Bulb-Tite Rivet Installation Guide

What is a Bulb-Tite® rivet?

Bulb-Tites are a high performing rivet that differs from other types due to its load spreading tri-star anchor and an EPDM washer; providing a weather & vibration resistant seal with a large blind side bearing area. 

This specialised rivet spreads the clamping force through its anchor blades whilst providing excellent pull through resistance, making them an ideal choice for safety anchor points, and in the fabrication of pantech & refrigerated trucks. They are renowned for their extended material grip range, enabling a single rivet to cover a greater range of material gauges including curved or uneven surfaces. Check out the structural rivet blog.

How do i install Bulb-Tite® rivets?

Pre-drilling correct diameter hole. 

Ensure the correct nose tip and or jaws. 

Blind side Tri-Star anchor. 

Bulb-Tite® Installation Process.

  • Rivet body is inserted into the pre-drilled hole.
  • Setting tool pulls the pin and pin head into the rivet body.
  • Blind side anchor is formed and when breaking force is reached pin breaks at break notch.
  • Blind rivet is set and clamps parts together. How easy is that!

How do Bulb-Tite® rivets work? 

Bulb Tite structural rivets work a little differently to standard rivet, 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 rivets  strength, whilst interlocking with the material and creating their inner strength.  When installing a Bulb tite the slotted body folds and splits into a propeller shape blind–side anchor. The diagram below provides a four step overview of the process. 

 

How do I install Bulb-Tite® rivets correctly?

The diagram here shows correct & incorrect Bulb-tite placement. Its important to have sufficient blind side space for the slotted body rivet to fold and bend in the propeller shape anchor blades.   

Recommended Bulb-Tite® Rivet Guns.

*Gesipa PowerBird Pro Gold

* Requires optional extra 17/48 (7252237) Gesipa Nosepiece for 7.7mm

FAR RT-33 Long Lever Tool

Correct Bulb-Tite® Rivet Installation.

  • The stem can be seen just above or just below the top (max 5mm below).
  • The rivet has "bulbed out" correctly.
  • The rivet is sealed off correctly.
  • It is recommended that silicone is applied if the rivet is 3mm or more below.
  • If you are unsure, double check by looking at the seal under the rivet. If it is squashed and the rivet feels tight then it has bulbed out correctly.

Incorrect Bulb-Tite® Rivet Installation. 

    • The stem is too far below the surface.
    • The rivet has NOT ‘bulbed out’ correctly and therefore has no strength.
    • The rivet is not sealed off adequately which could pose potential leak issues.
NOTE: The cause of this is often due to the ‘bulb’ not being able to expand out as it clashes with the side of the roof sheet. The rivet must go into the centre to avoid this happening.