Truss Head Dome Rivets

Truss head dome rivets (often just called dome head rivets, or sometimes large flange rivets) are blind rivets with a noticeably wider flange than a standard countersunk or small dome head. The extra bearing area spreads the clamping load over more of the surrounding sheet, which matters when the material is thin, soft, or has an oversized clearance hole. AIMS Industrial stocks truss/dome head rivets from Champion, Hobson and Inox World in aluminium, steel, stainless steel, Monel and copper, in open, sealed and peel-type construction, across the diameters and pack sizes Australian sheet metal, roofing, cladding and general fabrication trades actually order. For more on selection, see our Types of Rivets Guide.

Quick Reference — truss/dome head rivet range at AIMS

Sizes on the imperial-coded lines (Hobson's #43, #54 etc. and Inox World's 4-2, 5-3 style codes) follow the standard rivet numbering convention: the first digit is the nominal shaft diameter in 32nds of an inch, the second is the grip length in 16ths of an inch. If you're not sure which code matches the metric diameter and grip range you need, get in touch and we'll match it for you.

Truss head versus standard dome head

A standard dome head rivet has a modest, rounded head. A truss head (also sold as a dome head with a large flange in some ranges) carries a visibly wider, flatter flange — enough that it spreads clamping force across a bigger footprint of the sheet underneath. That wider bearing surface is worth paying for when:

• The substrate is thin sheet metal that could dish, deform or tear under a smaller head
• The substrate is soft — aluminium, timber-composite panel, plastic — and could crush locally under a narrow head
• The clearance hole is a touch oversized and a standard head wouldn't fully cover the gap
• The joint sees vibration or dynamic load that would fatigue a smaller bearing area over time

If your job needs an even wider flange again than what's in this range, see our separate large flange dome head rivets collection — a smaller, purpose-built range for maximum bearing area.

Open type versus sealed (closed-end) versus peel type

These three head-and-body constructions cover different jobs and all three are stocked in this range:

• Open type — the standard blind rivet. The mandrel snaps off flush once the rivet is set, leaving a small through-hole in the body. Fine for the majority of general fastening where the joint doesn't need to be sealed against water or air.
• Sealed / closed-end — the rivet body has a domed cap on the blind side, so there's no through-hole once it's set. Use these anywhere the joint has to stay watertight or airtight — external cladding, ducting, tanks and enclosures.
• Peel type — on the blind side, the body splits into several "petals" that fold flat against the workpiece rather than bulging into a single ball. This spreads clamping load over an even wider area on the blind side, which suits soft, brittle or crumbling materials — fibre cement sheet, particleboard, insulation-backed panel — where a normal blind bulb would crack or crush the material.

Multi-grip rivets

A multi-grip truss/dome head rivet is built with a longer mandrel and body designed to set properly across a wider range of material-stack thicknesses than a standard rivet of the same length. One multi-grip rivet can often do the job of two or three fixed-grip rivets, which is handy for site work and service vans where you can't carry every grip length in every job bag. AIMS stocks multi-grip truss head and dome head rivets from Hobson in aluminium/steel construction.

Colour-matched rivets for Colorbond® roofing and cladding

For roofing, guttering, downpipe and cladding installers, AIMS stocks Hobson truss (dome) head rivets with the head factory-painted to match popular Colorbond® steel colours, including Basalt, Bushland, Classic Cream, Cottage Green, Deep Ocean, Dune, Evening Haze, Gully, Headland and Ironstone. A colour-matched head disappears into a Colorbond® roof or wall sheet instead of standing out as a bare metal dot — useful anywhere the rivet heads are visible on a finished job. (Colorbond® is a registered trademark of BlueScope Steel.)

Materials — matching the rivet to the environment

• Aluminium body / steel mandrel — the everyday choice for general sheet metal, light fabrication and indoor work. Cost-effective and easy to set.
• All-aluminium (body and mandrel) — where the fastener needs to be fully aluminium to avoid galvanic corrosion against an aluminium substrate, or for a consistent finish.
• Steel body / steel mandrel — a stronger joint for heavier-gauge sheet, at the cost of some corrosion resistance versus aluminium or stainless.
• Stainless steel 304 (A2) — general outdoor and food-grade corrosion resistance, the most commonly stocked stainless grade.
• Stainless steel 316 (A4) — the step up for marine environments, coastal installations and anywhere chloride exposure is higher.
• Monel body / steel mandrel — a nickel-copper alloy used where dissimilar-metal galvanic issues or extreme corrosion resistance rule out standard stainless, common in marine and aircraft-adjacent work.
• Copper body / steel mandrel — used for electrical earthing continuity and on decorative or heritage restoration sheet metal work.

Where truss/dome head rivets get used

• Thin sheet metal fastening — light-gauge sheet where a standard head risks pulling through
• Roof and wall cladding — including Colorbond®-matched fixings for a clean finish
• HVAC ductwork — joining sheet metal duct sections, sealed rivets where airtightness matters
• Automotive and trailer panels — trim, panels and light-alloy body fastening
• Signage and shopfitting — sheet metal and composite panel to backing frame
• Marine fitouts — 316 stainless and Monel truss head rivets for saltwater exposure

Pack quantities and assortment kits

Beyond individually-boxed rivets in a single size, AIMS stocks assortment refill packs (Champion, in both aluminium and 304 stainless) covering the common diameters and lengths in one box, plus Hobson's aluminium/steel dome head assortment kit and truss head multi-grip kit for anyone who needs a spread of sizes on hand rather than ordering one size at a time. See our full rivet assortment kits range for the complete lineup.

Tools for installation

Truss/dome head rivets set the same way as any blind rivet — drill a clearance hole matched to the rivet's shaft diameter, insert the rivet, and pull with a riveter until the mandrel snaps. The wider flange doesn't need special tooling, but the riveter has to have enough pulling force for the diameter and grip you're setting. A hand riveter is fine for occasional use; for daily trade work an air riveter or a battery/cordless riveter from our rivet tools range will get through a day's fixing a lot faster with less hand fatigue.

Companion ranges at AIMS

Truss/dome head rivets sit alongside the rest of our blind rivet range. If a wider bearing flange again is what you need, see large flange dome head rivets. For a lower-profile finish where the rivet has to sit flush, see countersunk head rivets. For rivet nuts (a threaded blind fastener rather than a rivet) see rivet nuts, and for the full blind rivet catalogue across every head style, see rivets.

Order from AIMS

Need help matching a truss head or dome head rivet by diameter, grip range, material or colour — or pricing up a bulk order for a fabrication run? Call our team on (02) 9773 0122, get in touch via contact us, or submit a request a quote for volume pricing. We'll help you land on the right rivet and the right pack size the first time, not the third.

People Also Ask

What's the difference between a truss head and a standard dome head rivet?

A truss head rivet carries a noticeably wider, flatter flange than a standard dome head. That extra bearing area spreads clamping load over more surface, which is what you want on thin sheet, soft substrates, or an oversized clearance hole — anywhere a smaller head risks pulling through or crushing the material underneath.

What's the difference between an open-end and a sealed (closed-end) rivet?

An open-end rivet has a small through-hole left in the body once the mandrel snaps off — fine for most general fastening. A sealed or closed-end rivet has a domed cap on the blind side so there's no through-hole, which keeps the joint watertight and airtight. Use sealed rivets on cladding, ducting, tanks and any enclosure that has to stay weathertight.

What is a peel-type rivet used for?

On the blind side, a peel rivet splits into several petals that fold flat against the workpiece instead of forming a single bulb. That spreads the clamping load over a wider area, which suits soft, brittle or crumbling materials like fibre cement sheet or particleboard, where a standard rivet's bulb could crack or crush the substrate.

What is a multi-grip rivet and why would I use one?

A multi-grip rivet is built to set properly across a wider range of material-stack thicknesses than a standard fixed-grip rivet of the same length. One multi-grip rivet can cover the job of two or three ordinary rivets, which is useful for site and service work where carrying every grip length isn't practical.

Can I get truss head rivets colour-matched to my Colorbond® roof?

Yes. AIMS stocks Hobson truss (dome) head rivets with heads factory-painted in common Colorbond® steel colours including Basalt, Bushland, Classic Cream, Cottage Green, Deep Ocean, Dune, Evening Haze, Gully, Headland and Ironstone, so the fastener heads blend into the finished roof or wall sheet rather than standing out.

Do you stock stainless steel truss/dome head rivets for marine use?

Yes — 304 (A2) stainless for general outdoor and food-grade corrosion resistance, and 316 (A4) stainless for marine and coastal environments with higher chloride exposure. We also stock Monel-bodied rivets for dissimilar-metal joints where even 316 isn't the right fit.

What tools do I need to install truss head rivets?

A riveter with enough pulling force for the diameter and grip you're setting, and a drill bit matched to the rivet's shaft diameter for the clearance hole. Hand riveters suit occasional use; an air riveter or cordless/battery riveter is worth it for daily trade work.

How do truss/dome head rivets differ from large flange dome head rivets?

Both give a wider bearing flange than a standard rivet head, but our large flange dome head range goes a step further again for jobs needing maximum bearing area. If a truss/dome head rivet's flange isn't wide enough for your application, that's the range to check next.