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Posted

 Does anyone have a big-shot idea for removing pop rivets other than drilling them out. I've got thousands (welllll, maybe not that many) to remove ;). HELP MEEEEEEE :'(...

                                 skillet

Posted

Hey Skillet,

I work in a steel mill, and I have asked 3 of our shift millwrights your question,thinking they might have a really "high profile state of the art" answer,BUT they all said that the only tool they know of is a drill bit.

Go figure :;)

Sorry but at least I tried ;)

        -John

  • Super User
Posted

Actually there are 2 high tech tools for removal of pop-rivets

pilot_drill_bit.jpg

0901006911s_51.jpg

Posted

Catt, I got your "high tech" ;D! DADto4 if the millwrights don't know anyother way, there isn't one. I bought an older (real older) aluminum bass boat and was going to have to change out the wood and carpet. Sure hoped there was a better way to remove the pop rivets.  

Catt, I tried following up on the deal of finding who deals with the aluminum freeway signs (for a floor). Thought that was a GREAT idea. The people at the TDOT got tried of me, quick ;D. Traced them down to the salvage yard that has the state contract. Was told they had to ship them to the foundry and couldn't sell to the public ;). I bet if I knew somebody that knew somebody that had an uncle who....... ;D! Graft and corruption makes the world go round ;)...

                                      skillet

                                 

Posted

Skillet

Have you tried using a pair of electronics cutters (not electrical!) they usually have decent sized blades and you can usually cut the heads off the rivets without too much effort (Aluminium rivets hopefully)- you then just punch out the rivet remains with a hammer and punch.

Good luck!

  • Super User
Posted

Drill is the best option because a chisel will elongate the holes; before you drill you must first knock out the pin & ring inside the head of the pop rivet because they are made of harden steel.  

Posted

Chisel the heads off.  That's the standard way of removing rivets where I work, ... and we actually do remove thousands!  As far as elongating the holes, depends on the material.  If it's aluminum, maybe.  If its steel, never.

Posted
Drill is the best option because a chisel will elongate the holes; before you drill you must first knock out the pin & ring inside the head of the pop rivet because they are made of harden steel.

I disagree! Most aluminum boats use solid rivets that are compressed mechanically or pneumatically to complete the compression bond. Boats generally do not use blind rivets that are a 2 component rivet consisting of a pin and a hollow rivet. Even if they did, you could simply push out the pin with a pin punch and then cut the head of the rivet off with a VERY sharp chisel. I can normally cut the head of an aluminum rivet off with one easy swing of the hammer and cause little or no elongation of the hole. I have found there to be much more distortion of the hole using a hand drill w/a drill bit.

I just thought there may be others out there with similar projects who may need another view point on how to accomplish this task.

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