MagnaLok® versus Monobolt® – There are important differences between the two. Do you know what they are?

At RivetLab, we aim to educate our distributors and customers for one simple reason – to make sure you have the right tools for the right job.  With so many rivets on the market, it is easy to develop some misconceptions about the rivets available.

One prevalent misconception often occurs between MagnaLok® and Monobolt®.

MagnaLok® versus Monobolt®
MagnaLok® and Monobolt® are two very common styles of rivets, and they are sometimes confused with each other. But there are important differences between the two.

Both MagnaLok® vs Monobolt® are well-known brand names. However, these styles of rivet are also available from various manufacturers, including Gesipa®, FAR®, Huck®, POP® Ornit® and Avdel®.

Both rivets come in a variety of materials, including steel, stainless steel and aluminium. Both have very wide grip ranges, and both create a high-strength joint which should also prevent any moisture ingress.

Key differences between the two

Huck® Magnalok®
Huck® Magnalok® style rivets keep things simple, requiring a tool with sufficient pulling force such as the FAR® RAC171, GESIPA® Taurus 3, Gesipa® Powerbird Pro battery rivet gun or Huck® LH224 with a flat face nose tip to successfully install the rivet. No special nose piece is required here because the locking mechanism is ingeniously engineered into the fastener. This unique design eliminates error, and this, of course, saves time because proper installation can be checked and verified with a simple and quick visual inspection.

Other benefits of the Magnalok® are that it can be installed with conventional tools, it is incredibly fast to install, and it is vibration and moisture-resistant.

Avdel® Monobolt®
Avdel® Monobolt® rivets, on the other hand, DO require a specific nose tip to install and internally lock the mandrel. Without this specific nose tip, Monobolt® may not install correctly. It’s then susceptible to problems such as the mandrel pulling all the way through, which results in the fastener losing its strength and not providing a proper seal.

Benefits of Monobolt® include:  

1. Protruding head or countersunk style
2. Multi-grip capability
3. High shear and tensile strength
4. Visible lock for quick and easy inspection
5. Compensates for irregular, oversized or misaligned holes
6. Vibration resistant

So how do you tell the difference between MagnaLok® and Monobolt®? These two look very similar, but with some close examination, they can be differentiated.

Avdel® Monobolt®

1. The end of the Monobolt mandrel is flared
2. On the head of the Monobolt® body, there is a distinct counterbore. This counterbore will accept the raised crown on the nose tip.

 Huck® Magnalok®

1. The end of the mandrel is rounded off
2. There is no counterbore, and a suitable flat nose tip will work

These rivets are incredibly common in many areas of manufacturing where structural joints are required. The Tesla Model S chassis uses Huck® Rivets extensively. Kenworth truck cabs, electrical transformer enclosures,  aluminium ute trays, grain silos, solar farms, air conditioning and HVAC, architectural facades, industrial roller doors, security doors and windows are all assembled using structural rivets.

We are always here to help you choose the right tool and fastener for the job, so if you have questions at any time, contact our knowledgeable sales and service team.   

*HUCK is a registered trademark of Huck International, Inc., which is owned by Arconic, Inc.
*Avdel is a registered trademark of Stanley® Engineered Fastening