Five Elements to Consider Selecting the Most Suitable Rivets

Rivets are permanent fasteners that can be installed from one side of a joint. Before installation, a rivet consists of a smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end (rivet body). The end opposite to the head is called the mandrel. During installation, the jaw mechanism of a rivet gun pulls the mandrel through the rivet body and breaks the mandrel at a set point, causing the rivet body to expand and grip the two pieces together.

Rivets are easy to install and provide excellent resistance to vibration and corrosion. That’s why they are used in a wide range of industries, such as aerospace, automotive, agriculture, HVAC and electronic devices. However, there are so many types of rivets available in the market, choosing the most suitable one to your job requires understanding of the basic elements of rivets:

Grip range – It is one of the major elements you will need to consider. The thickness of the materials being joined must be within the grip range of the rivets. Otherwise, the rivets may not be installed properly. If the materials happen to be at the exact maximum thickness of the grip, having the next grip up is recommended.

Hole size – When it comes to installation, the rivet body or head is inserted in a pre-drilled hole, and the diameter of this part is referred to rivet diameter. To ensure the rivet performance, always prepare hole size to the manufacturers specification.

Material – Rivets can be made of aluminium, steel, stainless steel, copper, nickel copper, zinc and more, sometimes a mix of different materials for the body and the mandrel. You will need to pick the correct material rivet for both sides of the workpiece to avoid galvanic corrosion. For example, you may use stainless steel rivets for an aluminium workpiece, but not the other way around. It’s always safe to use the same material fasteners as the workpiece.

Flange – The rivet flange remains on the visible side after installation. There are various flange options available, shape and size wise. Pick the most suitable flange for your application. For example, the large flange is perfect for soft or brittle materials such as plastic or fibre glass. It provides enough surface area to prevent pull-through, yet without damaging the workpiece; The countersunk head, however, leaves a beautiful flush finish, but needs to be wide enough to fight against pull-through. Also, always check the angle of the countersunk head rivets (90°, 100° or 120°) and make sure the pre-drilled hole matches the angle.

Strength – Last but not least, the shear and tensile strength of the rivet will also need to be considered, especially for some critical applications. The strength varies from different materials and sizes of the rivet, so selecting a good balanced rivet among these specifications is essential.

The good news is, out of all rivet suppliers, RivetLab rivets online presents all types of high-performance rivets. These include standard rivets, multi-grip rivets, structural rivets and sealed and trifold rivets. We also provide technical advice on rivet selection and installation. You are more than welcome to give us a call on 02 9882 1112 to discuss your needs.

About RivetLab®

Based in Sydney, RivetLab® are leading Australian rivet suppliers, offering a wide range of rivets, rivnuts, installation tools, under the renowned brands such as Gesipa®, FAR, POP® and Gage Bilt. Buy rivets online from RivetLab® today.

The author is one of the best rivet suppliers, the go-to specialist in offering high-performance rivet supplies in and around Australia. Visit https://rivetlab.com/ for more details.

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