A rivet is a mechanical fastener used to join two or more materials together permanently. It consists of a head at one end and a cylindrical body at the other end, called its shaft. The tapered end of the shaft is called the rivets tail. Rivets are used to join large structural pieces and small electronic assemblies. They are hollow with another internal piece called a mandrel, which allows the riveter to deform the tail of the rivet without striking it directly. Rivets are not tightened like bolts and nuts, but rather deformed to ensure permanent parts assembly or connection.
There are several types of rivets, designed to meet different cost, accessibility, and strength requirements. Some of the most common types of rivets include:
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Solid/round head rivets: One of the oldest and most reliable types of fasteners, solid rivets consist simply of a shaft and head that are deformed with a hammer or rivet gun. A rivet compression or crimping tool can also deform this type of rivet.
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Drive rivets: A form of blind rivet that has a short mandrel protruding from the head that is driven in with a hammer to flare out the end inserted in the hole. This is commonly used to rivet wood panels into place since the hole does not need to be drilled all the way through the panel, producing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
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Compression rivets: Commonly used for functional or decorative purposes on clothing, accessories, and other items. They have male and female halves that press together through a hole in the material. Double cap rivets have aesthetic caps on both sides, while single cap rivets have caps on just one side; the other side is low profile with a visible hole.
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Blind rivets: Also known as "pop rivets," these are tubular and composed of a hat and mandrel. They are suitable when one side of the joint cannot be seen or accessed. The mandrel deforms the rivets body and allows the riveter to fasten the materials with access to only one side of the surface. Blind rivets are commonly used in the aerospace industry, shipbuilding, and other nautical applications.
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Countersunk rivets: Used in countersunk holes and once set, finish flush to the surface. They are used in tracks where the head will not protrude into sliding tracks or rollers. The hat of the rivet is almost inverted, with a 120-degree countersink in the integrated washer.
Rivets are widely used in many industries, including automotive applications, household objects, electrical appliances, kitchen knives, aerospace industry, satellites and spacecraft, and shipbuilding and other nautical applications.
