Stainless steel rivets use deformation or interference fit to connect the parts they are riveted to. Commonly used rivets include cup head, flat head, countersunk head, blind rivets, hollow rivets, and semi-hollow rivets.
These rivets typically use deformation to connect the parts they are riveted to. (Thicknesses smaller than 8 mm are generally cold riveted, while those larger are hot riveted.) However, there are exceptions, such as the nameplate on a three-ring lock, which uses the interference fit between the rivet and the lock body.
Alternatively, there are butt rivets, which are more specialized. They consist of two parts: a thicker capped shank with a hole in the center, which creates an interference fit with the thinner capped shank. To rivet, simply drive the thinner shank into the thicker shank.
Cup head rivets are primarily used in riveting applications subject to significant lateral loads and are the most widely used.
Flat cone head rivets: Due to their larger heads, they are corrosion-resistant and are commonly used in highly corrosive applications such as ship hulls and boiler tanks.
Flat head rivets: Used for riveting applications with normal loads.
Flat head and oval head rivets: Flat head rivets and oval head rivets are primarily used for riveting thin metal sheets or non-metallic materials such as leather, canvas, and wood.
Large flat head rivets are primarily used for riveting non-metallic materials.
Semi-hollow rivets: These rivets have a hollow section machined into the cylindrical portion and are primarily used for riveting applications with low loads.