i guess i have been doing ok removing rivets by pounding out the mandrel with a small punch. a lot of the success depends on how rigid the material is around the rivet. is there any tool made that would deliver maybe a spring loaded hit on the mandrel? or anything better than the hammer and punch?
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removing pop rivets
- Thread starter bobnoffs
- Start date
Mike S
Senior Curmudgeon
Spring loaded automatic center punch.
Harbor Fright has them.
https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...1.html?_br_psugg_q=spring+loaded+center+punch
Harbor Fright has them.
https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...1.html?_br_psugg_q=spring+loaded+center+punch
DHeal
Well Known Member
As Mike said, get a spring-loaded automatic center punch. You should grind down the diameter of the center punch's pointy-part to fit the rivet mandrel hole. In some cases you might want to support the skin material on the backside of the rivet to prevent denting of the surrounding skin -- a wood or metal block with a 3/16" hole for the rivet body works well.
ps -- I like to try to collect the little steel mandrel nibs that pop out of the backside of the rivet to keep them from rattling around -- you will likely not get them all. A magnet on a stick is useful in collecting the little buggers.
ps -- I like to try to collect the little steel mandrel nibs that pop out of the backside of the rivet to keep them from rattling around -- you will likely not get them all. A magnet on a stick is useful in collecting the little buggers.
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This little fun toy removes pulled rivets in about two seconds with no "oops" required. https://www.aircraft-tool.com/shop/detail.aspx?id=1341S
Not HF cheap, but it's not cheap either... nice product.
Not HF cheap, but it's not cheap either... nice product.
