Automobile Step Rivets' THE BASICS OF HOW A BLIND RIVET WORKS The rivet consists of two parts: the rivet body (A) and the mandrel (B) - see the picture below. To install, place the rivet body into the hole in the material to be joined until the lip of the rivet body is flush with the surface of the material. Once in place, slide a rivet gun with an appropriately sized adapter onto the rivet...