Rivets look like a simple category of fastener, but choosing between blind rivets, solid rivets and R-clips is the difference between a clean production line and a re-work headache. This guide compares the three types head-to-head, walks through the decision logic, and links to the exact products we manufacture at Rongrun so you can specify the right part the first time.
Why the rivet family is worth thinking through
Three different problems are commonly solved with three different fasteners, and they all end up in the same RFQ bucket:
- Permanently joining two or more sheets of metal where welding is impractical or undesirable — blind rivets or solid rivets.
- Locking a clevis pin, hinge pin or quick-release pin so it cannot walk out under vibration — R-clips (also called split pins or R-pins).
- Structural connections that must carry shear load without loosening over time — again, solid rivets, often in stainless steel.
Each of those jobs has a “right” fastener and a “wrong” fastener, and the cost of getting it wrong is usually discovered weeks later in the field.
The three types at a glance
| Type | Typical use | Installation access needed | Tool | Load / strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blind rivet (DIN 7337) | Sheet-to-sheet, sheet-to-frame, hollow profiles | One side only | Rivet gun (hand, electric or pneumatic) | Medium — shear only, limited by rivet diameter |
| Solid rivet (flat or round head) | Structural joints, high-shear applications, permanent assemblies | Both sides required | Hammer + dolly or pneumatic rivet set | High — full shank shear strength |
| R-clip / split pin | Quick-release locking for clevis pins and hitch pins | Inserted through a hole | By hand | Low — retention only, no load transfer |
Blind rivets (DIN 7337) — one-sided installation
A blind rivet is a hollow tube with a mandrel running through it. You insert the assembly into a pre-drilled hole from one side, then a rivet gun pulls the mandrel. The mandrel’s head flares the back of the rivet body, locking the sheets together. When the gun reaches the correct clamping force it snaps off the mandrel, which is then discarded.
Why blind rivets exist: many assemblies have a closed back — a box section, a tube, a channel — where you physically cannot reach behind with a dolly. That is the entire reason the blind rivet was invented.
Best for: sheet thicknesses from 0.5 mm to about 10 mm total grip, mild steel, aluminium and stainless sheet, HVAC ducts, automotive panels, electronics enclosures, light structural frames.
Material choices: aluminium body with steel mandrel is the common, low-cost combination. For corrosion-sensitive or stainless assemblies, an all-stainless blind rivet is the right pick — the rivet body and mandrel should match the parent metal’s corrosion class. Rongrun manufactures blind rivets to DIN 7337 in aluminium, steel and stainless steel, in diameters 3.0 / 3.2 / 4.0 / 4.8 / 6.0 / 6.4 mm.
Don’t use blind rivets when: the joint must carry high cyclic shear load (use a bolt instead); you need a fully sealed joint (blind rivets have a small mandrel hole); or you need to disassemble the joint routinely.
Solid rivets — full strength, two-sided installation
Solid rivets are the original rivet — a plain cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. You insert the shaft through a clearance hole in both pieces, then upset the tail end with a hammer and dolly (or a pneumatic rivet set) to form a second head. The result is a permanent mechanical joint with the full shear strength of the rivet shank.
Two head profiles dominate:
- Flat head (countersunk) — sits flush with the surface. Used where aerodynamics or snag-resistance matters, or where the visible face must be flat (e.g. consumer products, light aircraft interiors).
- Round head (universal head) — the general-purpose choice. Higher shear strength per diameter because the shank is not reduced at the head transition. Used wherever the small bump of a round head is acceptable.
Material choices: for general industrial use, mild steel solid rivets in zinc or zinc-flake finish. For marine, food-grade or outdoor architectural use, 304 stainless steel is the default. Rongrun’s range covers both: 304 stainless flat-head solid rivets for flush applications and stainless steel round-head solid rivets for general structural work.
Don’t use solid rivets when: you cannot access the back of the joint (that’s the blind rivet’s job), or when the assembly must be serviceable — a solid rivet has to be drilled out to be removed.
R-clips — quick release for clevis and hitch pins
An R-clip is not technically a rivet at all. It is a spring-steel wire bent into an “R” shape, with two leg ends that compress together when you push the clip into a cross-drilled hole. The spring action locks the legs apart, retaining whatever pin is in the hole. Pulling the two legs together by hand releases the clip instantly.
R-clips are almost always paired with a clevis pin — a half-threaded pin with a cross hole near the head. The pin holds the joint, the R-clip stops the pin from sliding out.
Best for: agricultural three-point linkages, trailer couplers, machine guards, gym equipment, anything where a pin needs to come out repeatedly by hand.
Material choices: zinc-plated spring steel for general use; stainless for marine and outdoor. Rongrun supplies 304 stainless steel R-clips in the common sizes (2.5 / 3.0 / 4.0 / 5.0 / 6.0 mm wire diameter), and headed clevis pins with a cross-drilled hole to pair them with.
How to choose — decision flow
Walk through these four questions in order:
- Can you reach both sides of the joint?
No → blind rivet. Yes → next question. - Does the joint need to be permanent and carry high shear load?
Yes → solid rivet (round head for max strength, flat head for flush). No → consider whether a bolt or screw is more appropriate. - Is this a pivot point, hinge or hitch that needs to come apart by hand?
Yes → clevis pin + R-clip combination. - What is the corrosion environment?
C1–C2 indoor (heated buildings, offices) → zinc-plated steel is enough.
C3 outdoor (rural) → zinc-flake or hot-dip galvanized.
C4–C5 industrial / marine → stainless steel (304 minimum, 316 for chloride exposure).
If you reach step 4 with “stainless required,” make sure the rivet body, mandrel (for blind) and any mating washer or pin are all stainless — galvanic corrosion from one dissimilar metal in the joint will destroy the rest.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using aluminium blind rivets in stainless steel assemblies. The aluminium dissolves by galvanic action within months, leaving a loose joint.
- Undersizing blind rivet grip range. Each rivet has a published grip range (e.g. 2.0–4.0 mm). If your total sheet thickness is at the extreme of the range, the joint is undersized in shear. Move up a grip range.
- Drilling the wrong hole size for solid rivets. Clearance for a solid rivet shank is normally +0.1 / +0.2 mm over the nominal diameter. Too tight a hole is hard to set and cracks the head; too loose a hole lets the joint shift under load.
- Reusing an R-clip that has lost its spring tension. Once the legs have been bent open beyond their elastic range, the clip no longer retains the pin. Replace, do not re-bend.
- Mixing zinc-plated fasteners with stainless parent metal. The zinc corrodes preferentially and leaves a rust stain on the stainless surface.
Frequently asked questions
What is the strongest rivet type?
A solid rivet carries the highest shear load per shank diameter because the full shank cross-section is intact from head to head. A blind rivet is limited to roughly 60–80 % of the equivalent solid-rivet shear strength because the hollow body collapses under load before the full shank fails. For the highest strength per rivet, choose a stainless steel solid rivet set with a pneumatic rivet tool.
Can a blind rivet be removed?
Yes, by drilling out the rivet body with a bit slightly larger than the shank diameter, then pulling out the remnant. Removal is destructive — the rivet and the mandrel head are both destroyed in the process. If the joint will be opened and closed more than a handful of times, specify a bolt instead.
Are R-clips load-bearing?
No. An R-clip only retains a pin; it carries no axial or radial load. The pin it is retaining is the load-bearing part. If you need a fastener that both retains and holds a load, you are describing a clevis pin, not an R-clip.
What size blind rivet do I need for 2 mm steel sheet?
For a single 2 mm sheet, a 3.2 mm (1/8″) diameter aluminium blind rivet is the typical starting point, with a grip range that covers the 2 mm thickness. For two sheets of 2 mm (4 mm total grip), move to a 4.0 mm (5/32″) rivet and verify the grip range covers 4 mm. As a rule of thumb, the rivet diameter should be roughly 1.5× the thinnest sheet in the joint.
Explore related products
- Blind rivets DIN 7337 — aluminium, steel and all-stainless bodies in 3.0 to 6.4 mm diameter for one-sided installation.
- 304 stainless steel flat-head solid rivets — countersunk solid rivets for flush permanent joints in corrosion-sensitive assemblies.
- Stainless steel round-head solid rivets — general-purpose structural solid rivets, full shank shear strength.
- 304 stainless steel R-clips — spring-steel wire R-clips for clevis pin and hitch pin retention, 2.5 to 6.0 mm wire diameter.
- Headed clevis pins with cotter hole — the matching half-threaded pin to pair with R-clips for quick-release joints.