Bay Supply Blog - Rivets, Fasteners, and Tools | Rivets (2)

Rivets have been used for more than 5,000 years, and although we have come a long way since blacksmiths had to forge rivets by hand, their basic shape and applications have not changed. What has changed is that we have more types of rivets and rivet designs that make them more versatile, with different features for specific applications.

Copper rivets are a popular choice for fasteners because they can be used for a wide range of applications. They are durable as well as attractive, which is why they are used in everything from clothes, belts, and leather goods to electronics and even construction applications. 

Blind rivets have come a long way in the last 100 years. What makes blind rivets so useful in a wide range of industries is the fact that you can drive them in from only one side. Additionally, once sealed, they have excellent load-carrying capacity and are less prone to failure caused by vibration or corrosion.

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.

Beyond this, the choice of rivet can affect other critical work factors. How much will this rivet cost? How difficult will it be to install? Do I have the right rivet on hand for the job? Without the right answers to these questions, costs can add up.

Although the name “pop” is widely used as a generic term for blind rivets, it started out as a brand name for a specific style of rivet patented by the George Tucker Eyelet Company, which was acquired by the United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USM). USM later became part of STANLEY Engineered Fastener, which now owns the POP® trademark.

When selecting a rivet gun, you have different designs and manufacturers to choose from, which makes it even harder to find the right tool.

Review our infographic on the three steps for choosing the best rivet gun for your needs.

Not all fasteners are created equal. A different type of fastener is available for every type of application you can think of, and choosing the right fastener for the job ensures a lasting and trouble-free joint. The question is, which of the myriad fastener types is appropriate for each task?

Here are four of the most common applications that require fasteners and the best types of fasteners for each one.

Here at Bay Supply, we provide a wide range of blind bolts to customers when they need a lasting, vibration-resistant joint. But what if you have an application where you need to screw in a bolt instead, either because of the nature of the joint or to make it easier to remove the bolt at a later time? For applications where you need a solid, threaded hole that can accept a fastener such as a bolt, you will need a rivet nut or RIVNUT®.