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pop rivet drilling question

Discussion in 'Prius c Accessories and Modifications' started by col127, Apr 5, 2013.

  1. col127

    col127 Member

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    hi all,

    Quick question about pop rivet drilling. so i've drilled out two of the "pins"/"heads" of the pop rivets (drill went all the way through).

    However, the rivet grommet (the metal part visible to you) on the speaker is still there - so it's still fixed to the door. What do I do next to get it out? Thanks!
     
    #1 col127, Apr 5, 2013
  2. strongbad

    strongbad Member

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    Not sure I understand the problem, but I remove pop rivits by using an oversized drill bit on the head (which faces you when you install the rivit). The oversized drill bit chews through the head and then you can remove the fastened part or push out the remainder of the rivit.
     
    #2 strongbad, Apr 5, 2013
  3. col127

    col127 Member

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    Hmmm - okay let me try to explain better - so when you're looking at the pop rivet on the door - it's basically a metal circle with a hole in the middle.

    I drilled through the "Hole in the middle" - before I drilled it would get stuck because the "pin" was in there - now the pin is gone and I can push my drill through the entire way.

    However, the rivet itself (the metal circle) is still affixed to the door. I can rotate it with my hand, but it won't come lose - so the speaker is still stuck.

    And that's where I'm stuck - I've drilled through the rivet, but it's still attached to the door.
     
    #3 col127, Apr 5, 2013
  4. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    stick the shaft side of the drill, non cutting side, just into the hole, no deeper than the head and bend up or down and it should pop off
     
    #4 PLSPUSH, Apr 5, 2013
  5. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    What sized drill did you use and what sizes pop rivet was it?

    I sounds like you used too small a drill. You need a drill bit slightly larger than the tube part of the rivet that goes through the door.
     
    #5 xs650, Apr 5, 2013
  6. col127

    col127 Member

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    i was using a 3/32 drill bit - i don't know what the size of the pop rivet was - i basically stuck a drill bit that fit inside the hole and drilled through.
     
    #6 col127, Apr 5, 2013
  7. col127

    col127 Member

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    are you suggesting just using the drill bit itself (not attached to the drill) and wiggle it up and down?

    thanks!

    also, unfortunately one of my bits snapped off inside one of the pop rivets. i tried getting it out but it's stuck... any ideas on how to remove it / and the bit? i can't put anything in the rivet anymore because of the bit in there.
     
    #7 col127, Apr 5, 2013
  8. X HCH2

    X HCH2 Member

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    3/32 is much too small to cut the flange off, try at least 3/16.
    X
     
    #8 X HCH2, Apr 5, 2013
  9. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    The pop rivet is probably the smallest common size, 0.125. A 3/32 bit is too small (.09375). A #30 drill bit is a good one for drilling out a 0.125 pop rivet. A #30 is 0.1285 diameter
     
    #9 xs650, Apr 5, 2013
  10. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    yes, that is what I mean, that's how we get them out of a 747s wing, been doing it that way forever
     
    #10 PLSPUSH, Apr 5, 2013
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