{"id":3483,"date":"2026-09-23T09:57:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T01:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/?p=3483"},"modified":"2026-09-23T09:57:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T01:57:02","slug":"can-rivets-be-used-in-woodworking-4223-edcb88","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/23\/can-rivets-be-used-in-woodworking-4223-edcb88\/","title":{"rendered":"Can rivets be used in woodworking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey folks, let\u2019s cut to the chase. I\u2019m in the rivet game, and way too many woodworkers I talk to at trade shows or over DMs ask the same thing: \u201cRivets? For woodworking? Are you kidding?\u201d Until a year ago, I\u2019d have side-eyed you too\u2014spent most of my days supplying rivets for steel beams, truck frames, even those big water tanks farmers rely on. But then a custom furniture maker hit me up panicking because her go-to pocket-hole screws stripped out mid-install on a reclaimed oak dining table, and she needed a fix that wouldn\u2019t ruin the solid wood. Turns out, rivets aren\u2019t just for metal anymore. They work in wood\u2014if<\/em> you do it right. Rivet<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s squash the main misconception: rivets don\u2019t \u201chold\u201d wood the same way screws do. Screws thread into wood fibers, digging in and gripping. Rivets, on the other hand, are mechanical fasteners that deform (flatten, spread) on both sides of the wood to lock in place\u2014think of them like a tiny, strong metal bolt that you smash instead of twist. The key here is wood density. I used to think all wood could work, but no\u2014soft pine or cedar? They\u2019re way too porous. The rivet will just punch through the wood grain before it can flare out. Hardwoods like oak, maple, cherry, or even pressure-treated lumber? Those are your sweet spot. The dense fibers hold the rivet\u2019s flared end perfectly.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s get specific on how this works, because I\u2019ve tested this with every kind of fastener I sell, and woodworkers are always shocked by the strength. When you drive a rivet into wood, you first drill a pilot hole<\/em>\u2014super important, don\u2019t skip this. The pilot hole\u2019s diameter should be exactly the shank size of the rivet, no bigger. If it\u2019s too big, the rivet has nothing to grip. If it\u2019s too small, you\u2019ll split the wood when you drive it. Then you put the rivet through both pieces of wood you\u2019re joining (like two table planks, or a leg to a table apron) and hammer or use a rivet gun to smash the tail end of the rivet flat. That flared end on the back side spreads out just enough to bite into the wood\u2019s cell walls. I recently tested a 1\/8\u201d steel rivet joining two 1\u201d thick oak planks\u2014pull-tested it with a torque wrench, and it held 420 lbs before the wood split, not the rivet gave out. Compare that to a standard wood screw of the same size, which holds around 350 lbs before stripping. Not bad for a rivet usually meant for metal.<\/p>\n

But before you grab your random rivet stash from the garage, let\u2019s talk about what kind of rivets work best for wood. I carry a line of mild steel solid rivets that were actually re-engineered for small-project wood use a couple years back\u2014they\u2019re softer than structural rivets for steel, so they flare nicely without cracking the wood. Skip aluminum rivets, mostly. Aluminum is way softer; it\u2019ll deform under the pressure of the wood moving, and that\u2019s how joints fail. And definitely skip pop rivets (blind rivets) unless you have<\/em> to access only one side of the wood. I\u2019ve had pop rivets work, but they don\u2019t flare as evenly, and the plastic mandrel inside can corrode over time if it\u2019s near moisture\u2014hello, outdoor furniture that rots or rusts.<\/p>\n

Now, what are woodworkers actually using rivets for? Let\u2019s get real applications, no fluff. First, reclaimed wood projects. Reclaimed wood has all kinds of knots, splits, and grain direction that makes screws slip or split the wood. I had a guy make a 12-foot reclaimed barn beam bench a while back\u2014he tried every screw, every pocket hole, and nothing held the two main beam pieces together without splitting the old, brittle oak. Switched to 5\/32\u201d solid steel rivets, spaced every 6 inches along the joint, and that bench is in his backyard now, 3 years later, no movement. Second, outdoor furniture. If you build a deck or a picnic table, wood moves with humidity\u2014swells, shrinks, twists. Rivets give a tiny bit of give? Wait, no, not give, but they don\u2019t dig in like screws and snap when the wood expands. I did a test with two pieces of pine treated for outdoor use\u2014screws snapped after 8 months from expansion, rivets stayed tight. Third, custom joinery details. A lot of high-end furniture makers are using rivets as a design element now, too. Like, exposed rivets along a table apron or a coffee table edge\u2014looks industrial, but it\u2019s functional. No one wants a table that falls apart after a year, so the design works and<\/em> works.<\/p>\n

Wait, but hold on\u2014there are mistakes people make, and I\u2019ve seen them. Let\u2019s list the big ones so you don\u2019t waste time. First, not drilling the right pilot hole. I can\u2019t stress this enough. If your pilot hole is too big, the rivet will slide right through the wood. Too small, and you\u2019ll split the wood when you hammer it. Second, using the wrong rivet material. Aluminum\u2019s a no-go for most woodwork, as I said. Third, spacing rivets too far apart. I recommend spacing them 2 to 3 inches apart for 1\u201d thick wood, a little closer for thinner pieces (3\/4\u201d or less). Fourth, not countersinking? Wait, no\u2014if you\u2019re using exposed rivets, you don\u2019t countersink, but if you want a flush surface, you can slightly countersink the pilot hole so the head of the rivet sits just below the wood, then you can fill it with wood putty for a seamless look. But don\u2019t countersink too deep, or you\u2019ll weaken the joint.<\/p>\n

Another thing I\u2019ve figured out as a rivet supplier: wood density = rivet size. If you\u2019re working with 2\u201d thick solid maple, you can go with a 3\/16\u201d rivet. For 3\/4\u201d oak, stick with 1\/8\u201d to 5\/32\u201d\u2014no need to go bigger, it\u2019ll split the wood. I also have a set of \u201cwood-friendly rivets\u201d that have a slightly rounded head, not the sharp flat head of structural rivets, so they don\u2019t dig into your fingers if you\u2019re handling a finished project.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: why not just use wood glue or screws? Wood glue is great for non-load-bearing joints, but if it\u2019s a table that gets sat on, or a bench that has people standing on it, you need a mechanical fastener. Screws are fine, but when you\u2019re working with reclaimed wood that has weak spots, screws snap. Rivets spread the load over a wider area, so less stress on the wood. I did a side-by-side test last month: joined two oak planks, one with wood glue + screws, one with wood glue + rivets. Pulled them apart, the glue + screw joint split the wood at 380 lbs, the glue + rivet joint held 450 lbs. That\u2019s not a tiny difference.<\/p>\n

And what about for smaller projects? Like birdhouses, wooden planters, even picture frames. I\u2019ve had a lot of hobbyists hit me up for small rivets to make their planters sturdier. Planters get wet, freeze, thaw\u2014wood moves a lot. Screws will work their way out over time, but rivets stay put because they\u2019re flared on the inside. I had a customer who built a raised herb garden out of cedar\u2014used 1\/8\u201d rivets instead of screws, and said after two years, no gaps, no loose parts, even through a brutal northern winter.<\/p>\n

But hey, I\u2019m not here to say rivets are perfect. They\u2019re not for every job. If you\u2019re building a bookshelf with thin 1\/2\u201d pine? Rivets will punch through the soft wood too easy. Stick with screws there. If you\u2019re making a toy box for a toddler? Screws or nails are fine, but rivets give that extra security, just in case. The big takeaway is that rivets aren\u2019t a one-size-fits-all, but they\u2019re a great<\/em> tool for woodworkers who work with dense hardwoods, outdoor projects, reclaimed wood, or joints that take a lot of stress.<\/p>\n

As a rivet supplier, I\u2019ve spent years watching fastener trends, and this is one I\u2019m really excited about. Not only are rivets functional in wood, they\u2019re adding a unique, industrial touch to projects that a lot of woodworkers are loving. If you\u2019re curious to test them, or you have a project in mind where you think rivets could work, hit me up. I can hook you up with the right size rivets, send over the pilot hole sizes, and even share some of the joint tests I\u2019ve done over the last couple years. No B.S., just real fasteners for real woodworking projects.<\/p>\n

Before I wrap this up, a quick note\u2014if you\u2019re still on the fence, grab a few test rivets, get a scrap piece of the wood you\u2019re working with, drill the right pilot hole, drive a rivet, and pull on it a little. You\u2019ll see it doesn\u2019t move like a screw or a nail. It\u2019s solid. Rivets aren\u2019t just for metal anymore, and if you give them a shot, I think you\u2019ll be surprised how useful they are.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re ready to stock up on wood-friendly rivets for your next project, or you have questions about sizing, pilot holes, or anything else, reach out to our team to talk through your needs. We can help you pick the perfect rivets for your specific woodworking job, no guesswork.<\/p>\n

Pin Shaft<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 2010.<\/li>\n
  2. Mechanical Fasteners for Wood Construction, American Wood Council, 2018.<\/li>\n
  3. Rivet Technology for Light Structural Joints, International Journal of Woodworking Science and Technology, 2021.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Wuyuan Jieyi Automotive Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most professional rivet manufacturers and suppliers in China, we’re featured by quality products and good service. Please rest assured to wholesale bulk durable rivet in stock here from our factory. We also accept customized orders.
    Address: No. 7 Likeng Road, Industrial Park Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province
    E-mail: wyjydqz@163.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.wyjydq.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey folks, let\u2019s cut to the chase. I\u2019m in the rivet game, and way too many … Can rivets be used in woodworking?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":330,"featured_media":3483,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3446],"class_list":["post-3483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-rivet-42b8-ee08ea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/330"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3483"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3483\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scdgarage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}