Blind rivet product attributes

Blind rivets look simple, but the part number usually encodes three separate decisions: body diameter, maximum grip, and the body and mandrel material pair. Supplier files often publish only the dash code, such as -4 and -4, and leave the catalog team to translate it into a diameter in inches or millimeters and a grip window. When that translation is skipped, two rivets with the same diameter but different grip ranges end up merged into one record.

Grip range is the attribute that decides whether a rivet will set properly. A buyer knows the combined thickness of the sheets being joined, so the record needs the minimum and maximum grip as separate numbers rather than a single length. Body length alone does not answer the question, because two rivet styles of the same length can cover different grip windows.

Material also needs to be split into body and mandrel. An aluminum body with a steel mandrel behaves differently in a corrosive environment than an all-aluminum or stainless pairing, and many price lists compress both into one abbreviation. Strength values, hole size and pack quantity round out what a buyer needs to order the right rivet in the right quantity.

The blind rivets attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 12 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Pack Quantity pack_quantity	Number · pcs	Core	500
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	BR-43-ADS
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	614141234561

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Body Diameter body_diameter	Number · in	Core	1/8 in (3.2 mm, -4 dash size)
Body Length body_length	Number · in	Core	0.350 in
Single Shear Strength single_shear_strength	Number · lbf	Buyer decision	210 lbf
Tensile Strength tensile_strength	Number · lbf	Buyer decision	300 lbf

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Rivet Type / Style rivet_type_style	Controlled list	Core	Standard open end (break mandrel)
Grip Range (Min-Max) grip_range_min_max	Text · in	Core	0.126 in - 0.187 in
Head Style head_style	Controlled list	Core	Dome (protruding)
Rivet Body Material rivet_body_material	Controlled list	Core	Aluminum 5052
Mandrel Material mandrel_material	Controlled list	Core	Steel, zinc plated
Finish (Body / Mandrel) finish_body_mandrel	Controlled list	Core	Plain / Plain
Mandrel Retention Type mandrel_retention_type	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Mechanically locked
Closed End / Sealed closed_end_sealed	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Open end (not sealed)

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Recommended Hole Size / Drill recommended_hole_size_drill	Text · in	Core	0.129-0.133 in (#30 drill)

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Specification Met specification_met	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	IFI-114 (as stated by manufacturer)
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Taiwan

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Mandrel Material
• Grip Range as numeric min/max
• Recommended Hole Size / Drill Number
• Mandrel Retention Type
• Blind-Side Clearance

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing blind rivets ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Will this rivet set properly in two sheets that add up to 0.150 in?
• What drill size do I need for the hole, and does it change with the head style?
• Is this an aluminum body with a steel mandrel, or all aluminum?
• Is this sold by the box of 500 or by the each?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ