Aerospace & Airframe
Production airframe riveting on fatigue-critical structure
For professional airframe and aerospace riveting, a tungsten bucking bar puts the most bucking mass into the smallest bar, so production shop heads form cleanly on fatigue-critical structure with less operator fatigue.
Production riveting rewards a bar that stays planted under the gun and repeats the same result rivet after rivet. At roughly 2.5 times the density of steel, tungsten reaches the backing mass an AN470 or AN426 solid rivet needs in a bar small enough to work skins, spars, and flanges without swapping to an oversized steel block.
Match the bar to the structure: straight bars for flat skin and open panels, angled bars for flanges and sloped faces, offset and hook bars to clear stiffeners and reach around channels, and low-profile bars where clearance is shallow. Step the weight class up for larger rivets and thick, fatigue-critical structure, and down for light skins where control matters more than mass.
Build-to-print and private-label tooling is available for shops that standardize on a fixed bar set across a line or program.
Common questions
What weight tungsten bucking bar is right for aerospace riveting?
For general airframe work with 1/8 in solid rivets, a 2 to 4 lb tungsten bar is a strong all-round choice. Step up to heavier bars for 5/32 in and larger rivets or thick, fatigue-critical structure, and down to lighter bars for thin skins. Use the Selector to match weight to your rivet size and access.
Why use tungsten instead of steel on airframe structure?
Tungsten is about 2.5 times denser than steel, so it delivers the same bucking mass in a much smaller, more controllable bar. That means tighter access, less hand fatigue over a long shift, and cleaner shop heads on fatigue-critical joints.
Which bar shapes cover wing skins versus spars and flanges?
Straight bars suit flat wing and fuselage skin. Angled bars handle flanges and sloped faces. Offset and hook bars reach around spars, stiffeners, and channels where a straight bar will not seat. See the size and weight chart for the full range.
Do you supply standardized bar sets or private-label tooling?
Yes. Build-to-print and private-label bucking bars are available for shops and programs that standardize on a fixed set. Request a quote with your specification or drawing.
For tungsten in this sector beyond bucking bars, see tungsten components for aerospace from our sister company.