Tri-Fold Exploding Rivets

Tri-Fold Exploding Rivets

Tri Bulb Rivets are a special kind of rivet. They are often referred to as exploding rivets due to the way they expand, and also tri tite, bulb tite, and olympic rivets. These rivets have three notches cut into the body of the rivet. They are installed much like a pop rivet, using a riveter to pull the mandrel towards the hat. As the mandrel is pulled in towards the hat, the three sections bend forming three legs. These three legs hold tightly onto the installation surface. Tri-fold rivets break off at the head much like a typical pop rivet will.

Bulb rivets come in many varieties. Weather tight bulb rivets come with an attached EDPM (rubber) washer set at the base of the hat. When installed these hats push the washer into the pre-drilled hole forming a watertight seal.

Tri-grip rivets have added benefits in terms of strength and clamping as well. The three legs that protrude from these rivets are used to better distribute pressure over a surface area. This means, more pressure can be applied to the material without causing damage to it. They also keep a larger portion of the mandrel inside of the body. This added material can help to cure the weaker shear strength of typical blind rivets.

Tri-fold fasteners are also prized for their larger multi-grip capabilities. Due to the way the legs are formed during the installation process, the rivet can grab earlier thus making its range much greater than that of a blind rivet. They also work very well where the back of the installation material is not flat. The legs on these rivets will conform to the edges of the material when pulled against it.

These rivets are used in many heavy-duty applications but are most commonly found in trailer or RV repair.