5 Common Misconceptions About How Blind Rivets Work

The basic design of any blind rivet is the same. It consists of a hollow, cylindrical body and a mandrel insert with a head. The installer pulls the mandrel from one side of the joint, collapsing the rivet on the far side. They are called blind rivets because they can be set from one side; the blind or collapsed side is deformed and set when the mandrel is pulled. Most blind rivets are set using a rivet tool that pulls the rivet outward to set it and then snaps off the mandrel to finalize the installation. These are commonly called breakstem rivets.

Because there are so many different types of blind rivets for many applications, there are also persistent misconceptions about blind rivets. Let’s set the record straight on five common myths about blind rivets.

Myth 1: All blind fasteners are the same.

There are substantive differences between types of blind fasteners, so it’s a mistake to assume they’re all the same. Fasteners may have different specifications, including in:

Materials

Blind rivets are available in a wide range of materials, including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, nickel plate, and even plastic. You want to choose the best material for the task. For example, steel blind rivets are suitable for heavy-duty applications, such as construction. Stainless steel is hard and corrosive-resistant for applications that must withstand wear or exposure to the elements. Stainless steel, aluminum, and brass rivets are often used for marine applications since they don’t corrode.

As a rule, the rivet materials should match the assembly materials to prevent galvanic reactions. Special coatings or platings can help prevent corrosion or chemical reactions. The rivet body and the mandrel are often made of different materials. For example, it’s common to see copper alloy rivets with steel mandrels for added strength and reduced costs.

Head Types

Blind rivets also have different head styles. There are three basic head types: dome, large flange, and countersunk. Dome heads are for general uses and leave a rounded head on the exposed side of the rivet. Large flanges provide added support to blind rivets used with softer and thinner materials, such as sheet metal, wood, and plastics, to prevent pull-through. Countersunk heads are finished flush with the material’s surface, which can be important for aesthetics or engineering reasons.

Structural Options

Structural and non-structural blind rivets are available for different applications. Structural blind rivets are used for construction, transportation, and other applications where fasteners must withstand vibration and support high-stress loads. Non-structural applications include appliances, electronics, and where additional strength isn’t needed.

High-strength rivets for structural applications are designed with locking mandrels that lock into place inside the rivet body. This provides added strength in the shear plane and added clamp-up force to handle vibrations.

Myth 2: You can access blind fasteners from either side.

The concept of blind fasteners was developed in the 1930s for applications such as aircraft manufacturing; it was difficult to assemble a plane using conventional rivets because you couldn’t access both sites of the rivet.

Blind rivets are fasteners that are installed from one side of a workpiece. A special tool pulls the mandrel and flattens the rivet on the blind side. If you have to access both sides of the fastener, it’s not a blind rivet.

Myth 3: Blind fasteners are easy to remove.

Blind rivets are designed to be permanent and tamperproof. Once correctly installed, they should last forever, which is why they are used in automotive, aerospace, and construction applications.

Any blind fastener can be removed using special tools. The most common approach is to drill them out with a power drill. However, they can’t be removed easily.

Myth 4: Any blind rivet will work.

There are so many different blind rivets because there are so many potential applications. It’s important to choose the proper rivet for the application.

For example, blind rivets are essential for manufacturing trucks and railcars, which must withstand severe, continuous vibration. Failure to use the correct blind rivets could result in the fasteners shaking loose or failing.

Corrosive environments also require specialty fasteners. Fasteners for containers that hold corrosive gases or liquids must be made of corrosive-resistant materials with sealed ends to prevent these liquids or gases from escaping.

Myth 5: You can find the fasteners you need from any supplier.

Just like there are specialty blind fasteners, there are fastener specialists. When choosing the right blind rivets for any task, it’s essential to work with a supplier who knows the available options, including materials, head types, sizes, finishes, and other specifications.

The Bay Supply Marketplace offers a complete catalog of blind fasteners in every configuration for every application. The experts at Bay Supply work with all the major vendors and their products and can recommend the best blind rivets for your needs. Bay Supply also has an in-house sales and service department for fastener tools and is a factory-authorized distributor and service outlet for all major brands.

To learn more about blind rivets and tools, download The Essential Guide to Blind Rivets.