Bay Supply Blog - Rivets, Fasteners, and Tools | Mike Eichinger (6)

If you have bought fasteners before, you have probably heard of Cherry rivets. The original application for Cherry rivets has been all but forgotten thanks to the many times the brand has changed hands, but they were actually created for aircraft manufacturing.

When it comes to fastening systems, speed fasteners are in a class of their own. Where most fasteners are loaded individually and set one by one, speed fasteners are packaged in a belt for rapid, consistent installation.

Threaded rivet nut inserts are a specific type of fastener designed to provide a threaded hole that can accept a bolt or threaded fastener. As with any type of fastener, there is more than one configuration, each designed for specific applications. The well nut is just one threaded rivet nut insert with a unique design and was created for particular uses.

There are different fasteners for different applications. If you want a permanent bond, rivets or blind bolts may be your best option. A rivet nut may be a better choice if you want a strong join that can be set with a screw so it can be serviced or replaced.

Plastics have been part of our lives since the 1950s and have become integral in manufacturing and industrial applications. However, bonding plastics with different plastics or other materials is one particularly challenging aspect of working with plastics. One of the most common and durable techniques for bonding plastic components is with threaded inserts for plastics.

When shopping for rivet tools, you want to consider the tool's weight, pull force, power source, and other specifications. For example, battery-powered rivet tools might be better suited for construction jobs or applications in which you need more portability, whereas pneumatic tools are better in a factory setting or heavy-duty assembly. There also are times when you want a manual rivet tool, particularly for simple jobs that don’t need a high-impact installation. It’s also useful to have a manual rivet tool on hand for simple repairs or smaller jobs. So the question is: Which tool do you choose?