Metric 18-8 Stainless Steel Thinwall Ribbed Low Profile Head Rivet Nuts
What are metric stainless ribbed rivet nuts? These are blind threaded inserts in 18-8 stainless, threaded to metric sizes, with a ribbed thinwall body and low profile flat head. They give a corrosion resistant metric thread in sheet metal too thin to tap, which is what imported machinery, European built equipment, and metric chassis work all require. The ribs bite into the hole wall so the insert cannot spin when the bolt is torqued. AlbanyCountyFasteners.com stocks M6 and M8.
Internal Thread:
Why metric matters on imported equipment
Because the fastener going into the insert has to match everything else on the machine. Fit an inch rivet nut to a metric assembly and you have created a single mounting point that needs hardware nobody else on the job is carrying, which surfaces the next time a panel comes off for service. Metric chassis work, European agricultural and industrial equipment, and imported vehicle bodies are metric throughout, so the insert should be too. It also matters for the person after you: a metric machine with one inch thread in it is the kind of surprise that costs an hour to diagnose.
Why choose metric stainless ribbed rivet nuts
- Accepts standard metric bolts on imported and European equipment
- Corrosion resistance for marine, washdown, and outdoor service
- Higher load capacity than aluminum inserts of the same thread
- Ribs bite the hole wall to resist spinning under torque
- Thinwall body sets reliably in light sheet metal
Metric sizes and grip ranges
- M6-1.0, 14.73mm length, 0.7 to 4.2mm grip range
- M8-1.25, 17.53mm length, 0.7 to 3.8mm grip range
- Drill the hole to the specified diameter for the insert
- Measure panel thickness against the grip range before ordering
Common applications
- Imported machinery and European built equipment
- Metric chassis and tube frame work
- Marine equipment using metric hardware
- Agricultural and industrial equipment from metric markets
- Motorcycle and imported vehicle panel mounting
- Washdown and outdoor equipment requiring stainless
For inch threads in the same specification, see our 18-8 stainless ribbed rivet nuts. On aluminum panels, metric aluminum inserts avoid a galvanic couple.
Related Categories
- Flat Head Ribbed Rivet Nuts
- 18-8 Stainless Ribbed Rivet Nuts
- Metric Aluminum Ribbed Rivet Nuts
- Rivet Nuts
- Rivet Tools
Metric Stainless Ribbed Rivet Nut FAQs
Can I use an inch bolt in a metric rivet nut?
No. The thread is metric and accepts only metric hardware. M6 and 1/4-20 are close in diameter but the pitches differ, so cross-threading is the likely result of trying.
Do I need a metric mandrel on the tool?
Yes. The rivet nut tool threads onto the insert to pull it, so the mandrel must match the thread exactly. An inch mandrel will not engage a metric insert.
What hole size do metric inserts need?
Specified per insert and different from the inch equivalents. Drill to the stated diameter rather than picking the nearest metric drill by eye, since hole size is the main variable in spin resistance.
Which metric size is most common?
M6 covers the majority of panel and accessory mounting on metric equipment. M8 appears where higher load is expected, such as bracket and structural mounting points.
Are these harder to set than aluminum?
Yes, stainless takes noticeably more pulling force, and M8 in particular benefits from a ratcheting or pneudraulic tool rather than a basic hand setter.
What if I need a metric size not listed?
Contact us with the thread size, panel thickness, and material. Metric rivet nut sizes follow a standard progression and we can advise on availability outside the stocked range.