POP Rivet Sizes: Matching the Right Size to Your Material

In order to decide the best rivet to fasten objects, you need to have a clear idea about the types, sizes, and styles of rivets. Rivets are popular for being cost-effective as well as durable as a fastener. Rivets have high shear load and tension load handling capacity. There are different types of rivets available, but the pop rivets are the most popular. Here is everything you need to know about pop rivets so that you can pick the perfect ones for your job.

What are Rivets?

Rivets are mechanical fasteners that have a head and a cylindrical tail. Rivets are permanent fasteners that you can drill or punch into the holes. They belong to the category of non-threaded fasteners. It is the head that goes into the hole while the tail is deformed so that the rivet holds in its place securely.

After pounding on the tail, a new head forms towards the end of the tail, and the rivet gets a dumbbell shape. Due to the heads of both sides, rivets can support tension load effectively. But it is even more suitable for supporting shear loads. Rivets are made up of metals such as steel and aluminum, which make them long-lasting.

What are the Types of Rivets?

There are mainly three types of rivets that are widely used in fastening objects in different industries.

1. Solid Rivets

Solid rivets are the most commonly used rivets, and they are the traditional rivets with solid shaft head and tail representing a metal nail. The head goes into the drilled hole, and the tail is deformed with a rivet gun. Some people use a hammer to deform the tail to hold the rivet in its place tightly.

Starting from steel and aluminum to brass and copper, solid rivets happen to be the strongest rivets because of the metals. That is why these rivets are suitable for building structures of automobiles and buildings.

2. Pop Rivets

Pop rivets are also referred to as blind rivets. Pop rivets have two parts – the rivet body and the mandrel. They have a tabular structure for the head, followed by a shaft in the middle and a thinner tail. You insert the rivet through the drilled hole, and the mandrel snaps off, keeping the rivet body in its place securely.

Compared to other rivet types, solid rivets are easy and fast to install. Besides, they make high-strength joints for objects of different types of materials. There are different types of pop rivets available, such as pull-mandrel rivets, threaded rivets, and drive-pin rivets. They find a wide range of applications in the electronics, automotive, and shipbuilding industries.

3. Split Rivets

Split rivets are also referred to as bifurcated rivets, and they are used for joining materials like wood, plastic, and leather. They have split ends with sharp tips so that they can pierce through soft material surfaces easily. They are close to self-piercing rivets, and they are mostly used in home repairs and budget-friendly items.

How to Choose Right Size POP Rivets?

There are certain parameters you have to check in order to get the right size of pop rivets. Getting the correct size of rivets is critical for the proper fastening of objects. Here are the points to ponder when choosing the size of pop rivets.

1. Hole Size

Hole size is the most critical parameter in choosing the right size pop rivet. If there is a mismatch between the hole size and the rivet size, installation will be difficult. Besides, the joint, shear, and tensile strength will not be proper. You must follow the rivet hole size chart to get it right.

2. Material

The material of the rivet and the object to be fastened matters a lot. The material of the rivet needs to have the same mechanical properties as that of the object to be fastened. This is important because it can affect the joint strength. If there is any mismatch of properties in the materials, it will be a weak joint, and it is likely to fail going forward.

3. Head Design

The traditional pop rivet has a low-profile head which is appropriate for most applications. However, when fastening soft material to rigid backing, it is better to opt for a pop rivet with a larger bearing surface. A pop rivet with a countersink head design is more appropriate if there is a flush surface.

4. Grip Range

The grip range refers to the thickness of the object that you are fastening. For example, if the thickness of the object is 0.25 inch, the grip of the rivet has to be at least 0.5 inch. When you get the grip range perfect, you can expect the optimal level of shear, tensile strength, and longevity.

5. Strength

Three types of strength are important in choosing the right size of pop rivets.

• Shear: Shear strength is the force applied on the fastener through the joint contact.
• Tensile: Tensile strength is the force applied on the fastener through its length.
• Joint: The joint strength depends on the rivet diameter, material, and spacing of the fastener.

In order to get the correct strength, you have to refer to the size chart of the different materials.

How to Choose the Right Rivet Style?

We have already stated that there are different types of rivet styles available, and you have to choose the right rivet style for the best fastening.

1. Closed-End Rivets

Close-end rivets are suitable for objects that are likely to suffer a lot of vibration. This is because close-end rivets have high vibration resistance.

2. Open-End Rivets

Open-en rivets are low-cost rivets, and they are the most used rivet style. They have balanced strength in all parameters though there are not suitable for humid areas as it is not preventive against liquid and vapor.

3. Micro Rivets

Micro rivets are suitable for small appliances as they have a diameter of less than 2mm. Hence, it is widely used in the electronics industry.

4. Multi-Grip Rivets

If you are looking for a better grip range based on the thickness of the object, you have to ditch the regular rivets and opt for a multi-grip rivet.

How To Calculate The Length of POP Rivets?

You have to measure the thicknesses of the materials you are joining using the pop rivet. You also need to measure the diameter of the rivet stem. Thereafter, you need to use the following formula to calculate the length of the pop rivet.

Length = thickness of material 1 + thickness of the material 2 + (1.5 * diameter of rivet stem)

For example, the thicknesses of material 1 and 2 are 2 inches, while the diameter of the rivet stem is 3 inches. The length of the pop rivet should be 9.5 inches.

POP Rivets Size Chart for Different Materials

Here are the pop rivet size charts that you have to refer to in order to get the rivet size perfectly.

1. POP All steel Rivet Charts and Sizes

2. POP All Stainless-Steel Charts and Sizes

3. POP All Aluminum Rivet Size Chart