Complete Guide to Rivets & Dowels: Permanent Fastening Solutions

Solid dowel pins are precision-machined cylindrical pins used for accurately locating and aligning components. Manufactured to tight tolerances (typically h6 or m6 fit), they ensure repeatable positioning when components are disassembled and reassembled. Applications include die and mold alignment (ensuring perfect registration between mold halves), fixture location (accurately positioning workpieces), shaft alignment (concentrically aligning rotating components), and gear positioning (maintaining precise angular relationships). Solid dowel pins are installed in reamed holes providing interference fit that prevents movement during use. Common materials include hardened alloy steel (for high-strength applications), stainless steel (for corrosion resistance), and brass (for non-sparking or aesthetic applications).

Shop Dowel Pins →

Spring dowel pins (roll pins, spring pins) are hollow cylindrical pins with a slit along length, allowing compression when driven into holes. The spring action creates friction fit providing vibration resistance without tight reamed holes required by solid dowels. The compressed pin exerts radial force against hole wall, preventing loosening. Easier to install than solid dowels (standard drilled holes acceptable) and removable for maintenance. Used in automotive assemblies, electrical connections, household appliances, and general machinery where alignment is needed but precision fit is not critical. Common in clevis pins, linkage connections, and shear pin applications (designed to fail and protect expensive components). Cotter pins (split pins) are metal fasteners with two tines bent after insertion, preventing nuts, bolts, and pins from loosening. Essential safety devices in aerospace (securing critical fasteners), automotive (preventing castle nut rotation on steering and suspension), marine rigging (securing clevis pins and shackles), and industrial machinery (locking adjustment mechanisms). Cotter pins are single-use safety devices that must be replaced whenever removed. Available in mild steel, stainless steel, and brass with sizes designated by diameter and length.

Blind rivets (POP rivets, a brand name that became generic) are revolutionary fasteners installed from one side only, ideal where back-side access is impossible. They consist of rivet body (hollow sleeve) and mandrel (stem). Installation requires drilling hole through materials, inserting rivet through hole, and using rivet gun to pull mandrel. As mandrel is pulled, rivet body deforms and expands on blind side, creating clamping force. This elegant mechanism allows secure fastening in enclosed spaces, automotive panels, HVAC ductwork, gutter installation, thin-sheet metal assemblies, and anywhere access is limited to one side. Materials include aluminum/aluminum (general purpose, corrosion resistant), steel/steel (higher strength), stainless steel/stainless steel (marine and food-grade), and aluminum/steel (versatile hybrid).

Shop Blind Rivets →