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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can this one carry shear when an ordinary blind rivet cannot?
The mandrel is locked permanently into the body, so it carries load instead of being scrap.
A standard blind rivet relies on a thin collapsed tube once the mandrel snaps away.
A structural rivet swages the mandrel into a groove or collar as it is drawn up, leaving a solid core.
That core carries shear the way a bolt shank does, which is a step change rather than an improvement.
It also means there is no loose stub to work free and rattle.
The mandrel breaks flush rather than below the head, which is a visible sign of the type.
How much stronger are they?
Substantially, in both shear and tension - published values are per product and not transferable between designs.
The solid locked core is the main reason for the shear improvement.
The large formed bulb on the blind side spreads load over far more area, which improves tension.
Manufacturers publish shear and tensile values for each product, grip range and material.
Visually similar rivets from different makers have different values, so substitution is a design decision.
They still do not replace bolts in every application, particularly where a joint must be demountable.
Where are they used?
Where a bolted joint would be needed but access is only from one side - vehicle chassis, containers, rail, scaffolding and structural cladding.
Closed sections and box structures make bolting impossible without access holes.
They are also used where a joint must not loosen, since there is no thread to back off.
Access and platform equipment uses them for both reasons.
High-volume assembly benefits from a one-sided operation with no torque control.
Where the joint must come apart in service, a bolt remains the correct choice.
What tools do they need?
More setting force than standard rivets - larger sizes need hydraulic tools rather than hand or lever tools.
The mandrel must be drawn far enough to form the bulb and swage into the lock.
Under-setting leaves an unlocked mandrel and a rivet with none of its structural advantage.
That failure is not obvious from the accessible face, so tool capacity matters.
Nosepieces and jaws are product-specific rather than generic.
Manufacturers specify the tool alongside the rivet for exactly this reason.
How is a correctly set one identified?
The mandrel breaks flush with the head and is visibly locked in place.
A mandrel that has broken below the head surface suggests it has not seated into its lock.
A protruding mandrel means the setting stroke was incomplete.
The blind side, where it can be seen, should show a large well-formed bulb rather than a simple upset ring.
Manufacturers publish inspection criteria for their products.
On designed joints, set rivets are inspected rather than assumed.
Can they be removed?
With difficulty - the locked mandrel resists drilling and the fastener is designed to be permanent.
Drilling has to cut through a solid core rather than a hollow body.
The drill wanders more easily on a flush hardened mandrel than on an open hole.
Centre-punching and a pilot drill are worth the time.
Damage to the parent hole is likely, so a larger replacement fastener may be needed.
This is a genuine argument for bolts wherever a joint may need to be opened.
Are they interchangeable between manufacturers?
No - published strength values are specific to each design and the setting tools differ.
The locking geometry, bulb formation and mandrel design vary between products.
A specification that names a product means that product, as with structural timber screws.
Tooling is generally product-specific as well, so a substitution can mean new nosepieces.
Grip ranges and hole sizes differ between makers for the same nominal diameter.
Where substitution is genuinely needed, it is made against the alternative's own published data.