Sealed, Peel and Bulbex® Rivets: When to Use Each
In short: Sealed rivets keep water, air and dust out of the joint. Peel rivets spread the load on soft or brittle materials. Bulbex® rivets form a large bulb for thin sheet and slotted or oversized holes.
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Standard multi-grip rivets handle most assembly work. But some materials and conditions need a blind rivet designed for the job. Three of the most useful are sealed rivets, peel rivets and Bulbex® rivets, all part of Avlock’s Breakstem® range.
Sealed rivets
A sealed rivet has a closed end, so once installed, no water, air, dust or vapour can pass through the joint.
Use them for: HVAC ducting, enclosures, tanks, boats, vehicle bodies, and anywhere a joint must be watertight or airtight.
Key benefits:
- A sealed, leak-proof joint without extra sealant
- The mandrel head is retained inside the rivet, so it cannot rattle loose
- Good resistance to vibration
Peel rivets
A peel rivet splits into petals on the blind side as it is set. The petals spread the clamping load over a large area, so the rivet holds firmly without crushing or cracking the material.
Use them for: soft or brittle materials such as wood, plastics, fibreglass, composites and plasterboard.
Key benefits:
- A wide bearing area that prevents pull-through
- Secure joints in materials that standard rivets would damage
- Clean, neat installation
Bulbex® rivets
A Bulbex® rivet forms a large bulb on the blind side, again spreading the load, and is well suited to thin sheet.
Use them for: thin sheet metal, plastics, and slotted, irregular or oversized holes, such as in roofing, cladding, trailers and panels.
Key benefits:
- Large blind-side bearing for thin or soft materials
- Tolerates oversized and slotted holes
- High pull-out resistance
Choosing between them
Ask what the joint must do: keep out water (sealed), avoid damaging soft material (peel), or grip thin sheet and awkward holes (Bulbex®). For general work, see Rivets Explained. All three install with standard blind riveting tools, and Avlock’s team can recommend the right rivet and grip range for your application.