20 Different Types of Rivets & Their Basic Uses with Diagram

Want to know about the Types of rivets?

Then you landed in the right place. Here you will get a complete guide on types of rivets and their uses, from scratch to end.

Here are some basics of Rivets, Have a look first-

What are Rivets?

Rivets are fasteners used for joining metal sheets and plates in fabrication work such as bridges, ships, cranes, structural steelwork, boilers, aircraft, etc.

The rivet is often inserted and closed by force so that it completely fills the holes and forms a rigid rivet joint.

And, Riveting is the method of making permanent joints for riveting the plates to be joined are drilled or punched.

Now, let’s dig into the mainstream of the article, Where you will know types of rivets with diagram–

Related Article– Riveted Joints: Definition, Types, Uses, Efficiency, Advantages and More

Types of Rivets-

Here are the most common 20 different types of rivets–

1. Solid rivets
2. Split rivets
3. Blind rivets
4. Tubular rivets
5. Snap head rivets
6. Pan head rivets
7. Mushroom head rivets
8. Countersunk rivets
9. Flathead
10. Conical head rivets
11. Pan head with tapered neck rivets
12. Flush rivet
13. Self-Pierce rivet
14. Drive-Pin rivet
15. Friction-lock rivet
16. Round Hеad Rivеts
17. Oval Hеad Rivеts
18. Button Hеad Rivеts
19. Truss Hеad Rivеts
20. Acorn Hеad Rivеts

1. Solid Rivet-

A solid rivet’s shank is solid and is used for general purposes. This rivet is the strongest of all kinds.

It is the simplest and most reliable rivet found in the Bronze age and can be fitted through a hammer or rivet gun.

The material used in manufacturing can be aluminium, brass, copper, stainless steel, etc, and comes in many colours and sizes.

Related Article: Solid Rivet: Introduction, Working, Types, Installation Process and More

2. Split Rivet-

Split’s shank is divided into parts and identified by pairs of legs on their tails which are folded back on themselves after installation.

it is used in small and light works like tin plates, textiles, leather, and plastics and used in bicycle seats.

As the name suggests, It is split into two parts from the body side and has a single head at the top. It is also known as a Bifurcated rivet.

• Related Article: Split Rivet: Introduction, Types, Working, How to Install, Uses

3. Blind Rivet-

As the name suggests, Blind rivets are actually used where you can not access the other side of the surface like something hollow.

Metal sheets and other hard materials are fastened through blind rivets with the help of the rivet gun.

The common uses of these rivets refer to brittle and soft materials, electrical parts, automobiles, hand tools, locks, and home appliances etc.

Commonly, It is also known as POP and Break stem rivet.

4. Tubular Rivet-

Tubular’s shank is hollow in nature and the rest is just similar to the solid rivet. It is used to drill in shoes and file covers etc.

This can also be used to fasten aluminium, thin metal sheets, plastics, leather and on the pivot points where movement is required.

This is also known as Hollow rivet, due to the hollow shape at the body end.

This is classified into two categories-

(I) Full Tubular

(II) Semi Tubular

Read More-Nut and Bolts- Definition, Types, Differences, Shapes & Sizes

5. Snap Head Rivet-

Snap head or cup head rivet is the most commonly used types of riveting and it gives a very strong joint.

These rivets are widely used and meet the requirement of various industries like the manufacturing and construction industries to provide maximum strength in general.

The diameter of the Shank is approx 1.6d and the length of the head is 0.7d.

6. Pan Head Rivet-

It has the unique design of a slightly rounded head and slopping down from the top of the head(see diagram) to provide a tighter grip during the fastening process.

This can be made up of carbon steel, brass, copper, aluminium and stainless steel with a length range from 6mm to 100mm in general.

Pan heads are types of rivets for metal, used in Heavy structural work to provide maximum strength and grip.

7. Mushroom Head Rivets-

A mushroom head is used to deduce the rivet head height on the metal surface and provides the locking needed for maximum strength.

As the name suggests, these rivets are mushroom-like heads and have a lower profile than standard rivets.

Materials are used to manufacture these rivets aluminium alloys, titanium, and nickel alloys.

8. Countersunk Rivet-

Countersunk head rivets are used where the top surface of the plate is required to be free from projecting rivet heads.

It is used in countersunk or dimpled holes and mostly in aircraft for aerodynamic flexibilities. It is also known as the Flush rivet.

These rivets are three types, based on their neck angle-

(I) 120° Shank

(II) 90° Shank

(III) 60° Shank

Read Also- Types of Shaper Machine

9. Flat-Head-

Round, flat and solid cylindrical in design, is perfectly suitable for fastening joints, rotating parts and other industrial needs.

This requires less force to penetrate than solid rivets. This is also known as a slotted rivet.

10. Conical Head Rivet-

This rivet comes with a little bit of complex design having a neck angle of 60° with 0.125d of length from neck to bottom(Shank) including a head height of 0.8d.

11. Pan Head with Tapered Neck Rivet-

This has a head height of 0.7d or top tampered area diameter is 1.6d with 15° of the neck angle.

12. Flush Rivet-

Flush rivets are those rivets which can stick to the metal surface and can not go above the surface level, known as a flush rivet. They are primarily used on airplanes where aerodynamic drag is the main concern.

13. Self-Pierce Rivet–

As the name suggests, this rivet does not require a pre-hole to be present before being applied. This rivet has the self-piercing capability.

This rivet makes the joining of two metal sheets airtight from the inside by completely piercing the top layer and leaving the bottom layer just partially penetrated.

The process involved to install self-piercing rivet-

• Positioning
• Holding
• Piecing
• Stamping
• Forming
• Setting

Stainless steel is commonly used to produce self-piercing rivets.

14. Drive-Pin Rivet-

Drive-pin rivets are those that have a self-locking mechanism with the help of a mandrel pinned centrally. This rivet is also known as a Drive rivet and hammer drive rivet.

This kind of rivet is typically used in conditions where it is impossible to access the metal sheet’s back side because it has a built-in locking mechanism.

You simply need to hammer the mandrel and the rivet will expand from the bottom and lock itself with the support of the mandrel.

15. Friction-Lock Rivet-

Friction-lock rivets are those rivets which can be snaped from the shaft end if enough tension is applied. This rivet, which is often employed in light aircraft maintenance, is believed to be similar to an extended bolt.

Friction lock rivet comes under the category of Self-plugging rivets.

Read Also- Ten Different Types of Spring and its Applications

16. Round Hеad Rivеts-

Similar to solid rivеts but with a roundеd hеad instеad of a flat or countеrsunk hеad. Usеd in structural applications whеrе a smooth, roundеd surfacе is dеsirеd.

17. Oval Hеad Rivеts-

Thеsе rivеts havе an oval-shapеd hеad, offеring a diffеrеnt aеsthеtic and functional profilе. Commonly usеd in situations whеrе a low-profilе, yеt strong, fastеnеr is nееdеd.

18. Button Hеad Rivеts-

Fеaturе a roundеd, slightly convеx hеad that rеsеmblеs a button. Idеal for applications whеrе a smooth and finishеd appеarancе is rеquirеd.

19. Truss Hеad Rivеts-

Havе a large, flat hеad with a slightly roundеd top. Suitablе for joining matеrials with largеr surfacе arеas, providing incrеasеd load-bеaring capacity.

20. Acorn Hеad Rivеts-

Rеsеmblе thе shapе of an acorn, with a roundеd top and a tapеrеd basе. Usеd in situations whеrе a dеcorativе or finishеd look is dеsirеd, oftеn in furniturе or ornamеntal applications.

These were the all types of rivets described above. Now, let’s hop into the types of rivets and their application.

Applications of Rivets-

Here are some applications and rivets use-

1. Structural Work
2. Home Building
3. Boilers & Power Plants
4. Aircrafts
5. Ship Building
6. Jewellery
7. Wall and Ceiling Decorations

1. Structural Work-

Have you ever seen giant bridges crossing above the road?

And those giant bridges are punched with some types of rivets which we have seen above. These are some examples of rivets applications in structural works.

2. Home Improvement & Building-

Have you ever struggled to install hanger straps, wind guards, installing Hinges, woodworking, or gutter and then find a type of rivets to insert in or have you ever seen any of the above rivets in your interior or exterior of your house?

These are some very common examples of the application of rivets inside or outside the house.

3. Boilers & Power Plants-

Rivets are used in the making of boilers. Have you ever heard of boiler shells? Here Snap head is used to make that boiler shell. Power plants are complex in installation.

Where the pump unit, control unit and housing area are assembled with the help of a rivet.

4. Aircraft-

Most aircraft are designed to eliminate aerodynamic drag and the elimination of aerodynamic drag is done through a type of rivet called flush rivet. 

These types of rivets drastically reduce aerodynamic drag by sticking into the surface of the aircraft sheet.

5. Ship Building–

As you know, rivets are used to join the two metal sheets and ships are full of metal sheets and these types of rivets are used to join those metal sheets.

6. Jewellery–

Have you ever noticed your jewellery or your spouse’s jewellery?

Those small connecting rods join one design to another design making it shining and beautiful jewellery. That connecting rod is known as rivets.

7. Wall and Ceiling Decorations–

These types of rivets are supported in home decorations such as large paintings, wall shelves, decorative mirrors, wall wood keys, Hanging pendants, Wall Hangings and so on and so forth.

This is it for now. Here I have shared various types of rivets above along with their uses with diagram.

I hope, you liked spending time here and added some value to you. If so, consider sharing this article with your friends and colleagues, because sharing is always a form of caring and you should not miss this opportunity.

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Abhishek Tiwary

Abhishek Tiwary is a blogger by passion and a Quality Engineer by profession. He completed his B.Tech degree in the year 2017. Now working in a reputed firm. He loves to share his knowledge with others.