Answer
Apr 16, 2024 - 07:49 AM
The rivet nut DOES NOT need to be painted after install, as the rivet nut is either aluminum (naturally corrosion resistant), steel with zinc plating (the zinc plating remains intact during a successful install) or stainless steel (again, naturally corrosion resistant).
A rivet nut CAN be painted, typically via a thin e-coat or a thicker powder coat. Then, the rivet nut will match the color of it’s parent application. If painted, the threads need to be shielded or protected in some way. Sometimes, the user will plug the rivet nut from the bottom and top, so that paint doesn’t enter the threads. If the user doesn’t want to plug the threads, then the threads will likely be subject to overspray and the user may need to then “chase the threads” if the threads take on too much overspray. There are some commercial secondary Teflon coatings (for example, Nylock Nycote) that can be sprayed onto the threads to prevent any paint buildup on the threads; the paint slides right off the Teflon before it dries!