Aluminum rivets, Aluminum colored blind rivets, Aluminum Large head rivets, Aluminum colors of rivets with steel nail. Multi Grip colored rivets, Multi-grip painted rivets, Multi-Grip Big head colored rivets. Multi grip dome head aluminum rivets. Cordless Rivet Tools provide easy method and typically sell for 50% less when compared to other brands. Watch our "how to" video for Rivet Mates, two-piece compression rivets for material thickness up to 2". 

How rivets work: The material to be fastened together has a hole drilled (see recommended holes sizes in our downloadable catalog) through all the materials. It is highly suggested the back-side or blind side material has the recommended hole size. The rivet is either fully inserted into the hole, OR fully inserted into the nosepiece of the rivet tool, and then fully inserted into the application hole. In either case, it is important the rivet is fully inserted into the application hole and the rivet tool is fully against the head of the rivet BEFORE activation the rivet tool's setting trigger. The rivet is "set" by the tools "jaws" gripping into the "nail" and pulling it into the tool, thus causing the "nail" head to bulge the rivet body blindside and clasp the materials together. The "nail" then breaks at a predetermined location once the pounds required to "set" the rivet are reached. The too with the broken or spent nail is now free from the "set" rivet and the nail is discarded leaving the tool free to work again.

Open-end  blind rivets page

Dimensional data for Regular dome & Large head Open-end rivets, (condensed from the IFI-114 specifications)  For complete details of these engineering specifications, as well as the 120 degree Flush Head Style please contact our office. We can supply Certificate of Conformance, raw material certifications, PPAP, and fit & functional physical performance data. Our rivets are Made in USA at our facility in Hartford, Connecticut.

Cordless Rivet Gun

Ultimate Rivets installation videos: 1. Fills oversized holes 2. No back-up washer needed. 3. Easy to drill-out and replace.

The success of any fastener depends on how well it's applied, and all brands of blind rivets, which are made to the IFI-114 guidelines are included. Careful design will produce good fastenings. Blind Rivets are multi-piece rivet assemblies, capable of being installed from one side of the work piece. They are referred to as, "blind rivets" because you don't have to see or have access to the back side of the application. Blind rivet application opportunities are countless as they offer lower cost per unit, lower labor and installation costs. Blind rivets are easy to use and eliminate many ergonomic issues other fasteners present. Once a blind rivet is "set", it won't torque loose as many threaded fasteners do.

The material that follows will provide a useful planning guide for most applications. In addition, we offer the services of our engineering staff to help with unusual requirements.

Tool Clearance: Avoid obstructions that will prevent the tool from setting flush on the work. If this problem can't be avoided, try reversing the rivet and setting it from the opposite side. Or reduce the length of the section causing the problem. Where narrow channels must be assembled, check clearance for tool insertion. Alternately, set rivet from the underside - or widen the channel section.
Soft-to-hard is sometimes assembled by using a backup washer and forming the back-side formation against the soft material. A much better practice is to use our Ultimate Rivet, which works in any materials including soft plastics. If you desire a flush surface finish on one side of the application. Utilize rivets with 120" countersunk head  style for a flush surface.

Edge Clearance: For best joint strength, position the rivet centerline to the edge of a sheet should not be less than twice the rivet diameter. Where joint strength is not critical, this dimension can be reduced.

Thick and Thin Assembly: Wherever possible, set the secondary head against the thicker and therefore stronger material. Where the head must be set against the thinner material, use of a backup washer is desirable. However, aDP blind rivets are successfully set against aluminum stock as thin as .020". A much better practice is to use our Ultimate Rivets, which create their own back up washer even in thin and/or soft materials.

Tubing: In tube-to-plate joints, setting the rivet against a flattened section, whenever possible, produces maximum rigidity.  For best results, the rivet should not extend through both tube walls.

Plastic and Brittle Materials: Where the more fragile plastics are involved, aluminum Rivets should be specified. Where the plastic is rigid enough to afford satisfactory clinching action, standard blind rivets can be set directly against plastics. Assuring the correct Hole size is very important, especially in applications where plastics and brittle materials are used.

Blind Side Clearance, to allow both insertion and back-side formation: This is the distance from the underside of the rivet head to the end of the mandrel before setting minus the total thickness of the materials being fastened. Design must permit enough blind side clearance to allow a   fully formed back-side head when setting the rivet.

1. Joint strength
First determine the single-joint tensile and shear values required for the application. These are functions of total joint strength, fastener spacing, rivet body material and rivet diameter. Then refer to the "Shear" and "Tensile" columns on the product, (catalog) and select a blind rivet that provides the values required. The shear and tensile values listed in our catalog, and/or web site represent typical results. Actual application results may vary due to each applications conditions. aDP rivets are not certified for structural aerospace applications and such use is not recommended.
2. Joint thickness
Measure the total thickness of the materials to be joined. This determines the required "grip" of the rivet you select. Refer to the "Grip Range" column and select a rivet with a grip range that includes the work thickness required. Our Ultimate Rivets save you time and money because one rivet can replace three.
3. Nature of materials
Both the rivet and the materials to be fastened will affect the ultimate joint strength. As a general rule, the rivet materials should have the same physical and mechanical properties as the materials to be fastened, because a marked dissimilarity may cause joint failure due either to material fatigue or galvanic corrosion.
4. Hole size
Hole size can be very important in blind riveting. Too small a hole will, of course, make rivet insertion difficult. Too large a hole will reduce the shear and tensile strengths and it may even cause bulging or separation of the members by allowing the rivet to expand between them instead of on the blind side. Oversized holes also may cause the nail head to pull into the hole, which can cause "high nail breaks". It is a critical practice is to follow the hole size recommendations provided. Also, avoid burrs in and around the holes. Our Ultimate Rivets eliminate much of these concerns as their performance fills oversized holes and never expose "high nail breaks".