You’re probably not thinking about rivets until something falls apart. Then, suddenly, the difference between a 1/8-inch aluminum blind rivet and a heavy-duty steel solid rivet becomes the most important thing in your world. Most people just head to a big-box hardware store, look at the three dusty options on the shelf, and hope for the best. But for the folks who actually build things—the restorers, the aerospace engineers, and the DIYers fixing a vintage boat—the name Jay Cee Sales and Rivet is basically the gold standard.
They aren’t some faceless Amazon conglomerate.
Honestly, it’s a family story that started in 1948 in a small storefront on Grand River Avenue in Detroit. Jack Clinton, the founder, wasn’t even planning on becoming the "Rivet King." He was running an Army/Navy surplus store selling socks, work shoes, and pants. It wasn't until a brother-in-law in Texas sent up a random shipment of surplus fasteners that Jack realized he had a hit on his hands. Those rivets sold out instantly. Fast forward to 2026, and that little surplus shop has evolved into the nation's largest in-stock supplier of rivets, housing over 9 million pounds of inventory in their 40,000-square-foot Farmington, Michigan facility.
What Jay Cee Sales and Rivet Actually Does
If you can’t find a fastener anywhere else, you call these guys. They specialize in the "weird" stuff—the hard-to-find sizes and materials that the local hardware store won't touch. While most of the industry moved toward just-in-time manufacturing (which is a fancy way of saying they don't keep anything in stock), Jay Cee went the opposite direction. They kept buying. They kept stocking.
Today, they carry everything from basic blind rivets to specialized clevis pins, cotter pins, and rivet nuts. In 2019, they even brought Value Fastener under their wing, adding another 32,000 types of threaded fasteners like screws, nuts, and bolts to the mix. It turned them into a one-stop shop.
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The range is actually a bit overwhelming if you aren't a pro.
- Solid Rivets: These are the old-school, permanent fasteners you see on bridges or aircraft.
- Blind Rivets: Often called "pop rivets," used when you can only see one side of the joint.
- Rivet Nuts: These let you put a threaded hole into a thin piece of metal.
- Clevis Pins: Used in hitches and mechanical linkages where things need to pivot.
Why the "In-Stock" Claim Matters
Most people don't realize how much the global supply chain has changed since 2020. I’ve seen projects stall for six months because a specific stainless steel fastener was backordered. Because Jay Cee Sales and Rivet keeps millions of pounds of product on the floor, they usually ship the same day.
They have about 8 salesmen who, between them, have nearly two centuries of experience. That’s not a typo. We’re talking about people who can tell you exactly which tool you need just by hearing what you're trying to build.
You've probably used their products without knowing it. They serve the marine industry, highway construction, and even movie prop makers. If you’re restoring a 1923 Model T—like one customer did—and you need a very specific flat-head rivet for the fender brackets, they’re the ones who will send you a handful of samples when other companies demand a 1,000-unit minimum order.
The Reality of Running a 4th-Generation Business
It’s rare to see a family business survive to the fourth generation. Usually, someone sells out to a private equity firm by year 40. But Greg Weitzman, Allan Weitzman, Jason Clinton, and Bryan Clinton are still at the helm.
There's a certain "kinda old-school" vibe to how they operate.
While they have a massive e-commerce presence through rivetsonline.com, they still answer the phone. If you call, a real person answers. They treat the $25 hobbyist the same way they treat the $250,000 corporate account. That’s probably why they’ve survived 75+ years. They didn't just survive the COVID-19 pandemic; they were deemed an "essential business" because the fasteners they provide are used in everything from medical equipment to infrastructure.
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Common Misconceptions About Buying Rivets
Most people think a rivet is just a rivet. It’s not. If you use a steel rivet in an aluminum boat, you’re going to deal with galvanic corrosion, and your boat will eventually look like Swiss cheese.
Jay Cee Sales and Rivet spends a lot of time educating customers on material compatibility. You have to consider shear strength, tensile strength, and grip range. If the rivet is too short, it won't hold. If it's too long, it won't pull tight. Most people get this wrong.
Another big mistake is using the wrong tool. A $15 hand riveter from a discount bin is fine for a one-off DIY project, but if you’re doing 500 rivets, your hands will be useless by noon. They stock pneumatic and hydraulic tools that do the heavy lifting.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Project
If you’re staring at a project and realize you need fasteners, don't just guess.
- Measure Your Total Material Thickness: This is your "grip range." It is the most critical measurement you need before ordering.
- Identify Your Environment: If it’s near salt water, you’re looking at stainless steel or specialized aluminum alloys. If it’s for a structural repair on a trailer, you likely need solid steel.
- Check the Online Catalog: Use their search filters. You can filter by head style (dome, countersunk, large flange) and material.
- Call If You're Stuck: If you aren't sure if you need a split rivet or a semi-tubular one, just call 248-478-2150. Ask for a specialist.
Getting the right fastener is basically insurance for your hard work. There is nothing worse than finishing a three-month restoration only to have a cheap, incorrect fastener fail and ruin the whole thing. Whether you're a professional buyer for a manufacturing plant or just a guy in a garage, having access to 9 million pounds of inventory is a massive advantage.
The industry has changed, and 2026 brings new challenges in logistics, but the basic need to hold two pieces of metal together isn't going anywhere. Neither is the team at Jay Cee.