Auto Rivet Explained

Rivets provide an efficient way to hold two materials together without the need for welding, adhesives, or any specialized tools or skills. They can be used in automotive and non-automotive applications, but in this article, we will focus on automotive rivets. Automotive rivets can be used for structural repairs such as installing slide-in rocker panels to existing rocker panels, installing plastic bumper covers and other accessories, and even performing specialized body repair work such as installing aluminum bedside tables on a Ford F150. They are also a good choice when securing two finished materials, such as painted surfaces. As you might imagine, there are many different styles of rivets. The two most common styles are metal blind rivets and nylon blind rivets. The blind rivet style is popular because it is strong, secure, and requires access only on one side of the material being used. They also allow different types of materials, such as steel and aluminum, to be easily connected to each other.

How blind rivets work

A rivet consists of two parts: the rivet body and the mandrel. To install, place the rivet body into the hole in the material to be joined until the lip of the rivet body is flush with the surface of the material. Once in place, slide a rivet gun with an appropriately sized adapter onto the rivet mandrel until the adapter is flush with the surface of the rivet body. Squeeze the rivet gun to pull the rivet mandrel. The rounded end of the mandrel is pulled into the body of the rivet, causing it to expand to the size of the placement hole, while also creating a tightly connected load-bearing area on the backside of the material. Once the tensile strength of the mandrel is reached, it will snap, allowing for a safe and smooth installation. Some mandrels, such as blind rivets, also retain a portion of the mandrel within the body of the rivet, providing a higher strength connection.