Huck structural rivets and the 5 types of high strength Huck rivets.   

In today's blog we are providing the definitive guide to Huck's range of structural rivets. Delving into their key features and explaining the differences. The wide range may seem like you are spoilt for choice, however you will find the opposite is true. The big range means there is bound to be the right rivet to suit your specific application. We have the complete Huck® rivet range including the original Louis Huck's multi-grip rivet "Magna-Lok®", the supa strong "MagnaBulb®" and the cross of the two structural rivets; "HuckLok®". Plus a few options that may not well known but are popular for certain situations, like the Huck-Tite rivet, which is suitable for riveting metal extrusions onto composite or fibreglass parent materials and weather proofing requirements.    

Magna-Lok® (ML) is Australia's #1 Huck® rivet due to it's flexiability with material grip range. This means they are versatile with the material depth; as an example one "ML" rivet has a material grip range of 1.6 - 15.9 mm - clever huh! A heavy duty rivet with a 360° locking mechanism providing a high resistance to vibration & moisture. The circle-lock is also useful for quick visual inspection for correct installation. A hassle-free rivet that is fast and easy to install using a Huck® air / cordless gun or a structural rivet gun, as a standard rivet-tool does not have the power or jaw capacity to install structural rivets in high production workshops. In challenging applications you can rely on Huck® + Aerobolt® to provide the world's strongest, and most reliable rivet plus the know-how to assist in your application, think of Aerobolt as the structural rivet lad who can help with all things in rivets. Below we have an image showing the anatomy of a MagnaLok ML rivet.  

Huck® blind rivets are ideal when seeking a permanent joining solution, in fact, the Magna-Lok® has been lab rivet tested against its nearest competitor fastener and outlasted it by almost 20 to 1. In laboratory settings, Huck structural rivet ML lasted 2 million cycles whilst the other lasted 100,000. Huck® rivets are engineered with an internal locking system that mechanically interlocks the pin into the sleeve during installation, whilst embracing the material at the same time. To read more about the Magna-Lok® lab performance click here.

The Five Huck Rivet Types. 

Here is an overview of the five key Huck rivet types, for a complete list of Huck rivets + a few alternative high strength rivets go to structural rivets. You will find Aerobolt® has Australia's #1 range and inventory of high strength structural Huck rivets and is the only award-winning authorised Huck distributor. When seeking technical know-how, and competitive prices with a high level of customer service you will find Aerobolt tick all the right boxes. 

1. Huck Magna-Lok® Rivet.

Huck Rivet Magna-Lok  is a high performing structural rivet with extended material grip range, along with Huck's unique 360 degrees internal locking mechanism ensuring great resistance to vibration and moisture. A high performing industrial strength blind pop rivet that will reduce inventory, cost, and labour.

2. Magna-Bulb® Rivets.  

Huck Pop Rivet (MagnaBulb) are renowned for their excellent shear & tensile strength among most other structural rivets on the market. When installed they produce a wide blind side footprint designed to spread the load, making this rivet ideal in thin sheet fabrication. 

3. Hucklok® Structural Rivet.

Huck Rivet Hucklok® is a double locking wide-grip range rivet, combining the extended grip range of the original Huck Magna-Lok and the strength of the Huck MagnaBulb rivet that has resulted in a rivet like no other, a rivet that locks material from both sides with excellent shear and pull-up force.

4. Huck-Tite Structural Rivet.

Huck-Tite is an aluminium structural rivet that pulls up into a propeller shape configuration; making them ideal for lightweight material with a sealant under the head for weatherproofing the joint. How clever is Huck!

5. Huck Rivet BOM®.

Huck BOM Rivets are often used as a replacement for welding, Huck BOM rivets are so strong that one BOM fastener does the work of up to four conventional fasteners. Ideal for military vehicles, high security fencing, and so much more.

What are the key advantages of Huck rivets?

The key advantages of Huck rivets is that "they are a fast & easy to use fastener" for the joining of many types of materials.  

• One side assembly means quick installations, as access to the rear is not required.
• Highly resilient, forming a mechanically activated permanent joining solution.
• Easy to use air, or cordless Huck tools that requires minimal effort and training.
• Design flexibility, wide range of types and materials to suit most applications.
• Easy inspection and maintenance, no expensive equipment for quality control.

How do Huck rivets work?

Huck rivets work a little differently to standard rivets, as there is an internal  mechanism that locks a portion of the pin (mandrel) inside the rivet's body. This creates an additional layer of material that assists in increasing the rivet's inner strength. Like humans the inner strength is not easily seen from the outside. When a Huck structural rivet is installed, the body changes in one of the following ways whilst it locks itself into place. 

1. Broadening of the Body. (Magna-Lok® Rivets).

Body widens when the cap of the pin is pulled up, resulting in the body expanding against the material.

2. Body Compresses & Bulges. (Magna-Bulb® Rivets).

Rivet's body is compressed by the pin cap, causing it to bulge and form a bulb against the material.

3. Body Splits & Folds. (Huck-Tite® Rivets). 

The slotted body folds and splits into a  propeller shape blind–side anchor, ideal for lightweight material.   

How do you install a Huck structural rivet? 

Installing a Huck structural rivet is similar to a standard rivet, the difference being the tool's power and jaws as a structural rivet requires a Huck gun or a structural rivet gun.  A standard rivet gun is not engineered to install high volumes of structural rivets.

To install a Huck structural rivet; pre-drilling of holes is required (our data sheets have this information). Load rivet’s pin tail section into rivet gun. Insert rivet body into hole and activate gun. Upon activation the head of the rivet is pushed against the nose of the tool, whilst the tool pulls up the central pin. As a result, the body compresses, and expands on the blind side until it maxes out to approximately one and a half times the size of the original diameter. Resulting in a larger surface in which the two materials are effectively fastened together.

Which is the best structural rivet gun?  

Selecting the correct rivet gun depends on the nature of the project + your specific requirements, below we cover the main rivet gun categories, along with their pros. & cons. At Aerobolt, we stock a wide range of popular brand rivet guns plus a few alternative options that we have rivet gun lab tested for quality and value. Our site has extensive information covering most tools for review, including the Huck Gun blog. To discuss further, simply contact us. 

Structural rivets guns are broken down to two main types

1. Huck guns that install both structural rivets and Huck bolts (pin & collar).
2. Rivet guns that install structural and or standard rivets. Note that not all rivet guns are capable of installing structural rivets. Here at  Aerobolt, we have both options. 

Huck Gun, air + cordless

These tools are suitable for the installation of both Huck bolts and Huck structural rivets with the simple changeover of a nose assembly (priced separately).

Air Huck Guns: For frequent installation, an air-powered Huck gun is the easiest choice for the job. Air powered Huck guns offer fast installations with consistent results. Some of the pros include: Easy to use, economical (cost saving compared to cordless), and no physical exertion required. They will also install to a set pressure / stroke. Cons: Requires an air source such as a compressor, possibly limiting mobility and making remote use impractical.

Cordless Battery Huck guns: Cordless Huck guns run on battery power and provide incredible versatility, allowing you to install Huck fasteners from practically anywhere. Like air tools, battery-powered tools are basically point-and-shoot. Pros: Mobility, speed. Cons: Batteries have limited charge before needing to be plugged in again, cost.

Rivet Guns, air + cordless

These guns are suitable for the installation of both structural and standard rivets, i.e. they do not install pin and collar Huck Bolts. They do not require a separate nose assembly and are generally an economical alternative to a Huck guns.  

Air Rivet Guns: For frequent rivet installation, an air-powered riveter is the easiest choice for the job. Air rivet guns offer fast installations with consistent results. Some of the pros include: Easy to use, economical (cost saving compared to cordless), and no physical exertion required. They will also install to a set pressure / stroke. Cons: Requires an air source such as a compressor, possibly limiting mobility and making remote use impractical.

Cordless Battery Rivet Guns: Cordless structural rivet guns run on battery power and provide incredible versatility, allowing you to install rivets from practically anywhere. Like air tools, battery-powered tools are basically point-and-shoot. Pros: Mobility, speed. Cons: Batteries have limited charge before needing to be plugged in again, cost.

Manual Structural Rivet tools

For the occasional installation of structural rivets, a hand tool is your most cost-effective option. They work by adding the rivet to the end of the tool, squeezing the handles, and retracting the tool from the now applied rivet. Some of the pros include: Inexpensive, easy to use, great for the handy person. Cons: They require physical force.

What are the benefits of Huck structural rivets?

Huck structural rivets are renowned for their strength and are the superior option compared to most other fasteners, key advantages include:

• One side assembly for fast installations as access to the rear is not required.
• Super strong, forming a mechanically activated permanent joining solution.  
• Vibration and weather resistant. Offering high shear & tensile strength.
• Easy to use air, cordless, air and manual tools that are rugged & robust.  
• Design flexibility, wide range of types, material, etc. to suit most applications.   
• Easy inspection and maintenance, no expensive equipment for quality control. 

What's the difference between Monobolt® & Magna-Lok® rivets?

These are popular brands of structural rivets that have many physical similarities, however their strength is a key difference. Magna-Lok® rivet is a much stronger rivet, in lab results the MagnaLok® outlasted the Monobolt® 20 to 1. Another key  difference is Magna-Lok does not require a special nose tip to be installed correctly, unlike the Monobolt® which requires a special nose tip. Huck’s locking mechanism has been engineered into the rivet to eliminate tooling and operator error (subject to using the correct installation gun).  Read more about these  differences. 

How do I select the right Huck rivet?

When considering selection you will need to look at; materials, diameter (size), grip range, head style, and strength. Here we look into the important criteria to consider prior to making a final decision. 

Huck Rivet Materials.

Ensure the rivet material is compatible with the material being joined to avoid galvanic corrosion. As a rule, avoid using aluminium and stainless steel together, we recommend keeping the metal material like for like for maximum life. Stainless with stainless, aluminium with aluminium, etc.

* Above table is a guide only

✓ Compatible

x Incompatible, must not be in contact

Compatible in rural & mild environments (some corrossion may occur in marine/industrial environments. Painting both metals will reduce reaction)

Huck Rivet Diameter & Hole Sizes.

The size of the rivet diameter & the drill hole size is critical for success. If the rivet diameter is too small for its hole, then the gap may cause installation failure. Referring to the hole diameters before drilling is an easy way to avoid issues later.

Rivet Material Grip Range.

The material grip range refers to the material thickness or the depth the rivet can be effectively installed. For example, if two 1.5 mm plates/items need to be riveted, a blind rivet with a material grip range between 2- 5 mm is required. Best practice dictates that the middle grip range of a rivet should be used and not the minimum/maximum sizes. This assists in achieving correct shear and tensile strength whilst ensuring the longevity of the rivet. Please note that the grip range is not the length of the rivet as many people mistakenly believe the length is the amount of material the rivet will pull up.

Huck Rivet Head Type.

The rivet head type assists in holding the material together and enhancing its appearances. Dome heads sit proudly above the material, whilst large flange or truss head is a shallower broader head profile & suited for thin or soft material items like thin steel sheeting. The countersunk option provides a flush neat finish subject to countersinking the hole, allowing the head to sit level with the surrounding material.

Frequently Asked Huck Structural Rivet Questions.

How do I install Huck rivets?

To install a Huck rivet, pre drilling of hole is required. Load rivet’s pin mandrel into rivet gun. Insert rivets body into hole and activate gun. Upon activation the head of the rivet is pushed against the outer surface of the tool, whilst the tool pulls up the central pin (mandrel). As a result, the bottom portion of the rivet compresses, and expands on the blind side. This expansion maxes out when it reaches approximately one and a half times the size of the original diameter. Resulting in a larger surface in which the two materials are effectively fastened together.

How does a Huck rivet work?

Below we illustrate how a rivet works. Essentially a rivet is a metal tube with a pin (mandrel) through it, upon installation the pin's head is shaped to expand the tube & lock up the material.

What is the difference between the pop rivet and blind rivet?

Many people ask this question and the short answer is there is no difference. They are two terms for the same item, a blind rivet means you do not need access to the other side of the material, or you can't see the other side of the material. Also known as Pop® rivets because it is the brand name of the original rivet company. 

Which is the strongest Huck structural rivet? 

One of the strongest structural rivet option is the the Huck Rivet "Magna-Bulb". For installation values, refer to the table below to compare a range of structural rivet results. 

Why are Huck rivets used on aeroplanes?

Rivets are the preferred choice of fasteners in the fabrication of planes because they can withstand extreme stress without breaking, whilst barely succumbing to damage. They are used in aerospace manufacturing because it simplifies both production and the maintenance of the aircraft.

Can I get coloured Huck structural rivets?

Yes, Aerobolt offers painted structural rivets. They cost a little extra compared to the mill (raw) finish and are available in a wide range of colours. Refer to the Colorbond ® colour chart for selection.  

Why have my structural rivets failed?

There are a couple of reasons your rivet has failed. The issue could be a dodgy rivet from a shifty supplier or an installation issue. Either way we offer a wide range of technical services, including rivet testing services. We have teamed up with a NATA approved lab, that undertakes laboratory rivet testing services. Should you have a rivet failure, let us know so we can review your application and or have your rivets sent to the NATA approved lab for laboratory rivet testing. 

Do you deliver rivets throughout Australia?

Yes, we can deliver Australia wide through our team of courier companies.

Why are Huck rivet diameters in imperial measurements? 

The USA still use the imperial measurement system. On this website we present diameter measurements in both imperial and meteric. For instance the diameter 3/16" is 4.8 mm in metric, or 1/4" is 6.4 mm and 5/16" is 7.9 mm. Providing the two measurements is important as the drill hole is critical to the success of the installation. To convert imperial to metric, click here.

Who makes Huck rivets?

Huck rivets are manufactured by Huck International Inc. which is part of Howmet Aerospace.

Huck Rivet Summary.

Huck® rivets offer superior fastening capabilities for heavy and light-duty industrial fabrication applications. They have become the industry go-to structural rivet standard because of their high quality + their extensive range of options. Whether you seek material depth versatility from the Magna-Lok® rivet for a wide range of material depths, or the higher strength Magna-Bulb® with a less-forgiving material grip range or numerous other Huck rivet types. Either way there is bound to be a Huck® rivet to suit your situation.  

Aerobolt® is an award-winning wholesaler of structural rivets, Huck bolts, nutserts, rivnuts, adhesives & a wide range of industrial power tools for  fastener installations, like nutsert tools and rivet guns including some popular cordless rivet gun options and cordless rivnut tools. When buying Huck fasteners it's important to buy from an authorised Huck distributor who can provide a total solution with access to the manufacturer's complete inventory + their technical know-how. Avoid resellers who are quick to offer alternative options.  

Proudly, we are Australia's number one Huck Distributor of genuine Huck bolts and structural rivets plus the sale, service and hire of Huck guns and hydraulic power rigs. 

Committed to providing a total supply solution with a great customer service focus, your one-stop shop for technical know-how, supply of goods & tool hire through to the servicing of your equipment. So for all your fabrication supply requirements - call us on 02 9755 3747 or contact us.

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