The Frightening Truth About Cheap Rivets

08 - Oct - 2025

It was a dark and stormy night on the production floor…
The machines were silent, the air still, until crack!

A loud snap echoed through the workshop. A panel had come loose, and what followed was every engineer’s nightmare: downtime, damage, and a costly repair bill.

The culprit? A cheap rivet.

When Fasteners Turn Into Nightmares

At first glance, low-cost rivets might seem like a bargain,  a quick win for procurement teams trying to cut costs. But beneath that shiny exterior lies a horror story waiting to unfold.

Cheap or poorly manufactured rivets often suffer from:

  • Inconsistent material quality (especially in aluminium or steel)
  • Weak shear and tensile strength
  • Poor surface coating, leading to corrosion
  • Inaccurate mandrel breaks that compromise joint integrity

Over time, these flaws can lead to failures in critical joints, especially in high-vibration environments like automotive, aerospace, or construction.

The Hidden Cost of “Saving” on Rivets

What starts as a small saving per unit can turn into a massive cost later on. Imagine a line of blind rivets used in an assembly that begins to fail one by one.
The result?

  • Costly rework and downtime
  • Damaged materials and wasted labour
  • Safety risks for operators or end users

In supply chains, one weak link, or one poor fastener, can haunt your entire operation. Choosing substandard fasteners can lead to disruptions that ripple through production and logistics, costing far more than you initially “saved.”

Rivet Types That Keep the Monsters Away

To prevent your projects from turning into horror stories, choose the right rivet technology for your application. At Rivetwise, we offer a full range of high-quality fasteners designed for strength, precision, and durability:

  • Multigrip Rivets: Perfect for variable material thicknesses, offering flexibility and vibration resistance.
  • Standard Open Rivets: Reliable and cost-effective for general use.
  • Large Flange Rivets: Ideal when you need extra support to spread load over a wider area.
  • Aluminium Rivets: Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and perfect for non-structural assemblies.
  • Stainless Steel Rivets: Built for harsh environments where strength and corrosion resistance are essential.
  • Steel Rivets: Strong and durable, ideal for heavy-duty applications in manufacturing and construction.

Each type is available in a range of sizes and materials to match your project needs, ensuring every connection is secure, consistent, and built to last.

Why Rivetwise Rivet Are No Trick, Just Treats

As an ISO 9001-certified company, Rivetwise delivers quality you can trust. Every rivet, fastener, and tool meets strict standards for reliability, precision, and performance.

We work with leading brands and maintain rigorous quality checks so, you can be confident every joint holds strong, project after project.

Keep Your Projects Fear-Free With Rivetwise

This Halloween, make sure the only scary things around are costumes, not your fasteners.

Shop reliable rivets and fastening solutions at Rivetwise.co.uk because when it comes to safety and performance, there’s nothing scarier than cutting corners.

Can't find what you're looking for?

Sometimes it's just easier to get in touch with us directly. Speak to our sales team today.