Blind Rivets for Sheet Metal, Fabrication & Trade Assembly

Only have access to one side of the joint? Hobson | Rivets provides blind fastening options for sheet metal, fabrication, repairs & trade assembly where reaching behind the workpiece with a nut or conventional fastener isn't practical.

The Hobson range includes dome-head open, sealed, countersunk, large-flange, peel & multi-grip blind rivets, with different body materials, mandrel combinations, diameters, lengths & grip ranges available across the wider family.

Completing the surrounding fastening work? Browse Rivets & Fixings for the broader fixing category,  Rivets & Screw Posts for related rivet hardware or Specialty Fasteners for less conventional fastening requirements.

► Dome-head open blind rivets
► Dome-head sealed rivets
► Countersunk open rivets
► Large-flange rivets
► Peel rivets
► Multi-grip rivets
► 304 & 316 stainless configurations
► 5052 & 5056 aluminium configurations
► Selected steel, Monel & copper combinations
► Multiple diameters, lengths & grip ranges

Choose the rivet around the joint. Material thickness, hole diameter, head style, grip range & material combination all need to suit the work being fastened.

What Are Hobson Rivets?

Hobson Rivets are blind mechanical fasteners installed from one accessible side of a joint.

A typical break-mandrel blind rivet consists of a rivet body & mandrel. During installation, the rivet tool pulls the mandrel through the body, causing the rivet to form behind the joined materials.

Once the rivet is set, the mandrel breaks at its designed point & the body remains in the joint.

This makes blind riveting particularly useful for panels, sheet, enclosures & fabricated sections where the rear of the connection can't easily be reached.

Hobson's range goes beyond one standard aluminium rivet. Different head profiles, body materials, mandrel materials, diameters & grip ranges allow the fastener to be selected around the actual joint.

Where Blind Rivets Solve the Problem?

Sheet Metal Assembly

Rear access disappears quickly once sheet-metal components start becoming an enclosure, housing or fabricated assembly.

Blind rivets allow suitable sheets & components to be joined from the working side.

Applications can include appropriate:

► Sheet-metal housings
► Guards & covers
► Fabricated brackets
► Equipment panels
► Enclosures
► Repair sections
► Light fabricated assemblies

Where removable fastening is preferable to permanent blind riveting, Screws & Anchors provides alternative fixing options for suitable materials.

Workshop Fabrication

Two pieces of sheet can look simple on the bench but overlaps, reinforcing sections & brackets can change the total joint thickness.

Measure the complete material stack where the rivet will actually sit.

That measurement can then be checked against the specified grip range of the proposed rivet.

The Fastener Guide Bolts Screws Anchors provides broader guidance when rivets sit alongside bolts, screws & other mechanical fastening methods within the same project.

Panels, Covers & Enclosures

The rivet head remains visible after the tool leaves the job.

Dome, countersunk & large-flange heads create different seating characteristics & finished appearances.

A standard dome head provides a conventional raised blind-rivet profile.

A countersunk head can produce a lower-profile result where the receiving material has been correctly prepared.

A large-flange rivet provides a wider bearing surface against the visible material.

The finished surface therefore deserves consideration before the rivet box is opened.

Repair Work With Limited Access

Removing a damaged panel can expose an old rivet without giving you convenient access to the back of the joint.

Before replacing it, inspect:

► Existing hole diameter
► Combined material thickness
► Original head style
► Condition around the hole
► Joined materials
► Available installation space

Don't automatically install a larger rivet into a damaged opening. If the surrounding material has deteriorated, determine the appropriate repair before fastening the joint again.

For repairs involving conventional bolted hardware elsewhere in the assembly, Bolts & Fasteners provides complementary connection options.

Dome, Countersunk or Large Flange?

Head style changes what happens at the visible side of the joint.

The head style isn't a cosmetic decision alone.

Surface material, hole preparation, available bearing area & the finished assembly all influence the choice.

Open vs Sealed Blind Rivets

Hobson offers both open & sealed configurations across selected rivet families.

An open blind rivet uses the familiar open-body construction found across many fabrication applications.

A sealed rivet uses a different body configuration & may suit jobs where that design is specifically required.

Don't interpret the word “sealed” as a guarantee that the complete enclosure or assembly will be waterproof. Hole condition, joint design, surrounding materials & installation all contribute to the finished result.

Large-Flange Rivets – More Surface Under the Head

Thin or softer material can make the amount of contact beneath the rivet head important.

Hobson offers selected large-flange rivets that provide a wider head than standard configurations.

Selected 4.8 mm Hobson large-flange rivets, for example, use head diameters around 15.2–16.5 mm depending on the particular product.

That wider flange can spread contact across more of the visible surface.

It still needs the correct diameter, grip range & material specification for the joint.

Where accurate drilling forms part of preparing repeated holes, Power Tool Accessories can support the wider fabrication setup.

Countersunk Rivets – Prepare the Surface First

Want the rivet head sitting lower against the finished panel? The hole needs to be prepared for it.

Hobson lists a substantial family of 304 stainless countersunk open rivets across different diameters & grip ranges.

Countersinking needs to suit the selected fastener & workpiece.

Forcing a countersunk rivet into an ordinary flat hole won't reproduce a properly prepared countersunk joint.

Where several visible rivets run across the same panel, consistent preparation also helps produce a more uniform finished appearance.

Grip Range – The Measurement Worth Taking

A rivet diameter tells you only part of the story.

Grip range describes the combined material thickness the rivet is designed to fasten.

Imagine two sheets being joined with a reinforcing bracket between them. The relevant measurement isn't the thickness of one sheet. It's the complete stack at the rivet position.

Selected Hobson 4.8 mm stainless dome-head rivets illustrate the difference: changing rivet length provides different grip ranges for different material stacks.

Before ordering:

► Bring the materials together
► Measure the total thickness at the joint
► Check the specified rivet grip range
► Confirm the required diameter
► Select the appropriate length

This is particularly useful for repair work where the original rivet length isn't known.

Standard vs Multi-Grip Rivets

Not every fabrication job has exactly the same material thickness at every fixing point.

A conventional blind rivet is selected around its specified grip range.

A multi-grip rivet provides a broader specified grip range within the relevant product design.

Multi-grip capability doesn't remove the need to measure the joint. Confirm that the actual material thickness sits within the specified range.

Body & Mandrel Materials

Two rivets with similar dimensions can still be materially different fasteners.

Across Hobson's wider range, selected rivet configurations include materials such as:

► 304 stainless steel
► 316 stainless steel
► 5052 aluminium
► 5056 aluminium
► Steel mandrels
► Monel
► Copper
► Other specified body & mandrel combinations

Consider the materials being joined, installation environment & project requirements when choosing the rivet.

Where stainless hardware is being installed in exposed conditions, material compatibility across the complete assembly deserves attention.

For related fastening hardware where material choice also matters, Nuts & Washers provides another useful comparison point.

The practical importance of choosing the fastener itself rather than focusing only on the installation tool is explored further in Why Good Fasteners Matter More Than the Tool You Drive Them With.

What About Peel Rivets?

Peel rivets form another distinct part of Hobson's blind-rivet family.

Their blind-side behaviour differs from a conventional open rivet, making them relevant to suitable applications where that particular rivet design is required.

Don't substitute a peel rivet simply because its nominal diameter matches another fastener.

Check the product specification, joined materials, grip requirements & intended application before changing rivet types.

Before the Rivet Gun Comes Out

A minute spent checking the joint can save drilling a failed rivet back out.

► Confirm both workpieces sit correctly
► Check hole alignment
► Remove burrs or debris that prevent proper seating
► Measure the combined material thickness
► Confirm rivet diameter
► Check the stated grip range
► Confirm head style
► Verify body & mandrel materials
► Fit the correct riveter nosepiece

For repeated fabrication, set up the first joint carefully & inspect the result before completing the full batch.

Practical Riveting Tips

Keep Rivets Labelled Beyond Diameter

A container marked only 4.8 mm doesn't tell you the head style, length, grip range or material combination.

Keep different products separated & retain their full identification.

This becomes especially useful when stainless, aluminium & mixed-material rivets are stored in the same workshop.

Inspect the Hole During Repairs

A loose rivet may have affected the material around it.

Once the old fastener is removed, inspect the opening before selecting the replacement.

An enlarged or damaged hole may require more than simply installing another rivet of the same nominal size.

Check the Riveter Nosepiece

The rivet tool needs the appropriate nosepiece for the mandrel being installed.

Confirm the setup before starting a production run.

If the mandrel isn't seating properly in the tool, stop & check the combination rather than forcing the installation.

Keep Countersunk Rows Consistent

Visible countersunk rivets quickly reveal inconsistent hole preparation.

Where appearance matters, prepare the first hole, install a sample rivet & inspect the seating before processing the remaining panel.

Test an Unfamiliar Joint

A sample using offcut material can be useful when working with a new material stack, rivet family or fabrication detail.

It allows the installer to inspect the finished seating & blind-side formation where both sides of the sample remain accessible.

Restock Before the Drawer Is Empty

Fabrication work often consumes common rivet sizes quickly once a production run begins.

Keep frequently used diameters, lengths & material combinations identified so replenishment doesn't rely on measuring the final few loose rivets.

The Spring Jobsite Prep Getting Your Gear Ready guide includes broader ideas for keeping tools & consumables ready for upcoming work.