 2.5× the density of steel, it packs more bucking mass into a smaller, easier-to-handle bar.
Why use tungsten instead of a steel bucking bar?
Tungsten delivers the same bucking mass in a much smaller bar, about 2.5× denser than steel. That means tighter access in confined structure, less hand and wrist fatigue, and cleaner driven heads with less bounce. See tungsten vs. steel bucking bars.
How heavy should my bucking bar be?
Match the bar weight to the rivet size and structure: lighter bars (under 1.5 lb) for small rivets and light gauge, medium bars (1.5–3 lb) for general airframe work, and heavy bars (3 lb and up) for larger rivets and thick structure. Our weight guide breaks it down.
What shape of bucking bar do I need?
Pick the shape by access: straight bars for flat skin and open structure, angled bars for corners and flanges, offset bars for stepped or recessed work, hook bars to reach around edges, and low-profile bars for thin, confined gaps. The Bucking Bar Selector recommends a bar from your rivet location.
Which bucking bar works for bottom wing skin or deep access?
For rivets well in from an edge, use a long, thin reach bar that carries mass into the work while fitting the gap; for shallow bottom-skin areas, a low-profile bar (0.5 in or less thick) slips in while still backing the rivet. Browse reach bars and low-profile bars.
Do you sell bucking bar sets or kits?
Yes, starter, pro, and homebuilder bucking bar kits group bars that cover the most common rivet jobs. Request a quote on any kit.
Can you make a custom bucking bar to my drawing?
Yes. We build tungsten bucking bars to print and support private-label OEM tooling. Send a drawing through Custom and OEM and we will quote it.
Do you make tungsten cubes, balls, or other tungsten products?
No. USA Tungsten makes tungsten bucking bars only. For tungsten cubes, balls, heavy alloy, and other tungsten products, see tungsten products at TungstenParts.com. Request a quote
How much denser is tungsten than steel?
Tungsten alloy is about 2.5 times as dense as steel, so a tungsten bucking bar delivers the same backing mass as a steel bar more than twice its size. For the underlying figures, see tungsten material properties.
What is tungsten heavy alloy made of?
Tungsten heavy alloy is a high-density material that is mostly tungsten, blended with a small amount of nickel and iron (or nickel and copper) as a binder. That composition is what gives a bucking bar its mass in a compact size. Learn more about tungsten heavy alloy.
How do I get pricing and lead time?
Every bar is quote-only, there's no cart or list price. Use Request a Quote (it pre-fills the SKU when you come from a product page) and we'll reply with current pricing and lead time.