Tip: How to Safely Remove a Rivet

az_gila said:

OK guys... this keeps coming up, and I've demonstrated this to two new local builders recently.
So I decided to clearly document it.

This is the safest method for rivet removal, with the least risk of damage to the hole.

No original credit is claimed.. I've just documented it clearly on my web site.

Hope it helps all of the new builders.

http://home.earthlink.net/~gilalex/Rivet/

gil in Tucson

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Rick6a said:

Gil,

The only thing I would add to the rivet removal procedure is that it is always a good idea to back up the work by having a helper hold a bucking bar firmly against the side of the shop head of the rivet before punching the remains of the rivet through. This greatly eases the mechanical effort to punch the rivet out while lessening the chances of causing local deformation and can be a particularly important step if the shop head of the offending rivet is the outermost hole on a flange or sitting on an easily bendable tab such as those rivet locations on the nose of a rib. If not backed up, you can easily deform the flange or tab while punching the rivet out and bending the material back into place to reshoot the rivet can be difficult.

Click to expand...

Rick6a said:

Gil,

The only thing I would add to the rivet removal procedure is that it is always a good idea to back up the work by having a helper hold a bucking bar firmly against the side of the shop head of the rivet before punching the remains of the rivet through. This greatly eases the mechanical effort to punch the rivet out while lessening the chances of causing local deformation and can be a particularly important step if the shop head of the offending rivet is the outermost hole on a flange or sitting on an easily bendable tab such as those rivet locations on the nose of a rib. If not backed up, you can easily deform the flange or tab while punching the rivet out and bending the material back into place to reshoot the rivet can be difficult.

Click to expand...