The rivet gun is used on rivet's factory head (the head present before riveting takes place), and a bucking bar is used to support the tail of the rivet. The energy from the hammer in the rivet gun drives the work and the rivet against the bucking bar. As a result, the tail of the rivet is compressed and work-hardened.

In short to tell about “how does a pneumatic rivet gun work”- compressed air pushes the rivet into its place when one presses the trigger. You just need to place the rivet on the end of the tool, insert into the hole and then fire.

When the rivet gun's handles are pulled together, this creates torque that pulls the pin of the rivet into the gun. This presses the head up against the gun, flattening it in the process. Once flattened, the rivet pin will break at a pre-made weak spot in the pin; this leaves the flattened head behind to hold the riveted materials together.

A pop rivet gun is placed on the rivet, pulling the mandrel into the rivet body, causing it to expand and grip the parts to be joined. Once gripped, the mandrel snaps, permanently holding the rivet in place. This results in a localised joint.

First, a hole is drilled or punched in the materials to be connected. The rivet is inserted between both holes. The tail is then upset or bucked (deformed) by mechanical force using a hammer or rivet gun. The tail then expands to around 1.5 times the original diameter of the shaft, holding the rivet in place between both materials.