Blind Rivets

Blind rivets, commonly referred to by their trade name of 'pop-rivets', are a fast and easy method of fixing mechanical components together. The rivet can be applied either by a simple plier like hand tool, or with a powered tool as on a production line. It is important that the components to be joined are properly prepared. The mating surfaces should be clean and flat in the area around the rivet and the hole must be drilled to the correct size to maximize the strength of the resulting joint.

Recommended Hole Sizes for Blind Rivets

Clinch Nuts

When a screw fixing is desired it is normal to drill and tap the component. This is not possible in thin sheet metal so self-tapping screws are often used. There is however an alternative in the form of clinch nuts, sometimes called 'nut-serts'. These are similar to blind rivets and are applied in a similar fashion to a single sheet metal component. Once installed they provide a threaded barrel into which a machine screw may be inserted and secured.

It is also possible to place a clinch nut into a blind hole in a machined component. While this may not be as good as a conventional tapped thread it is a quicker operation and a valuable method of salvaging a damaged thread when other means have failed.

As with normal blind rivets it is important that the component that will have the nut fitted is clean and that the hole is drilled to the correct size.

Typical Dimensions & Recommended Hole Sizes for Clinch Nuts