Removing a steel rivet on a damaged piece of equipment can be time consuming if you do not have the proper tools or process. Rivets are installed for the lifetime of the equipment and were not made to be removed unless they are rusted or have malfunctioned. By following a basic process, you can remove a steel, or aluminum, rivet in just a matter of minutes. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Identify the rivet to be removed and put the safety glasses over your eyes. Small metal pieces may be flying in this quick process.
2. Place the end of the sharp center point chisel in the center of the steel rivet.
3. Strike the end of the chisel hard with the hammer. You should have a small indentation in the top of the rivet.
4. Install the 1/16-inch drill bit into the handheld electric drill.
5. Squirt a little oil on the rivet to lubricate the drill bit in the process that follows.
6. Place the point of the small drill bit in the indentation, start the handheld drill and make a pilot hole through the steel rivet.
7. Remove the small bit from the drill and install the larger bit. If the rivet is 1/4 inch in diameter, you will want to use a 3/16-inch bit to drill out the rivet. This will keep the original rivet hole the same diameter and not cause the drill bit to "ream out" the hole one size larger.
8. Squirt a little oil on the rivet and drill out the pilot hole with the larger bit.
9. Use the cold chisel point with a blunt end to "knock" out the hollow rivet with the hammer. The rivet should easily be forced from the hole with a couple of strikes.
Tags: 16-inch drill, hole with, little rivet, pilot hole, Squirt little
