I'm looking to get some M6 rivnuts and a suitable tool for fastening bodywork, interior panels, brackets etc onto my steel chassis.

What are the pros and cons of the various materials?

Aluminium? For- Easy to use, cheap? Against- Weak threads, react with steel chassis?
Steel? For- Cheap, Strong? Against- Rust?
Stainless? For- Strong, no rust/reaction? Against- Cost, harder to use?

Are these correct or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance,
Nick

I'd use steel. Quality ones are coated to reduce corrosion. The ones holding my undertrays get plenty of weather and show no signs of rusting. I always use the splined ones as they grip better and the plain shanked ones can work lose and spin in the chassis.

Buy the tool from Memfast.

It won't matter which rivets you buy or what they are made of as the tool does them all with ease.

Paul G

[Edited on 22/9/15 by 907]

Personally I'd always use stainless, just because I hate rust and wouldn't trust myself not to overtorque an aluminium one!

Ta guys,

Anyone for aluminium, so we'll have the full set?

quote:

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Originally posted by Nickp
Ta guys,

Anyone for aluminium, so we'll have the full set?

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I used steel ones into the chassis and aluminium ones into aluminium.

I also used rivstuds into the chassis for earth points and a couple of mounts.

Memfast tool is fantastic and well worth the money.

I have tried 2 different rivnut tools, one the memfast tool and another one. Neither one worked well at all so I made my own which is a slight alteration to the nut and bolt idea.



The explanation for it can be found here:

Rivnut tool

Hope that helps! Don't waste your money!

[Edited on 9/10/15 by MBrown]

[Edited on 10/10/15 by MBrown]

I used ally - for no other reason as that's what came with the tools (laser)
None have been hard to install (except one I mess up trying to use tool at angle due to lack of access).
But cars not on road yet so cant report long term issues.