Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I no longer do a great number of reviews for the products I buy on Amazon, simply because I buy so many. That said, I do try and review the products that stand out for either how well they perform, or in the rare cases where they do not perform as advertised. This review will cover the later. I also write a review when I encounter great or not so great customer service. Sadly, this review will also reflect the later in this area as well. I want to say right up front that Astro has backed up their warranty thus far and that this is a cautionary message based on my personal experience. Here is the very short version after which you can read on if you want more detail. Quick disclaimer: I have not tested this tool with aluminum or plain steel rivnuts. Pro: 1. I love the molded tool case. Everything has a place and stays neat. 2. The tool looks and feels good. It does not look or feel cheap. 3. The exterior body is a nice thick gauge of aluminum and a deeply knurled exterior finish makes for a good gripping surface. Cons: 1. For all of its good looks this tool is only as tough as the drill it’s in. 2. This tool, Astro’s most powerful Driver / Drill actuated model does not perform well with Stainless Steel rivnuts above 1/4” in size. I do explain a work around for this further in. 3. You will need a powerful Driver / Drill for this adapter to perform. I own an 18V Milwaukee Fuel Driver/Drill Hammer Drill. A very powerful tool. It’s even used by Astro in their ADN38 demo video. It is not enough drill to do Stainless Rivnuts in Driver mode, as advertised. 4. One small part, a circlip, Part # 27 listed as E-Clip, seems to be the weak link. 5. Astro needs to do some work on Customer service and develop more of a pro customer attitude. Retraining? 6. If I buy a tool at Lowes or HD and it breaks or doesn’t perform it goes right back. No one gives me the stink eye and I’m not asked to pay again for the privilege of getting that service. Within 30 days, the same is true with Amazon, but apparently not it’s suppliers. Late this summer I learned about a fastening system that allows blind installation of threaded inserts. These inserts enable a much deeper fastening surface for bolts or machine screws in thinner metals. These nuts, if you will, are known as “nutserts” and or “rivnuts” short for “Rivet Nuts” and they attach very much like rivets. Most likely you are already familiar with them to some extent or you would not be reading this review. I decided that these would be perfect for a project I’m working on. The project is an Airstream trailer re-build and I felt that rivnuts would be an ideal way to secure the galvanized water tank pans which will support my Fresh, Gray and Black water storage tanks. The tank pans bolt up to the bottom of the steel chassis frame. I’ve learned that rivnuts are made from three metals, aluminum, steel and stainless steel. I could not use aluminum for this application because steel is corrosive to aluminum and that would most likely cause problems. The steel rivnuts although some are plated with zinc did not seem like a good choice for an exterior application. I decided that stainless steel rivnuts and bolts would hold up best since the frame is steel and the tank pan area will be exposed to exterior elements and road grime including the corrosive chemicals used to treat roads for ice, etc. The four sizes of rivnuts I knew I’d be installing were, 3/8”, 5/16”, 1/4” and 3/16”. I learned that meant I’d need a pretty robust rivnut insertion tool. My research brought me to the XL Rivet Nut Drill Adapter, the ADN38 on Amazon. Astro Pneumatic Tool Company, the maker of this tool, claims that the XL Rivet Nut Adapter will handle rivnuts up to 3/8”- 16. I purchased this ADN38 through Amazon and it arrived Oct. 1st. It arrived well packaged and it comes in a nice molded plastic case. A card was included with it that requested the purchaser should contact Astro directly if warranty problems arose. In bold print the first sentence at the top of this neon orange card Astro states, “We know your time is valuable.” Then it goes on to say that dealing directly with them will reduce down time experienced by a broken part. When the tool arrived I tested it right away with a couple of my stainless steel 3/8” rivnuts. Following the directions I installed the proper mandrel and screwed on the first rivnut to the end of the mandrel. Then I placed it into the hole I had prepared in some 14 gauge galvanized sheet metal. Per the directions I began in forward driver mode with my clutch set to the lowest setting. The directions advise to begin at a low setting and increase the clutch setting until it compresses the rivnut. I went to its maximum setting (24) and it had not compressed the rivnut. I found that to install 3/8” stainless steel rivnuts required me to put my 18V Milwaukee Fuel driver/drill/hammer drill into full on drill mode, setting 1, (this deactivates the clutch) to properly compress the rivnuts. This involves a lot of torque and is difficult to control. I proceeded as slowly and carefully as I could. I installed two in this fashion. Satisfied that worked, but aware not as advertised, I put it away until the time arrived to begin installing my tank pan rivnuts. That day arrived on Sunday, Nov. 4th just 4 days outside of my Amazon 30 day warranty. I needed to install 43, 5/16” stainless steel rivnuts. Since I was using a smaller rivnut I went through the clutch setting process detailed in the instructions. Once again the maximum clutch setting was not strong enough to fully compress the rivnut. I put it into drill mode and proceeded, as the adapter was tightening down I heard and audible snap. The rivnut was only partially compressed, but because of the snap sound I attempted to back out the mandrel, instead the entire hex shank / driving shank backed out of the rear of the aluminum body of the ADN38. I knew that wasn’t good. The ADN38 broke installing the first rivnut. The third rivnut it had ever installed. I contacted Astro directly. My call was answered promptly and I was directed to a Product Manager for tech assistance. He told me the adapter was damaged and that it would need to be replaced. At that point I discussed with him what I needed to do to install the 3/8” and the 5/16” rivnuts and he concurred that stainless steel was the reason and that I would probably have to use the drill mode. I asked him if this was the right tool for the job. He said it was. He put me back with the Head of Customer Service (but at that point I did not know she was the in charge of the department). She told me I would need to ship the ADN38 back to them. They would inspect it and then either repair or replace it. This was already causing my hackles to rise. I’m trying to finish my chassis before it gets really cold and nasty outside and all I could see now was a Big Red Sign flashing DELAY! I asked for a return label and she told me I was responsible for shipping cost on my end. This did not sit well with me at all and I told her so. Her response was that it was clearly stated in the warranty that the purchaser was responsible for return shipping costs. Since I knew I had just spoken with a manager of some sort and I did not know the status of the women I was speaking with I asked to speak with him again. I was transferred and I expressed my surprise and displeasure with the news that I was responsible for any additional costs under the circumstances. He agreed and said he’d take care of it. After a brief hold I was transferred again back to the Customer Service person. Telling me how irregular this was she said she would need to get me a label and she would have to contact their NC warehouse and get it from them. She did not seem at pleased. I asked how long this might take and restated that I was kind of under a deadline. Unperturbed she told me it would be taken care of sometime that day. After several hours I called back and inquired about the label. I explained to her that I would still need to get it to a UPS drop off and would like to get it to them before their last pick up. She told me essentially that it was out of her control and would happen before the end of the day. Because I pressed her, she also told me that it should only take three or four days turn around. So I should probably have my repaired tool or new replacement on Friday. I did get the label via email about 3pm but was out running errands. I got home about 5 or 6 pm and went directly to UPS. I was not able to get to the UPS center in time for it to go out that day. This was Monday Nov. 5th. I heard nothing more all week. On Monday Nov. 12th I called the Customer Service person and asked her to check on the status. I also let her know how deeply dissatisfied I was. Coincidence or not a new ADN38 arrived the next afternoon with a small rechargeable flashlight in the box. No other message. I sent an email to my Customer Service parson and thanked her for the quick action. I began installing rivnuts the next day. Over a couple of days I installed 20+, 1/4” stainless steel rivnuts. These installed in driver mode with a clutch setting of around 20 – 22. A couple days later I was back on my frame installing the 5/16” rivnuts. I was able to install about 20 before the ADN38 broke again in the same way as before, about 23 short of being done. Frustrated I tried to use it as it was, but that was not happening. I also noticed that it had striped threads on the adapter end of my mandrel. This was again a Saturday so I contacted Astro on Monday, Nov. 19th. I spoke to the same people again and this time I was told by my Customer Service person that could send me the part they thought was breaking a small circlip, if I thought I could repair it myself. She told me this would be very easy (kind of, even I should be able to do it). Resigned that this was my new normal with this tool I agreed to try that. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a snap ring pliers set and waited for my parts. They also replaced the damaged mandrel. They arrived Thursday afternoon. Without going into a lot of detail I disassembled and rebuilt the ADN38 on Friday. The exploded diagram of the tool was my only guide and it does not explain that the bearing is actually three separate parts. Didn’t do it right the first time, which damaged the mandrel, so I got to do it again. The second time was the charm and it seemed to actually work better than it ever had. It still has the clutch problem with the larger rivnuts but it seems to run smoother. I also discover a trick for installing the larger 5/16” stainless rivnuts. I set it in driver mode with my clutch setting maxed out. I tighten the rivnut until the clutch releases and then I switch it to hammer mode and lightly squeeze the trigger. The drill still torques but not as much and I can feel it compress the rivnuts And the best part is no thread damage to the rivnuts. I discovered that about 10 of my previously installed 5/16” rivnuts had thread damage. Fortunately only about three will have to be redone. I have not attempted this yet, but I’m hoping it will be like drilling out a pop rivet. Thinking it would be helpful I took the time to send Astro via my Customer Service and Product Manager persons an email outlining my repair process and sharing my new found technique. On Nov. 28th, the reply I got from Customer Service was polite, but less than enthusiastic. Essentially, don’t do that and don’t expect this tool to do the job as advertised, also that they would be sending me a new mandrel and few more of the clips as I’d requested. I called them back yesterday, Nov. 29th. I spoke to Customer Service first and felt quickly like that was going nowhere. She switched me to the Product Manager and I had a fulfilling conversation with him. He assured me that my concerns and insights were not falling on deaf ears. My suggestion - if you have any questions about this rivnut installer, call Astro before you buy. 800-221- 9705