Blind bolts and their use

Blind bolts are common structural fastener components for assemblies, often capable of providing strength that matches welding or rivets while surpassing such options in terms of flexibility. Commonly used for conjoining plates, girders, and other pieces for various assemblies, blind bolts find use in many applications across numerous industries. To better understand why blind bolts hold advantage over other fastener types, we will discuss their capabilities and uses.

Similar to conventional bolt types, blind bolts are specifically designed to be installed in the preformed holes of assembly components. Their uniqueness as compared to other bolts, however, is their ability to be installed completely from a single side. This simplicity of installation is a major selling point of such fastener types, and the steel pin, collar, and sleeve construction of blind bolts adds to their benefit.

To install a blind bolt into an assembly, the structural fastener is inserted into the preformed hole of a component before tightening the sleeve. As pressure generates from tightening, the expander on the opposite side of the assembly will collapse. The sleeve on the working side of the assembly will also simultaneously collapse, creating a seal. With this method, the bolt is secured with high strength from a single side and the installation may be inspected with ease.

Generally, blind bolts are a good fit for when standard hex bolts or rivets are incapable of being used. This is generally when there is only one side of an assembly that may be accessed. Providing a solution to such issues, blind bolts have greatly increased in popularity and now find use in manufacturing, construction, and repair work. When choosing blind bolts for a particular application, there are some factors that should be considered to ensure that an optimal choice is made.

The strength of a bolt is an important consideration that should be made before making a choice, often determining how well a particular fastener can perform within an assembly. Tensile and shear strength are both dependent upon the application in question, and having ample carrying capacity is crucial to ensure that the fastener does not fracture over time. The grip of a blind bolt is similar, used to describe the thickness of the materials being attached by the fastener. Generally, the grip length will also have an effect on strength and integrity.

Beyond loads, blind bolts may also be exposed to various environmental conditions. Vibration can often loosen many fastener types, though blind bolts are immune to such effects due to their method of installation. Blind bolts may also be resistant to corrosion depending upon their material, and choices such as zinc, alloy steel, or black oxide may be relied on depending upon the corrosive substances present.

With the correct implementation of blind bolts, such fasteners can reliably be used for the optimal assembly of countless items, plates, and other structures. Similar to any other component type, blind bolts exhibit service lives that may fluctuate based on various operational characteristics. If you find yourself in need of replacement blind bolts that are new, used, obsolete, or hard-to-find, NSN Orbit has you covered with our vast offerings.

NSN Orbit is a leading supplier of fasteners that cater to various applications and industries, offering competitive pricing and rapid lead-times that are unmatched by the competition. Take the time to peruse our vast inventory at your leisure, and our team is always ready to assist you through the procurement process as necessary. If you would like to get started, fill out and submit an RFQ form for the items that you are most interested in, and a dedicated account manager will reach out to you in 15 minutes or less with a quote for your comparisons. Get started today and see why customers steadily rely on NSN Orbit for all their operational needs.