rv6builder48138
Active Member
I've had a hell of a lot of practice at drilling out rivets. However, until recently I've had problems drilling out countersunk rivets. I couldn't get the hang of drilling into the rivet head to the "right" depth; I'd either drill too shallow (and be unable to snap the head off with a punch) or drill too deep (and thereby enlarge the hole the rivet was in, unless I was dead-perfect in centering the drill on the rivet head).
The answer to getting the depth correct:
1) lightly centerpunch the rivet head (especially if the little center "dimple" in the head was shallowed or flattened when the rivet was driven).
2) put a drill stop on the drill bit you'll be using to drill out the rivet. Set it shallow enough that you are sure you won't be drilling too deep, and carefully drill a hole, using the dimple you enlarged to center the drill, till the stop touches the rivet. Try to snap the head off (don't try too hard). If the hole isn't deep enough, loosen up the drill stop just enough to allow you to just barely move it (enough to deepen the hole just a hair). Run the drill into the hole again until the stop again touches the rivet head. Try to snap the head off. Repeat until the drill stop is at the exact place on the drill bit to consistently drill the right depth hole and easily snap the rivet head off. You might have to then drill a smaller-diameter hole in the middle of the remaining rivet shank to loosen the shank up a bit and allow you to pull or punch it out.
Set the assembled drill bit/drill stop aside for future use. I know, I should be an optimist and have enough faith in my riveting skills that I don't have to drill out any more rivets, but I'm only 2/3 of the way thru the wing kit...I just KNOW I'll have more opportunities
to use that drill stop.
The answer to getting the depth correct:
1) lightly centerpunch the rivet head (especially if the little center "dimple" in the head was shallowed or flattened when the rivet was driven).
2) put a drill stop on the drill bit you'll be using to drill out the rivet. Set it shallow enough that you are sure you won't be drilling too deep, and carefully drill a hole, using the dimple you enlarged to center the drill, till the stop touches the rivet. Try to snap the head off (don't try too hard). If the hole isn't deep enough, loosen up the drill stop just enough to allow you to just barely move it (enough to deepen the hole just a hair). Run the drill into the hole again until the stop again touches the rivet head. Try to snap the head off. Repeat until the drill stop is at the exact place on the drill bit to consistently drill the right depth hole and easily snap the rivet head off. You might have to then drill a smaller-diameter hole in the middle of the remaining rivet shank to loosen the shank up a bit and allow you to pull or punch it out.
Set the assembled drill bit/drill stop aside for future use. I know, I should be an optimist and have enough faith in my riveting skills that I don't have to drill out any more rivets, but I'm only 2/3 of the way thru the wing kit...I just KNOW I'll have more opportunities