Pop Rivets

Don't.

Depends on type. There are some that spread out wide on the hidden side. Only use aluminum. They can be drilled out to remove.

The action of squeezing the pop rivet just pushes the wood paneling out of the way. It needs a backing washer to work. Try to find a stud, or go to the edges of the panel. Be wary of hidden wiring or plumbing. Also be careful of sticky back products. I've seen towel hooks etc. tear the top laminate (usually a thin photo paper or plastic) and leave a really ugly scar.

Norm

I've found "Molly" style expansion anchors to be very effective in thin paneling. The wide spread legs provide far more holding power than a pop rivet can in that situation. Toggle bolts also work pretty well, but are more problematic if future removal and re-installation might be needed.

Ivebinconned's post made me think. It's been a while since I've used pop rivets and a standard pop rivet doesn't really work in this application. But there are special rivets - and here is one: http://www.stanleyengineeredfastening.com/brands/pop/rivets/types/load-spreading-lsrls-rivets

I mounted towel bars by making little backer plates of thin plywood neatly painted, which look a bit like blank wall plates for electrical boxes. I glued them to the front of the wall (mainly to keep the plate in place while mounting stuff--not a super strong permanent glue), and drilled through both the plate and the wall to use standard plastic wall anchors. The backer plate is intended to do two things: it provides sufficient thickness for the wall anchor to work properly, and it helps to spread out the stresses from the mounting feet of the towel bar and prevent puncturing or tearing the wall material. Time will tell how effective this proves to be, but so far everything is fine and looks decent.

If you can attach to the "studs" or similar framework in the wall, that's by far the best solution.

from the post up above

Load Spreading pop Rivet

MrWizard wrote:
from the post up above

Load Spreading pop Rivet

I think Harbor Freight has those

It works just fine, but you need to use long enough ones. Too short and they won't hold.

McMaster Carr has these blind rivets for soft materials in stock. See link.


McMaster Carr Rivets