Blind rivets are a two-part fastener consisting of a shell and a headed stem (mandrel) assembled so the shell can be placed into the work to be fastened. It can be installed when you don’t have access to—or can’t see—the back side of the item being riveted. Prior to the invention of the blind rivet, the use of solid rivets and bolts meant that you needed access to both sides of a project in order to use a rivet hammer on one side and a bucking bar on the other. This complicated process made countless projects with a “blind” side impossible to complete.

Blind rivets are extremely popular because they are fast and easy to use, and work well for joining many different types of materials. In addition to general industry and electronics, blind rivets are used extensively in the following industries:

Agriculture—operating, manufacturing, repairing, or maintenance of agricultural equipment

Solar/Green Energy—the manufacturing, installation, service, or repair of alternate energy equipment including solar, wind, and water

Truck & Transport—trucks, buses, and fleet service and maintenance, aftermarket service, or custom modifications

Rail/Railcar or Mining—rail or mining equipment manufacturing, service, and repair or maintenance of tracks and cars

Lighting-Residential and commercial light fixtures, assemblies, and controls