Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Fellas,

I need to remove some rivets from my frame. I'd love to know what the Nation has found to work well for this type of task.

Post what you do (or even what you heard your sister's boysfriend's, step-dad's uncle -- twice removed -- did).

thanks.

War Chevy:metal:

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

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I just use a BFH and a chisel sharpened on one side. It seems to pop the heads off easier. Be sure and hold the chisel with Vise Grips and wear safety glasses and gloves....

LockDoc

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

I hope someone will agree with me on this so I don't sound like I'm full of S**T but I like to use my cutting torch. Once you get good with one of those, it's like an artist and a paint brush. You can get the rivot hot enough to blow away with the oxygen but it wont affect the frame.

My 2nd choice is the air chisle...not good on fillings in the ole molars though.

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

x2 I,ll agree with you!!!

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Grind the head off and pop out..seems to work easiest for me..
Bob

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

If I have a tight spot that is hard to get to I will use the gas-axe but I can do the open ones about as quick with the chisel.

LockDoc

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

grind an "X" on the head with a cutoff wheel.. then use an air chisel to nip the four pieces right off... sometimes I had to use the air chisel with a punch installed to knock it out then... Didn't mess up the metal at all..

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

That's a great idea. I have to take the rivets out of the front crossmember to install my swaybar - I think that's the way I'll do it. Only thing I'm nervous about is that the gas line is only a couple of inches from the rivet - I'm gonna have to protect it somehow.

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Proper way to remove any rivet. Get a bit 1 size smaller than the shank drill straight down thru the top of the rivet head, just deep enough to loosen the heads grip. Then center punch the grip out from the top. Common method is to grind the entire head almost flush with a grinder then tap it thru with a punch or drive pin.

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

I agree with msgross. I use an 1/8 thick cutoff wheel to cut an X in the rivet head. I use a double X as it takes less time to grind the x and the "pie slices" pop off easier when you hit them with the chisel. Good luck with the removal. I ran into a situation where the plates were not tight together and the rivet had bulged and/or shifted between the plates so even after cutting off the heads I had to do some prying and hammering to get the plates to separate as I could not drive the rivet out due to the bulge/shift.

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Did you learn to hold it with a vise grip the hard way like i did? LOL!!!

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Funny you should ask that...:).. Even with gloves on it hurts like h3ll when you hit your hand.

LockDoc

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

I like to drill them out. With cobalt drill bits, it seems to be the quickest easiest,way with the least chance of damaging anything.

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

I use a cutting torch to "wash" the heads off.. (Be careful with a torch, if your not vary handy with one its probably best to use a different method as there is a fine line between "washing" the heads and cutting/damaging everything)
Next I use a grinder to make them completely flush.. then pop em out with an air chisel punch

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Plasma cutter

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Sawzal with a metal blade and an air grinder

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

I do this too, only I just grind one slot across the head instead of two, then hit it with the air chisel.

Or I'll just blow the center out with the plasma cutter, and a quick tap with the hammer and they fall right out.

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

You suck!!!! :lol::lol:

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Sorry, picked it up at a DOL on a pallet sale 2 years ago for $180, new in the box along with a Lincoln welder and a Miller portable Bobcat gas welder. :metal:

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

I agree with the drill out method. (some industries it's the ONLY approved method) And use a center punch to get yourself started if there isn't already a dimple there.

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

angle grind the head off, center punch it and drill it out. easy.
every air chisel Ive had had died on me mid way through the job!

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

a hammer and a chisel seriously works? I couldn't imagine, it takes long enough with an air chisel!

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

Oxy/Acetyl torch is what I used to remove the rivets through the frame on my rear shackle brackets. Get the mix right and it is a quick process. Just don't drip any on yourself.

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

on areas that you can get to I have had real good luck with a sawzall laid on its side

Re: Rivet Removal: What Are Your Best Tools & Techniques?
 

I just bought a nice set of rivot removal drill bits from harbor freight that work like a charm. Drill the shaft from the head side and they fall out, no chisel or hammers needed. It is a pain sometimes to get the head back off the bit if you drill to deep.