When you can only access one side of a joint, rivets are the answer. This guide covers blind rivets and rivet nuts — two of the most useful one-sided fasteners for sheet metal and thin-wall assembly.
Blind (pop) rivets
A blind rivet is installed from one side using a rivet gun that pulls a mandrel to expand the rivet body. Common types: open-end (general purpose), closed-end (sealed, for liquid/gas resistance), multigrip (covers a range of thicknesses) and large-flange (for soft or oversized holes).
Rivet nuts (threaded inserts)
A rivet nut (blind rivet nut / nutsert) provides a strong internal thread in thin material where you cannot weld or tap. It is set from one side and gives a reusable threaded hole — ideal for sheet metal panels, tubes and enclosures.
Materials and finishes
- Aluminium: light, economical, good corrosion resistance.
- Steel (zinc plated): higher strength.
- Stainless A2/A4: for outdoor, marine and high-corrosion use.
How to choose
Match the rivet’s grip range to your combined material thickness, the diameter to your hole, and the material to the environment and required strength. For threaded fixings in thin sheet, use a rivet nut; for permanent joining, use a blind rivet.
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