What most of us don’t see is the hardware that supports so many of our tools and accessories without being noticed. Well, there is also hardware to support said hardware and one of many different pieces is a rivet nut. Also known as a blind rivet nut or a threaded insert, a rivet nut is a single piece of metal that has an internal thread.
A blind rivet nut is typically found in sheet metal applications as well as in composite materials. Why? That’s because a rivet nut creates a permanently usable thread that allows you to install different types of rivets without making new holes every time you need to do so.
Benefits of Rivet Nuts
Strength
One of the advantages of using rivet nuts in Australia is that they offer excellent strength and durability. Even when made out of thin and light materials like brass they can be resistant to vibrations. Proper rivet nuts for sale make for truly dependable threaded connections.
Ease
When it comes to installing rivet nuts there is nothing easier in the world of fastener hardware. They are one of the easiest to install as you don’t need a wide array of tools to do so and it takes about a second for a rivet nut to be installed.
Access
Blind rivet nuts allow you to make use of fasteners in places where more conventional solutions are just impossible. In hard-to-reach areas and tight spaces, a blind rivet nut is, oftentimes, quite frankly, the only or the most fitting solution.
Versatility
Rivet nuts are made to be used on different types of materials and with the ability to accommodate different types of rivets too. They are made with versatility in mind despite being such a permanent solution.
What to Look for in Rivet Nuts
Head Style
Just like rivets themselves, rivet nuts for sale also come available with different head styles. This is not just for aesthetical purposes as it also serves a function. For instance, a rivet nut with a flat head is great for soft and brittle materials where it needs to sit flush with the surface. Countersunk rivet nuts in Australia are made for rivets that need to go through the surface of the material a bit deeper than the thickness of the head itself.
Hole Size
The size of the hole that you need to place a rivet nut in should be able to fit the nut perfectly. Too small and you won’t be able to fit the nut and too big you won’t be able to secure it and the rivet properly. This is more for compatibility reasons than anything.
Material
Just like there are different materials you can use rivet nuts on, the nuts themselves are available in nearly as many materials there are. Therefore it’s important to select the nut made of the same material as the surface you’re installing it on. Otherwise, you’re compromising both safety and long-term use.
Joint Strength
The tensile strength of the nut affects the joint strength of the rivet. The strength of a rivet nut is affected by the fastener’s spacing, the material of the nut as well as the diameter of the nut. Technical data is what you should refer to when it comes to joint strength.
Joint Thickness
The grip range or joint thickness also depends on the nut itself as the thickness of the materials the rivet needs to go through affects it. Joint thickness is essentially the result of a rivet nut’s depth. The greater it is the deeper the materials you can use your rivets on and the greater the joint thickness.
How to Use Rivet Nuts
- As with every fastener and fastener hardware, the installation process starts with preparation. This involves making a hole in the material you want to place the blind rivet nut in. Make sure the hole you drill is of the correct diameter and the depth of the hole should also correspond to that of the nut.
- Next comes the insertion of the nut into the hole you just drilled for it. If it’s a flanged or a flat-head nut make sure that it sits flush with the surface when you do insert it. After that, comes the actual installation of the nut.
- To install a rivet nut you need to use either a manual or a powered tool especially made for it, there’s no way around it. To secure the nut into the hole you need to thread a hand tool on the nut with it placed in the hole. Then, just squeeze the handles together in order to make the body of the nut collapse. With this movement, the nut expands and fastens to the material rather firmly.
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