What Are Solid Rivets?

As one of the most common forms of fasteners, solid rivets are a dependable way of securing machine parts so that they stay together for the long haul. Having been around since the Bronze Age, they are also among the oldest. Thus, if you have been around any form of machinery, it is likely you have seen these specific components. They can typically be identified by their simple design which consists of a simple head and a shaft with a tail that is deformed during installation to form a second head. As a result, solid rivets are almost always a form of permanent fastener that will stay in place until broken. Coming in a variety of different head styles, there is a solid rivet for every kind of application. So, if you are curious about what type may suit your current and future projects, read on as we discuss four of the most popular types you are likely to see on the market.

Working Principles of Solid Rivets

A solid rivet is a type of hardware that consists of one solid piece of metal that is shaped to form a basic rivet. In contrast with bolts or screws, rivets are meant to be deformed to form a permanent fastener. As a very standard form of rivet, they have a preformed head on one end with a simple shaft on the other. Oftentimes, this shaft will have a specially-shaped tail end that can be flattened to form a convenient second head. However, there are many options that simply use an unadorned rod that can be bent or flattened in the same way.

In general, solid rivets are easy to install and do not require special tools, but they can also be deformed using a compression or crimping tool for added convenience. More specifically, the tail end is placed in the mounting hole and bent or hammered flat on the opposite side to form a second head so that the old head and new head can grab the material on either side. This deformation makes for a secure hold that is often utilized during aircraft construction and other heavy-duty operations because of its overall durability.

Types of Solid Rivets

The four most common types of solid rivets are flat head, gauge blocks, pan head and countersunk head rivets. While they have very similar rods, the head shape affects their overall look and clearance. Flat head solid rivets have a head that lays flat on the material surface, reducing protrusions which could snag on nearby parts or materials. Conversely, round head solid rivets feature a dome shaped head which sits higher on the surface than other styles. This head shape offers a very aesthetically pleasing look and overall, round head rivets are the most commonly used types. Pan head solid rivets have the unique design of a slightly rounded head with a flat top and edges that slope down from the top of the head to provide a tighter grip during the fastening process. Lastly, there are countersunk solid rivets that feature a countersunk head which sits completely flush with a surface. For this reason, countersunk head rivets are frequently used for applications involving moving or rotating parts since there are no protruding parts to get in the way of rotating.

Conclusion

Having been used as a heavy-duty fastener for centuries, solid rivets are an important piece of hardware to become familiar with for aircraft operations. If you are in need of high-quality fasteners or other similar parts, Automatic Aerospace invites you to browse our inventory of top-grade items, including solid rivets, aircraft gauges, aircraft rings, optical comparators, gauge blocks, and more. Upon finding an item in our inventory which suits your project, you can always make use of our Instant RFQ service to request competitive quotes for your comparisons. Our team of experts are available 24/7x365 to answer customer inquiries, meaning we will reply to RFQ submissions in just 15 minutes or less!

1. brandon mayer
2. Posted on January 24, 2023
aerospace parts