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BLIND RIVET

Description: This is an aluminum nail with an elongated head.

Buying information: Blind rivets come in a variety of lengths: as the nail shank gets longer, so does the head. They can be used to fasten leather, cloth, toys, and light metal of all kinds -- they're popular for assembling gutters -- from one side only, hence the term "blind": the rivet doesn't necessarily show on the other side.

How-to hints: A rivet gun is essential for using blind rivets. Make a hole in the material (unless one already exists), then insert the rivet, shank first, in the tip of the rivet gun, which grips it. Insert the head of the rivet in the hole and squeeze the tool handles; it compresses the head, pulling the parts together. The bigger the head, the thicker the material the rivet can fasten.

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