Rivet Nut Uses and Installation

June 23rd, 2022
There are very few products in the world of fasteners that combine sturdy and reliable holds with a nearly effortless installation process. Rivet nut fasteners are designed to provide quick and easy installations for a wide range of applications, including those that require a completely flush finish or a blind install. Rivet nuts are available in several unique head and body styles, including the extremely popular flat head style, which provides a seamless anchor point for multiple purposes.

How Do Rivet Nuts Work?

Rivet nuts are often referred to as nutserts, threaded inserts, rivnuts, or blind rivet nuts. The blind rivet nut’s one-piece design allows it to be securely anchored from a single side of the material to which it’s attached. These highly functional fasteners are available in various styles, sizes, and materials in standard and metric measurements. Since the rivet nut will not distort the base structure of the material in which it is installed, blind threaded inserts (rivet nuts) are used in a wide range of materials, including:

• Steel
• Fiberglass
• Plastic
• Composites

What is a Rivet Nut Gun?

Pneumatic rivet nut installation tools allow for a faster rivet nut insertion, reducing operator fatigue associated with manual tools. Rivet nut tools are available in pneumatic spin/pull and spin/spin styles and require a source of compressed air to function. Rivnut guns are ideal for high-volume projects and applications. Typical rivnut gun features and characteristics include:

• Will handle rivet sizes ranging from #6-32 to 3/8-16 and M3 to M10
• Single-stage trigger
• Auto-reverse with manual reverse bypass
• Quick change mandrel
• Mandrel is an economical, readily available socket head cap screw
• pulling force @ 90 PSI
• 2 to 3 second cycle time
• Weight = 4.2lbs (Appr.)

Choosing the Correct Rivet Nut

Depending on your project's exact specifications, several unique rivet nut styles address a wide range of application requirements. Most rivet nut styles form a bulge on the application’s blindside as the screw, pin, or bolt is tightened. Other rivet nuts are pulled into a sleeve and do not create a bulge. Blind rivet nut style options include:

• Large flange
• Small flange
• Ribbed
• Hex
• Swage style
• Pre-bulbed & slotted
• Straight shank & slotted
• Floating threads
• Countersunk

How to Install a Rivet Nut?

The rivet nut installation process is extremely straightforward. Once the style of rivet nut has been chosen, the rivet nuts are installed through a compression process that joins the nut to the material. The rivet tool uses parallel, in-line forces to collapse the nut into the application. The torque values associated with the application can be achieved with the proper selection of nutsert body styles, including smooth, ribbed, swage and hex.

Contact JHP Fasteners for Rivet Nut Fasteners, Tools & Equipment Today

If you have questions regarding rivet nut fasteners, tools, or product options, get in touch with the experts at JHP Fasteners. JHP Fasteners is your source for high-quality rivet nuts, rivet tool guns, and accessories.