Blind vs. Pop Rivets

Rivets are an indispensable mechanical fastener for the construction of aircraft assemblies. Rivets feature a cylindrical shaft that has a head on one end and a tail on the other, providing the ability for the rivet to be passed through components before the tail end is made into another head. When the tail is formed into a head, the rivet then acts as a permanent fastener, supporting tension and shear loads without the risk of loosening. While solid rivets have proved their use since the Bronze Age, they always require access to both sides of a component for proper installation and head formation. This can create problems and consume time for aircraft assembly where accessing the other side of a component proves to be very difficult. Luckily, fasteners such as blind and pop rivets solve this problem by allowing installation from one side of the component. In this blog, we will discuss what blind and pop rivet parts are, and how they differ from each other.

As stated before, installing solid rivets into an aircraft assembly where access is needed on both sides can prove very difficult, and sometimes even impossible. With blind rivet parts, only one side of the assembly needs access for fastening. For installation, the blind rivet is passed through the hole of the intended components and then a tool is used to pull a internal “nail-like” mandrel through the rivet. As the mandrel is pulled, it begins to expand the diameter of the outer tubing through compression forces, creating a second head that locks the rivet in place permanently. There are various categories of blind rivet parts, and these include  standard, sealed, and multi-grip. There may also be different head styles of blind rivets available such as rounded, flat, and oversized.

The pop rivet is extremely similar to blind rivets, often causing the names to be interchangeable with each other. Pop rivets were introduced in 1934 by the George Tucker Eyelet Company, and their functionality is very comparable to blind rivets with the ability to be installed from one side of the component. Pop rivets gained their name from the popping sound that is made when the mandrel is pulled through the rivet during installation, and it has since overtaken the general name for the component despite originally serving as a brand name. While pop rivets are very similar to blind rivets, they do hold some differences that set them apart. As compared to a standard blind rivet, the pop rivet can be manufactured from a variety of materials including metal, plastic, and wood.

Beyond the assembly of aircraft, there are also other important applications for rivets. Many metal frame structures such as bridges, towers, and automobiles were fastened together with the use of rivets before the development of bolted joints. During World War II, vehicles such as tanks even used riveting for assembly, though they were soon replaced due to the dislodging of rivets during attacks. Blind rivets also provide useful fastening of musical instrument road cases. Altogether, rivets provide for a very reliable permanent fastening of components across a variety of assemblies and applications. No matter your application or project, NSN Purchasing can help you source the rivet fasteners that you need, quickly and easily.

At NSN Purchasing, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find pop and blind rivets you need, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B accredited and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise, and the only independent distributor with a no China sourcing pledge. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@nsnpurchasing.com or call us at +17147054780.

1. walter cutshaw
2. Posted on March 31, 2020
fasteners