Looking for a Reliable Rivet Supplier?
Choosing the right rivet is crucial for ensuring that your products provide customers with a seamless experience. Whether you're involved in motor body building, security fence installations, or countless other projects, sourcing rivets from a specialized fastening company that understands their functionality is essential. For quick and informed rivet selection, we now offer an all-in-one link on our website's top menu bar. Rivet Dept is committed to everything related to rivets, including rivet tools and rivet articles. Our offerings span from versatile multi-grip rivets to specialized Tri-Fold rivets and heavy-duty industrial-strength Huck rivets. For all your rivet needs—from selecting the right type to testing services—Rivet Department is your one-stop destination.
Before diving deeper into this article, let’s revisit the basics. What exactly is a rivet? Fundamentally, a rivet consists of two parts: a tube and a pin. The pin is usually longer than the tube and designed to be pulled up through the tube, expanding it during installation. As the body expands, it secures the material between the two ends. At a predetermined point, the pin used to pull up the body breaks off, leaving behind a secure fastener. The key advantages of rivets are their speed and ease of use, durability, and affordability. They work well for joining various materials, including thin sheets of metal, composites, and more.
- One-sided assembly ensures fast installations since access to the backside isn’t needed.
- Highly resilient, forming a permanent mechanical joint.
- Easy to operate with air, cordless, or manual rivet tools requiring minimal effort and training.
- Design flexibility with a wide range of types and materials suitable for most applications.
- Simple inspection and maintenance without the need for costly equipment for quality checks.
What Are the Main Types of Rivets?
Here, we’ll outline different subcategories of rivets along with some specialized heavy-duty structural rivets. While there are many types like semi-tubular, split, and solid rivets, this article focuses solely on blind rivets. Your choice of rivet should depend on the application requirements, whether you’re installing lightweight gutters or fabricating heavy-duty trucks. Numerous terms describe the same rivet type, and we’ve included the various descriptions in the titles.
General Rivet Types:
Open-End Rivet (Pop Rivet or Blind Rivet):
An open-end rivet means the rivet body is hollow, or an "open-end tube." This is the most common and least expensive type. Available in various materials such as steel, aluminum, all steel, all aluminum, stainless steel, and nickel-copper. This rivet also offers the widest variety of head styles, including dome heads, trusses, and large flanges.
Closed-End Rivets (Sealed Rivets):
Sealed or closed-end rivets feature a cup-shaped end that prevents water ingress inside the body but not between the body and the material. Many customers mistakenly believe these rivets are completely waterproof, which isn’t entirely accurate. Compared to open-end rivets of the same size and material, closed-end rivets provide better shear and tensile strength.
Multi-Grip Rivet:
Multi-Grip rivets are robust and highly adaptable due to their extended material grip range. This rivet is our strongest standard choice; many find it reduces stock options by replacing multiple open-end rivets with a single Multi-Grip rivet, cutting costs and minimizing operator errors. Compared to open-end rivets of the same size and material, Multi-Grip rivets offer greater shear and tensile strength.
Tri-Folding Rivet:
Aluminum tri-folding rivets are split or slotted body rivets designed for lightweight materials such as fiberglass, plastics, thin steel sheets, and composites. These rivets form a propeller-shaped anchor connection on the blind side of the material without damaging it. Tri-folding rivets are installed using the same type of rivet gun as standard rivets.
Peel Rivet:
Peel rivets are ideal for joining softer materials like wood, plastic, rubber, fiberglass, and laminates. Upon installation, the rivet body splits into petals that bend outward, similar to peeling a banana. The petals bend outward and contact the blind side of the material, creating a large anchor head.
Grooved Rivet:
Grooved rivets are designed to be installed within a hole as they infuse themselves into the material, making them ideal for soft materials such as wood, plastics, and other fibrous materials. When set correctly, the annular rings around the body expand and embed into the surrounding material, meaning the rivet doesn’t require an open hole to function as it sets itself within the material.
Structural Rivet. Heavy Duty Rivets:
Huck Magna-Lok (Monobolt®):
Huck Magna-Lok® is a versatile structural rivet perfect for multiple material grip ranges. This rivet features Huck’s unique internal locking mechanism, offering high resistance to vibration and moisture. Installation is fast and easy using conventional Huck brand guns or structural rivet guns. Aerobolt is Australia's number one Huck distributor, offering the complete range of structural rivets and tools.
Orlock® Rivet (High Strength Rivets, Orlock® Rivets):
Orlock® High Strength Rivets and other standard grip bulb-forming rivets like Orlock® rivets feature a double-locking system that secures the material on both sides of the panel for great strength, providing a vibration and weather-resistant joint. It has a non-protruding blind-side bulb that spreads the load while avoiding pull-through. Installation is straightforward using a Huck gun or other structural rivet tools, as standard rivet guns aren’t built to install structural rivets. This type is also known as Allok® rivet, Hemlok® rivet, or Ornit® rivet.
Bulb-Tite Rivet (Huck-Tite, Tri-Bulb):
These rivets differ from others due to their slot body that creates a propeller-shaped blind-side anchor combined with a washer to provide a weatherproof joint. Bulb-Tite®, Huck-Tite, and many other tri-folding split-body rivets spread their clamping force through the anchor blades while providing excellent pull-through resistance, making them ideal for lightweight panel applications, humid conditions, or where water might be an issue.
How Do I Select the Right Rivet?
Rivet selection is straightforward—you'll need to consider the rivet material, rivet diameter size, and the thickness of the materials being joined.
Rivet Material:
Rivets are categorized by the material of the body and the pin. For example, "aluminum/steel" means an aluminum body with a steel pin. These fasteners typically come in steel, stainless steel, or aluminum or combinations of these materials.
The rivet material type gives a good indication of its strength. Generally, an aluminum body with an aluminum pin is not very strong; aluminum body with steel pins is slightly stronger; steel body with steel pins is stronger still; and stainless-steel body with either steel or stainless-steel pins is the strongest. Use steel rivets for heavy-duty applications and aluminum rivets for lighter tasks. Ensure the rivet material is compatible with the material being joined to avoid galvanic corrosion. Avoid using aluminum and stainless steel together; we recommend keeping the material like-for-like for maximum lifespan. Stainless with stainless, aluminum with aluminum, etc. When reviewing materials, consider environmental factors like extreme temperatures or salt sprays. See the table below as a general guide.
Drill Hole Size and Grip Range:
Rivet diameter selection is guided by the material gauge. For instance, use smaller diameter rivets with lightweight fascia covers and larger diameter rivets for tool box fabrication. Larger diameter rivets are generally stronger. As a general rule, the rivet diameter should be about three times the thickness of the thickest piece of joined material.
Drill hole size is also critical. If the rivet diameter is too small for its hole, the fastener will fail. Checking hole diameters before drilling is an easy way to avoid issues later.
Material Grip Range:
The material grip range refers to the thickness or the depth the rivet can be effectively installed. For example, if two 1.5 mm plates need to be riveted, a blind rivet with a material grip range between 2-5 mm is required. Best practice suggests aiming for the middle grip range of a rivet, followed by the minimum and maximum. This helps achieve correct shear and tensile strength while ensuring the longevity of the rivet. Note that the grip range is not the length of the rivet as many mistakenly believe.
Rivet Head Type:
The rivet head assists in holding the material together and enhances appearance. Dome heads are shaped like a small part of a sphere and sit prominently above the material, while large flange or truss heads have a shallower, broader profile. Large flange or truss heads have double the bearing area of dome heads, making them ideal for fastening rubber, plastics, or fiberglass. Countersunk options provide a flush, neat finish when countersinking a hole first, allowing the head to sit level with the surrounding material.
Pop Rivet vs. Blind Rivet:
A common customer query is whether there’s a difference between pop rivets and blind rivets. The answer is simple: there’s no difference. Both terms refer to the same item—a blind rivet means you don’t need access to the other side of the material or can’t see the other side. Also known as pop rivets because this is the name of the original rivet company—Pop®—and this is the sound rivets make upon installation.
Frequently Asked Pop Rivet Questions:
How Do I Order Rivets?
There are various types of rivet code formats. At Aerobolt, we use the same product code as Marson® Rivets, a division of Howmet Aerospace. The rivet code begins with the "body material," followed by the "head type," "body diameter," a dash, and then the "grip range" (both representative numbers rather than actual measurements). The code concludes with the pin material.
In the above product code example (in the red box), beginning from left to right we have:
A = Aluminum body material. Other options include S = Steel, SS = Stainless, etc.
B = Button/Dome Head. Alternatively, you can choose T/LF = Truss/Large Flange, C = Countersunk.
6 = 4.8mm (3/16") body diameter. Other options are 4 = 3.2mm (1/8"), 5 = 4.0mm (5/32"), 8 = 6.4mm (1/4").
6 = 7.9 - 9.5mm this is the material grip range. See grip codes number table in the previous section.
S = Steel pin/mandrel material. Other options are SS = Stainless, A = Aluminum, etc.
How Do I Remove a Pop Rivet?
Removing a rivet is straightforward with the right tools. This requires destroying the rivet, and the best method is drilling it. You will need a drill, drill bit, long-nose pliers, and safety accessories like glasses and gloves.
Steps:
1. Put on your safety glasses and gloves before starting the drilling process.
2. Place the drill bit against the rivet’s center pin and drill through the body at a low but steady speed.
3. Once drilling is completed, pull the rivet off with your long-nose pliers. Easy, right?
How Do I Install a Rivet?
Installing a rivet is simple with practice. Pre-drilling of holes is required. Load the rivet’s pin tail section into the rivet gun. Insert the rivet’s body into the hole and activate the gun. Upon activation, the head of the rivet is pushed against the outer surface of the tool, while the tool pulls up the central pin. As a result, the bottom portion of the rivet compresses and expands on the blind side. This expansion increases until it reaches approximately one and a half times the size of the original diameter, resulting in a larger surface where the two materials are effectively fastened together.
How Does a Pop Rivet Work?
Rivets work ingeniously. Essentially, a rivet consists of two components: a metal tube (body) and a pin (mandrel). The pin is normally longer than the tube and designed to be pulled up through the tube while enlarging it during the process. This results in the expanded tube clamping the material between the two ends of the tube. See the image below to better understand how a rivet works.
Which Is the Best Rivet Gun?
Selecting the correct rivet gun depends on several factors related to your specific requirements. The rivet gun section is covered in the blog: Ultimate Guide to Rivet Guns.
Which Is the Strongest Rivet?
Structural blind rivets are the strongest option on the market due to their unique combination of internal pin retention and locking mechanisms that create their inner strength. Aerobolt has the complete Huck Structural Rivet range, including the original multi-grip rivet "Magna-Lok," the Huck Rivet "Magna-Bulb" with its superior installation values, and the hybrid of the two, "Hucklok Rivet." The strongest structural rivet option is the Huck Rivet "Magna-Bulb." Refer to the table below to compare a range of structural rivet test lab results.
Can I Get Colored Pop Rivets?
Yes, painted rivets are available. They cost a bit more than mill (raw) finish rivets and are available in a wide range of colors. Refer to the Colorbond® color chart for your selection.
When Is It Better to Use a Rivet Rather Than a Bolt and Nut?
Bolts and nuts offer a useful combination of strength and convenience and are ideal for static applications where movement is minimal. The disadvantage of these fasteners is their poor resistance to vibration, meaning they will loosen and lose their grip over time. Huck bolts and Huck's structural rivets overcome this issue, so the right answer depends on the application.
Who Invented the Pop Rivet?
In 1934, the George Tucker Eyelet Company was approached by an aircraft manufacturer to develop a fastener that could be set from just one side of the material. This led to the world-famous POP® rivet—named for the “popping†sound it makes during installation—now owned by Stanley Black & Decker.
Why Are Rivets Used on Airplanes?
Rivets are preferred for airplane construction because they can withstand extreme stress. They are said to withstand extreme stress without breaking and are resistant to damage. They are used in aerospace manufacturing because they simplify both production and maintenance. Another reason is that the aluminum materials used are intolerant to heat.
Can You Assist Me With Rivet Selection?
Sure, the Aerobolt team can help with rivet selection and much more. We are one of Sydney's leading rivet suppliers, offering a comprehensive range of general rivets and industrial-strength structural rivets, along with a wide range of rivet guns. You can reach us by calling 02 9755 3747 or emailing us via the contact us page.
Do You Deliver Rivets Throughout Australia?
Yes, we can deliver nationwide through our network of courier companies. In Sydney, we offer same-day delivery if you order before 10:00 AM or next-day delivery. Deliveries to regional New South Wales or major Australian cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, and regional South-Eastern Australia are either next-day or two-day turnaround.
Rivet Supplies Summary.
Rivets offer superior fastening capabilities for both heavy-duty and light fabrication applications. They are found in the metal roofing and gutters that protect our homes, in air conditioners that make us more comfortable, in the cars we drive, the planes we fly, and the ships we sail. Wherever there’s a construction site or fabrication workshop, there’s likely a rivet in use.
At the conclusion of this blog, it is clear that rivets are an important option in numerous building and manufacturing sectors. Regardless of the rivet type or label required for your project, with proper planning, your project will succeed. Here at Aerobolt, we have a comprehensive range of rivet products and can assist with your application. Simply call us on 02 9755 3747 or contact us for all your riveting needs.
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