Rivets

There are two primary types of rivets - solid rivets and blind rivets. Solid rivets are generally thought of as non-precision fasteners. Typically, a solid rivet will be inserted into an assembly and held into place by deforming (hammering) the end or by inserting a clevis or cotter pin through a hole which is drilled into the end of the rivet

Wikipedia defines rivet: "A rivet is a permanent mechanical fastener. Before it is installed it consists of a smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. The end opposite the head is called the buck-tail. On installation the rivet is placed in a pre-drilled hole. Then the tail is "upset" (i.e. deformed) so that it expands to about 1.5 times the original shaft diameter and holds the rivet in place. To distinguish between the two ends of the rivet, the original head is called the factory head and the deformed end is called the shop head or buck-tail.

Because there is effectively a head on each end of an installed rivet it can support tension loads (loads parallel to the axis of the shaft); however, it is much more capable of supporting shear loads (loads perpendicular to the axis of the shaft). Bolts and screws are better suited for tension applications

Fastenings used in traditional wooden boat building like copper nails and clinch bolts work on the principle of the rivet but they were in use long before the term rivet was invented and, where they are remembered, are usually classified among the nails and bolts respectively."

Blind rivets consist of a mandrel and rivet body. The mandrel is inserted into a rivet gun (an assembly tool) which can be operated manually, hydraulically or electrically. High speed assemblies are usually conducted with hydraulic or electric rivet guns. The mandrel is inserted into the nozzle of the rivet gun. The operator of the rivet gun then inserts the rivet body into the application. A trigger is pulled which pulls the mandrel through the rivet body which deforms one side of the rivet. The mandrel is discarded after assembly, leaving the rivet body permanently in place.

Blind rivets are available in steel, stainless and aluminum. Sonfast Corporation is a distributor for the POP brand of blind rivets (Manufactured by Emhart Corporation) as well as Gesipa and Avdel.