Rivet

A rivet is a permanent metal fastener used to join parts together.

Before it is installed, a solid rivet looks like a smooth metal cylinder. It has a head on one end and a tail on the other. Once the rivet is installed, the tail is smashed into a new shape. This new shape is called a shop head or a buck-tail. Because the rivet now has a head on both ends, it can support tension loads. It is even better at supporting shear loads, which are forces pushing sideways against the shaft.

There are many ways to install these fasteners. One way is by hand using a hammer and a bucking bar. The bucking bar is a heavy, specially shaped block of metal. An installer holds the bar against the tail while a rivet gun hits the factory head. The gun sends quick, strong forces that squash the tail against the bar.

For very large or hard rivets, workers might use a squeezing tool instead. This tool clinches both ends to change the rivet's shape. Some people even use a ball-peen hammer and a special hole called a rivet-set. This rolls the edge of the metal so it sits flat against the material.

Rivets are among the oldest tools humans have used.

Archaeologists have found rivet holes in Egyptian spearheads from between 4400 and 3000 B.C. They have also found them on Bronze Age swords and daggers. Back then, metalworkers used short metal rods. They would hammer them into a hole and squash the other end to hold it. In the past, installing rivets was a big team job. It often took four skilled workers to do it right. They included a warmer, a catcher, a holder, and a basher.

Today, different types of rivets serve different jobs.

Solid rivets are used where safety is very important, like in the frames of modern aircraft. Planes can use hundreds of thousands of them. These rivets are often made of aluminum alloys or titanium. There are also semi-tubular rivets, which have a small hole at the tip. This hole makes them easier to install because they need less force. Blind rivets, often called "pop" rivets, are quite different.

They allow a worker to fasten parts even if they can only reach one side. This was a big improvement over older methods.

Many things in our world rely on these small metal pieces. You can see them on huge structures like the Golden Gate Bridge.

They are also used in everyday items like ladders, brakes, and electronics. While high-strength bolts have replaced many steel rivets in big buildings, rivets are still vital. They are used by artists to make modern jewelry and metal clothing. From ancient spears to modern airplanes, the rivet has helped humans build things that last. It is a simple idea that makes very strong connections.