Pop Rivet Supply – Your One Stop Rivet Shop.

Looking for a one stop shop rivet supplier? 

Ever had production come to a halt because of a rivet supply issue? When it comes to rivets, Aerobolt practice the 3 R’s in riveting supplies – and don’t worry, we’re not taking you back to school. Firstly, a supplier must be RELIABLE. You are safe in the knowledge that your order will be accepted and acted upon without a constant chase. Secondly, a supplier must be RESPONSIVE. Trustworthy suppliers acknowledge orders and back orders in a timely manner. Finally, RAPID DELIVERY. Aerobolt ships most orders within hours of receiving a purchase order because we are big on inventory and range. So if your businesses uses Huck rivets, pop rivets and or other structural blind rivets in the manufacturer of goods, chances are you are aware of the importance of sourcing quality products with fast deliveries from trusted suppliers. 

You seek a rivet supplier with a comprehensive range of blind rivets that are readily available from the standard Open-End Rivets, or Sealed Rivets right through to the specialised Tri-Fold rivets or Peel rivets. Plus the supply of genuine Huck structural rivets like the ¼’ Magna-Lok® rivets or the hard-to-find 5/16” countersunk Allok® rivets. Aerobolt is all this and more. We are an official Huck distributor, this means we buy direct from the manufacturer. So when thinking rivets? Consider Aerobolt because we are big on rivet range, inventory, air rivet guns, manual rivet toolscordless riveters and rivet test services.  

One of the first considerations when evaluating any rivet supplier is the ability of the wholesaler to fulfill orders for all rivet types and sizes. When ordering Huck rivet Magna-Lok, you expect the genuine article. Aerobolt should be your first destination when seeking Huck rivets. We are the only award-winning authorised Huck® distributor, so from repairing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to truck body building, and so much more make us your first choice. In today’s rivet blog we shall provide a learners guide to rivet types, how rivets work and more. Lets start with the benefits of rivets.  

What are the advantages of blind rivets?

The key advantage of a pop rivet is; they are a fast & easy to use, low-cost fastener. Rivets work well for joining of many different types of material, including thin sheet metals, composites and so much more. 

  • 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, cordless, and manual rivet tools that require 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.

    What are the main pop rivet types?

    Here we list the different types of pop rivet sub-categories plus some specialised industrial strength structural rivets. There are many other different types of rivets like semi-tubular, split rivets, and solid rivets however in this blog we are looking at blind pop rivets. Pop rivets are the most common style of rivet on the market. Your pop rivet selection criteria should be based on the application connection you believe is required, whether your job involves installing lightweight guttering & fascias or heavy duty truck fabrication. There are numerous rivetlabels for the same rivet type and in this blog we have incorporated the different descriptions into the title.   

    General purpose pop rivet types.

    Open End Pop Rivet. (Pop Rivet or Blind Rivet).

    Open end rivets means the rivet body is hollow i.e., "open end tube (body)". This is the most common rivet available and the least expensive. Available in a range of materials, including steel & aluminium, all steel, all aluminium, stainless & steel, all stainless, nickel & copper. This rivet also has the widest range of different head styles, dome head, truss, or large flange and countersunk.   

    Open End Rivet

    Sealed Rivets (Closed End Rivets).

    Sealed rivets or closed end rivets have a cup shaped end configuration that eliminates water ingress from within the body of the rivet, but not between the outside of the body and the material. Many customers purchase sealed rivets believing they are 100% waterproof, unfortunately this perception is not entirely correct. A closed-end rivet compared to an open-end rivet of the same size & material, provides better shear and tensile strength.

    Closed End Rivet or Sealed Rivet

    MultiGrip Rivet.

    Multi-Grip rivets are a strong & highly flexible option due to their extended material grip range. The multi-grip is our strongest standard rivet choice, for many this rivet helps reduce stock options as one multi-grip rivet replaces a few different size open end rivets. This assists to reduce cost and minimise operator errors. A multi-grip rivet, compared to an open-end rivet of the same size & material, provide greater shear and tensile strength. Check the blog Multi Grip Rivet V's Open End Rivet.  

    Multi Grip Rivet

    Tri-Fold Rivet.

    Aluminum tri-folding rivets are split or slot body rivets that are designed for the assembly of lightweight materials such as fibreglass, plastics, thin steel sheeting & composite material. This rivet forms a propeller shape anchor connection on the blind side of the material without damaging it. Tri-folding rivets are installed with the same type of rivet gun that install all other standard type rivets.

    Tri Fold Rivet

    Peel Rivet.

    Peeled rivets are also ideal for the joining of softer material such as timber, plastic, rubber, fibreglass, and laminates. Upon installation, the rivet body splits into petals that bends outwards, like peeling a banana. The petals bend out and contact the blind side of the material, creating a large anchor head.

    Peel Rivet

    Groove Rivet.

    Groove Rivets are designed to be installed within a hole as they infuse themselves into the material, making it ideal for soft materials such as timber, plastics & other fibrous material. When set correctly, the annular rings around the body will expand and embed into the surrounding material. This means the rivet does not require an open hole to work as it sets itself within the material.

    Grooved Rivet

    Structural Pop Rivet. Heavy duty rivets.

    Huck Rivet MagnaLok. 

    Huck Magna-Lok® is a versatile structural rivet that is ideal for multiple material grip ranges. This rivet has Huck’s unique internal locking mechanism that provides a high resistance to vibration & moisture. Fast and easy to install using conventional Huck brand gun or a structural rivet gun. Aerobolt is Australia's number #1 Huck distributor with the complete range of structural rivets and structural rivet tools. 

    MagnaLok Rivet

    Allok® Rivet. (High Strength Rivets, Orlock® Rivets).

    Orlock®, High Strength Rivets, and other standard material grip range bulb forming rivets feature a double-locking system that secures the material on both sides of the panel for great strength, providing a vibration and weather resistant joint. It has a non-protruding blind side bulb that spreads the load, whilst avoiding pull-through. Easy to install via a Huck gun & other structural rivet tools as a standard rivet gun is not built to install structural rivets. This rivet type is also known as Allok® rivet, Hemlok® rivet or an Ornit® rivet. 

    Allok Rivet Or Orlock Rivet

    Bulb-Tite® Rivet (Huck-Tite, Tri-Bulb).

    These rivet differs from other types due to their slot body that creates a propeller shape blind–side anchor that combines with a washer to provide a weatherproof joint. Bulb-Tite®, Huck-Tite, and many other tri-folding split body rivet spreads their clamping force through the anchor blades whilst providing excellent pull through resistance, making them an ideal choice for lightweight panel applications, humid conditions, or where water might be an issue. 

    Bulb-Tite Rivet

    How do I select the right pop rivet?

    Rivet selection is easy, you will need to consider rivet material, rivet diameter size, and thickness of the material you are riveting.  

    Pop Rivet Material.

    The rivet is categorised by the material of the body and then the material of the pin. For example, you might see “aluminum/steel”, which means an aluminum body with a steel pin. These fasteners typically come in steel, stainless steel, or aluminum or in a combination of these materials.

    Rivet material type provide a good guide to their strength. As a general rule; an aluminium body with aluminium pin is not a very strong rivet; aluminium body with steel pin are a a little stronger; steel body with steel pin are stronger still; and stainless-steel body with either steel or stainless-steel pin are the strongest rivets. Use steel rivets for heavy duty applications and aluminium rivets for lightweight jobs. 

    Ensure the rivet material is compatible with the material being joined to avoid galvanic corrosion. Avoid using aluminium and stainless steel together, we recommend keeping the metal type like for like for maximum life. Stainless with stainless, aluminium with aluminium, etc. You will also need to consider environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures or salt sprays. See the table below as a general guide.

    Rivet Material Compatibility

    Pop Rivet Diameter & Hole Size.

    Rivet diameter selection is guided by the material gauge, for instance use small diameter rivets with lightweight work and larger diameter rivets in heavy duty applications, generally the rivet diameter should be about three times the thickness of the thickest piece of joined material. 

    Drill hole size is also important. If the rivets diameter is too small for its hole the fastener will fail to clamp the material. Referring to the hole diameters before drilling is an easy way to avoid issues later.

    Refer to the table below covering diameters and corresponding hole sizes.

    Diameter Codes & Grip Ranges

    Pop Rivet's 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 your aim, followed by the minimum then the maximum range. The middle assists in achieving correct shear and tensile strength whilst ensuring the longevity of the rivet. 

    Below we have a table listing standard blind rivet material grip ranges and their corresponding grip code.  

    Rivet Grip Codes & Ranges

    Pop Rivet Head Type.

    Rivet head holds the material together and enhances its appearances. Dome head is shaped like a small portion of a ball that sits proudly on top of the material, whilst the large flange or truss head is a shallower broader profile. The large flange or truss head has double the bearing area of the dome head which makes it ideal when fastening rubber, plastics or fibreglass as the head has greater coverage. The countersunk option provides a flush neat finish subject to countersinking a hole first, allowing for the head to sit level with the surrounding material. The image below covers the typical head types plus a few specialised rivet type profiles.

    Rivet Types & Rivet Head Styles

    Pop rivet Verses blind rivet. 

    This is a common customer clarification. The answer is there is little difference between Pop® rivet, pop rivet, and blind rivet. These are different rivetlabels 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 this is the name of the original rivet company-Pop® and this is the sound rivets make upon installation.   

    FAQ. Frequently Asked Pop Rivet Questions.

    How do I order pop rivets?

    There are number of different type of rivet code formats. Aerobolt use the same product code as "Marson® Rivets" which is a division of Howmet Aerospace.  Rivet code begins with the "body material", followed by the "head type","body diameter" dash & then "grip range" (both of which are representive numbers, rather than actual measurements). The code concludes with the pin material. 

    Rivet Code Identification System

    In the above product code example (in the red box), beginning from left to right we have:

    A = Aluminium body material. Other options include (S = Steel, SS = Stainless, etc.).
    B = Button / Dome Head. Or you can select (T/LF = Truss/Large Flange, C = Countersunk) 
    6 = 4.8mm (3/16") body diameter. Other options are; 4 = 3.2mm (1/8"), 5 = 4.0mm (5/32"), 8 = 6.4mm (1/4").
    6 = 7.9 - 9.5mm this is the material grip range. See grip codes number table in previous section. 
    S = Steel pin/mandrel material. The other options are (SS = Stainless, A = Aluminium etc.).

    How do I remove a pop rivet?

    Rivet removal is straight forward with the right tools. This requires the destruction of the rivet, and the best method is to drill it. You will need, a drill, drill bit, long nose pliers, & safety accessories such as glasses and gloves.

    Steps: Use your safety glass & gloves before starting the drilling process. Place the drill bit against the rivets’ center pin and drill through the body at a low but steady speed. Once drilling is completed, pull the rivet off with your long nose pliers. How easy was that!  

    How do I install a pop rivet?

    To install a rivet is simple with practice, pre drilling of holes is required. Load rivet’s pin tail section 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. As a result, the bottom portion of the rivet compresses, and expands on the blind side. This expansion increases until 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 pop rivet work?

    How rivets work is ingenious. Essentially a rivet is composed of two components, a metal tube (body) & pin (mandrel). The pin is normally longer than the tube and designed to be pulled up through the tube whilst enlarging it in the process. This results in the expanded tube clamping the material between the two ends of the tube. See the image below to better understand how a rivet works.

    How Rivets Work

     

    Which is the best pop rivet gun?

    Selecting the correct rivet gun depends on several factors that relate to your specific requirements, rivet gun section is covered in the blog; Ultimate Guide to Rivet Guns.

    Which is the strongest rivet? 

    Structural blind rivets are the strongest option on the market due to the unique combination of internal pin retention & locking mechanism that creates their inner strength. Aerobolt has the complete Huck Structural Rivet range including the original multi-grip rivet "Magna-Lok", the Huck Rivet "Magna-Bulb" with its superior installation values and the hybrid of the two "Hucklok Rivet". The strongest structural rivet option is  Huck Rivet "Magna-Bulb" refer to the table below to compare a range of structural rivet results.

    STRUCTURAL RIVET TYPE KEY LAB METRICS FOR STEEL 6.4MM (1/4")
    Shear Typ. (kN) Tensile Typ. (kN) Grip Range (mm)
    Magna-Lok® (HRDS-0806) 11.1 8.2 2.0 – 9.5
    Hucklok® (HKLP-R8-6) 15.6 8.5 2.0 – 9.5
    Magna-Bulb® (MBDS-0806) 16.0 8.9 5.8 – 7.8
    Allok® (ARDS-08145) 13.7 7.9 5.0 – 8.5

    Can I get coloured pop rivets?

    Yes, painted rivets are available. 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 your selection. 

    Why have my pop rivets failed?

    There are several reasons your rivets may have 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 test lab 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  the rivet label, size, and  material depth so we can review your application and or have your rivets sent to the NATA approved lab for laboratory rivet testing.   

    When is it better to use a rivet rather than a bolt and nut?

    Bolts & nuts offer a useful combination of strength & convenience, and are an ideal solution in static applications i.e. where movement is at a minmum. The disadvantage of these fasteners is their poor resistance to vibration, this means over time they loosen and lose their grip. Huck bolts and Huck's structural rivets have overcome the issue of loosening, so in this instance the right answer is in the application.  

    Who invented the pop rivet?

    In 1934 the George Tucker Eyelet Co. was approached by an aircraft manufacturer to develop a fastener that could be set from just one side of the material. This lead to the world famous POP® rivet—named for the “popping” sound it makes during installation—which is now owned by Stanley Black & Decker.

    Whats the difference between a pop rivet & blind rivet? 

    This is a popular question that many customers ask. The short answer is there is no difference between Pop® rivets, pop rivets, and blind rivets. These are different labels 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 this is the name of the original rivet company-Pop® and this is the sound rivets make when installed.   

    Why are rivets used on airplanes?

    Rivets are preferred for the construction of airplanes because they can withstand extreme stress. They are said to withstand extreme stress without breaking and they hardly succumb to damage. They are used in aerospace manufacturing because it simplifies both production and maintenance.  Another reason why rivets are used because aluminium materials used are intolerable to heat.

    Can you assist me with pop rivet selection?

    Sure, the Aerobolt team can assist with rivet selection and so much more. We are one of Sydney's leading rivet supplier with a comprehensive range of general rivets plus industrial strength structural rivets with a wide range of rivet guns. You can reach out to us by either telephoning us on 02 9755 3747 or email via the contact us page.  

    Do you deliver pop rivets throughout Australia?

    Yes, we can deliver Australia wide through our network team of courier companies. In Sydney we offer our customers same day delivery if you order before 10.00am or the next day. Deliveries to regional New South Wales or major Australian cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane including regional South Eastern Australia are either next day delivery or 2 days turnaround.

    Pop Rivet Summary.

    Rivets offer excellent fastening capabilities for both heavy-duty and light fabrication applications. In one form or another rivets have been used by people for numerous centuries, they are found in the metal roofing and guttering that protect our homes, to the air conditioners that make us comfortable to the cars we drive, the planes we fly and the ships we sail. Wherever there is a construction site or a fabrication workshop there is bound to be a rivet in use. 

    At the conclusion of this blog, it is evident that rivets are important option in numerous building and manufacturing sectors. Irrespective of the rivet type or rivetlabel required for your project, be assured with a bit of planning your project will end up as a successful one. Here at Aerobolt we have a comprehensive range of rivet products  and can assist in your application, simply call us on 02 9755 3747 or contact us for all your riveting requirements.

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