Ultimate Guide to Rivnut Options.

Rivnuts, also known as rivet nuts or nutserts, are threaded inserts designed to be installed into thin materials (such as sheet metal or plastic) to provide a strong, reusable internal thread. They are especially useful when fastening components to materials too thin to be tapped for threads. Rivnuts are essentially a type of fastener that combines the functionality of a rivet and a nut into a simple, easy-to-use solution. They interface with a bolt where a standalone nut would fail, due to the clamping force distorting the material. These inserts are commonly used by manufacturers of tubular furniture, switchboards, electrical appliances and many other applications. Rivnuts are available in steel, stainless steel, or aluminium, so there’s a suitable material for nearly any need. Installation is straightforward with a nutsert tool, which compresses the fastener by collapsing the body, creating a blind-side flange that securely holds the insert in place with a permanent thread. Clever, huh?  

Rivnuts are readily available in metric sizes: M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, and M12, as well as select imperial sizes: 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2". These measurements refer to the internal thread size, not the outer body diameter. Our data sheets provide detailed information, including body diameter, drill hole size and installation values. The advantages of rivet nuts are numerous; just like pop rivets they are a blind fastener, this means they can be installed from one side only. No need to stretch to the blind side, or coordinate with a second person to have access to the other side. Other than our wide range of rivet nut options, we offer a complete lineup of nutsert guns to suit your application, including air, cordless, and manual rivnut ratchet tools. We also provide repairs and rental of nutsert tools. When considering rivet nuts, think Aerobolt.   

Key Features of Rivnuts:

• Blind Installation: Installed from one side of the workpiece, like pop rivets. 

• Strong Threads: Provide long lasting durable threads in thin or soft materials.

• Material Options: Available in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

• Head Styles: Can have flat, countersunk, or reduced head to suit different applications.

How Rivnuts Work:

1. A hole is drilled into the material.

2. The rivnut is inserted into the hole.

3. A special rivet nut tool pulls the internal threads while holding the rivnut in place, causing the rivnut body to expand and grip the material tightly.

4. A bolt can then be threaded into the installed rivnut.

Common Uses OF Rivnuts:

• Automotive body panels

• Metal enclosures

• Furniture assembly

• Electronics casings

• Aerospace and marine industries

Key benefits of rivet nuts:

Rivet nuts offer a number of advantages that make them suitable for 101 applications where a blind rivet won’t work including appliances, automotive manufacturing, office furniture, playground equipment, solar installations, electronics, boats, pools and hot tubs, military equipment, and even bicycles. 

1. Blind installation: Rivet nuts can be installed from one side of the material, making them useful for closed sections like tubing or where access to the other side is limited.
2. Threaded insert: They provide a strong permanent internal thread in materials that are often too thin to support a threaded fastener like a bolt & nut combo or a machine screw.
3. Versatile applications: Commonly used in automotive, aerospace, appliances, furniture assembly, marine, playground, solar installation, military among other industries.

Rivnut Types. 

Rivnuts are more versatile than self-tapping screws or pressed inserts. They are available in steel, stainless steel, and aluminium. There are two body variations – either open ended where the bolt can protrude through the rivnut without obstruction, or closed end type. Closed end type rivnuts are ideal if you’re looking for a sealed end, providing an effective option to avoid the ingress of water and or dust.

Rivnut xtralok®. 

The Xtralok® rivnuts have numerous features that distinguish it from other round body rivnuts including a knurl textured body that assists in locking into the host material, thick walls that prevent thread distortion, a low-profile wide flange for a near flush installation and 50% more material grip range compared to most competitor products. One Aerobolt rivnut xtralok® covers the material grip range of two competitor products; making our  rivnuts the cost efficient option, whilst simplifying stock.  

Half-Hex Rivnuts. 

Half-Hex rivnuts provide all the benefits of the Rivnut Xtralok® only better with higher resistance to unscrewing and pulling out. Ideal in punched hex shape holes. Often called hex inserts, hexserts, hex threaded inserts etc. For many making a hex hole quickly and reliably (or, sometimes, even at all) can be a complicated task and the main barrier of entry to using hex shape rivnuts. However numerous manufacturers are realising this product performs so much better compared to round rivnuts. 

Full-Hex Rivnuts. 

We regard the Full-Hex Rivnuts as the "high strength Hex rivnuts" because the full hex-shaped rivnuts provides even better twist resistance than both the rivnut Xtralok® and the Half-Hex rivnut. Full Hex Rivnut's performance are better in all metrics available; spin-out, torque out, push out and pull out. The Full-Hex nutsert works similar to other types in that the tool collapes the nut, creating a backside flange that holds the nut to the material. They are ideal for applications where failure is not an option. 

Smooth Body Rivnut.  

This Rivnut® option should be your first option when seeking to drill a small hole size or you are working close to the edge of the parent material. A low-cost rivet nut option to insert a load-bearing thread into weak or thin-gauge material. Predominantly with a countersunk profile with a lead-in chamfer for easy insertion. 

Plus Nuts. 

Plus Nuts are the perfect product for plastics, fiberglass and thin steel sheeting, a load bearing captive solution for lightweight material. Offering a greater material grip range than other types of rivnuts, along with a better tolerance of oversized holes. Often referred to as the multi-grip rivet nut or cross nut because when installed the blind side anchor looks similar to a Byzantine cross.  

Jack Nuts.  

Jack Nut or J Nuts threaded inserts provide a captive nut for non-load bearing applications. Upon installation, the slotted sleeves collapses and expands to create anchor blades that gently grips the mounting surface to provide a permanant reusable anchor for a set screw or bolt. For load bearing solution refer to Plus Nuts.  

Threaded Studs.

Threaded Studs, rivbolt or rivet bolt are just some of the unusal terms to describe these clever components that provide a protruding threat for attachments. A screw-on fastener to be attached to thin steel sheeting. Their installation is similar to a captive nutsert however with this item you have a protruding thread instead of an opening. An economical alternative to weld-studs without the expensive tools or workplace safety issues associated with these specialised fasteners. 

Well Nuts.   

Well nuts are fundamentally a rubber bush with a concealed brass nut at one end. They have a flange on one side with a barrel body that you inserted into a matching size hole. Well nuts are an ideal option for weatherproofing holes or isolating vibration. Also referred to as a rawl nut, or a rub nuts, either way Aerobolt® has a wide range readliy available covering a range of different internal thread sizes including M3, M4, M5, M6, and M8 in different lengths.

Threaded Insert Rivnuts for Plastic.  

The A-W threaded insert can be installed in numerous material types from plastic to plywood. They work differently from others because they expand into the material rather than outside. The diagonal knurled treaded insert can be installed in a comprehensive range of material softer than itself and thicker than 16mm. Providing a sturdy internal thread for bolting applications with great pull out resistance.   

Threaded Insert Rivnuts for Timber.  

Wide range of threaded inserts for timber, chipboard and MDF. Your one stop shop for threaded inserts for all your woodwork applications including, timber T-Nuts, Tee Nuts, Flange Timber Inserts and non-flange skein nuts. When seeking rivet nut type fastener for timber applications you can't go past Aerobolt® for range and service.  

Rivnut Wrap.  

A rivnut is an expanding nut that attaches onto a surface for bolting purposes, where a simple hole opening is not possible because the material is too thin to hold a bolt or a screw. They are ideal for punched or drilled holes and can be installed at any stage of the production, even after finish coat is applied. The  ideal solution that requires a nutsert gun or a rivnut tool. Here at Aerobolt® we are the rivet nut experts and can assist in making your selection easy with a big range of rivet nut types through to nutsert tools. Should you require any assistance with selection please don't hesitate to contact us  02 9755 3747 or go to contact us.