In 1934, an aircraft manufacturer approached the George Tucker Eyelet Company with a challenge: Could it design a rivet that could be set from one side, particularly if there was no access to the other side of the material? The company was up to the challenge and developed the first pop rivet—so named because of the popping sound made during installation.

For some applications, a tight seal plugging a hole isn’t a luxury—it’s mandatory. Leaks of air or fluid are simply not acceptable, and you must have confidence that the seal you supply will perform as expected, even if you don’t have access to one side of the hole during installation.

Blind rivets provide outstanding fastening functionality in places where you don’t have access to one side. But what if your application requires something a little less permanent than a rivet? What if you want to be able to undo bolts, but keep your options open to reinsert them as needed? And what if you can’t see the other side of the surface you are working on?

In modern manufacturing, especially in transportation, lighter is the becoming the new standard.

Vehicles that aren’t as heavy tend to get better mileage and fuel efficiency (including getting more from the charge on electric vehicles), are better for the environment, reduce structural fatigue, and can even improve performance. Increasingly, manufacturers are deciding lightweight manufacturing is smart business.

Above all, the rivets used on projects must be reliable and enduring. A fastener that fails can lead to more problems, so ensuring you have the right hardware for the job—and then doing the job right—is imperative.

At one time, welding was the most reliable and common way to secure joints in load-bearing structures that endure high levels of vibration. However, in most industrial applications today, welding isn’t practical—or safe. This is where swaged-on, direct-tension lockbolts, such as HuckBolts®, meet the demand.

With their impressive formability, strength, and durability, steel rivets are one of the most common—and long-lasting—fastening materials on the market. According to Assembly magazine, they’re also one of the oldest blind rivets: “The first steel blind rivets were developed for use in the auto industry during the Great Depression.”

Whether you’re installing an LED sign or repairing a boat, knowing the differences between open- and closed-end rivets is vital. Here are some of the crucial differences to be aware of so you can pick the right blind rivets for your job.

Copper rivets are well-known as rustproof, heavy-duty, and permanent fasteners that can hold together countless materials. The first copper reinforcing rivets were invented in 1873 and were crafted specifically to reinforce the pockets on work pants.

If you’re on the hunt for blind fasteners, chances are you’re trying to find a cost-efficient solution. Unfortunately, the stark contrast between domestic and imported fasteners and something that might look like a good deal on blind rivets could end up costing you in quality—and reputation.