What is the best way to remove rivets?
There are two different ways to remove rivets. Whichever method you choose, always ensure you wear the appropriate safety gear!
Drilling
What do you need?
-Drill
-Punch
-Hammer
How to remove a rivet with a drill:
Step 1:
Tap with the punch and the hammer to make a dent in the head of the rivet. If the head is too round, you can flatten it a bit by hitting it with the hammer.
Step 2:
Place the drill in the dent and carefully drill the rivet through the hole it is in.
Step 3:
Use a punch to fully knock out the rivet. Watch out for sharp pieces and never push the rivet through the steel with your fingers!
Chisel
What do you need?
-Chisel
-Hammer
Removing a rivet with a chisel:
Step 1:
Insert the tip of the chisel under the edge of the rivet head. Move the chisel back and forth a bit to ensure the chisel is under the head.
Step 2:
Use the hammer to strike the back of the chisel until the head of the rivet breaks off. This will likely take a few attempts. Be careful that the chisel does not slip out from under the rivet.
Step 3:
Now that the head is removed, you can see the pin of the rivet going through the steel. Place the chisel vertically on the rivet and tap the back of the chisel with the hammer. This way you can knock the rivet out of the steel. If the rivet is quite small, you might be better off using a punch or screwdriver instead of the chisel.
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