Rivets are a type of fastener that connects two materials permanently. While there are several types available to support a variety of applications, they all have three main components: a cylindrical shaft that is inserted into a pre-drilled hole, a fixed head on one end, and a tail that is “bucked” to expand in diameter and fasten it in place using a special tool.

Rivets outperform screws and other fasteners in terms of strength and cost-effectiveness when compared to welding. Blind rivets can be installed by a single operator, unlike prior rivet designs that required two people to install.