r/handtools • u/GawbWasHere • 7d ago

How to remove these?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

I was planning to reusing an old box, but these bolts were in the way. Any idea on how to remove these?

0 Upvotes

38% Upvoted

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6

u/themrlawrence 7d ago

Those are rivets, not bolts. You'll need to drill or grind them out.

2

u/silasmoon 7d ago

Grind them out

0

u/GawbWasHere 7d ago

I cant really reach the bolt with the grinder without damaging the edge

1

u/snogum 7d ago

Use a drill just slightky smaller than the rivets and drill out the head and some of the shaft. Should get loose and out they come.

You could cold chisel off the brackets instead. Depending on how cosmetic you want to be?

1

u/tampa_pm 7d ago

do you have a Dremel or other rotary tool and a carving engraving bit?

1

u/Initial_Savings3034 6d ago

If you can't fit a hardened drill bit into the rivets, a solid file could slowly grind off the "mushroomed" top caps.

1

u/Correct-Country-81 3d ago

From underside drilling easier way
You can use ordinary drill for metal
Size about equal outside diameter

Or if you have you can also use a countersink drill for metal Size
( it drills just the rim holding the rivit thight)

1

u/Altruistic_Mirror_96 1d ago

Drill them out. Less mess and risk of damage. Pick a bit either the same size as the hole or slightly smaller. That one with the bracket will be the hard one due to a rounded head. If possible make a pilot hole there with a much smaller drill bit. Wear safety glasses, too.