how to cut large rivet???? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

rfra3645 · 01-22-2005, 09:11 PM

ok so i need to replace my lower balljoint on my truck and its rivited on.. when i bought the part the guy told me to cut it off and slap in the new bolts. i wa sliek that easy he said yup .. and away i went.. now im gonna do it but how the hell do you cut a 3/4 or 5/8 rivet??? apears to be verry solid.. anyone got any ideas???

Lebell · 01-22-2005, 09:15 PM

Cutoff wheel.

You can get them that work on a drill.

Get some safety glasses too, if you don't have a set.

cj2112 · 01-22-2005, 09:17 PM

die grinder w/ a cut off wheel

Adog · 01-22-2005, 11:21 PM

Can you drill off the top of the rivet head??

rfra3645 · 01-23-2005, 05:02 AM

no they are loacted on the bottom of the knuckle on my truck... verry dificult to get a drill on. or wheel.. was wondering about a chisel of some sort? is that possible?

kazoo · 01-23-2005, 09:34 AM

For a piece of metal that hefty, you'll be at it for a while with a chisel. My choices would be a die grinder with cutoff wheel, or use a regular grinder to make a flat spot on the rivet head, then centerpunch and drill the rivet out.

IowaEric · 01-23-2005, 11:17 AM

Drill it with a quality bit.

crewsor · 01-23-2005, 11:35 AM

If you know anyone with an air compressor and zip gun, thats the way to go. An air chisel should knock the head off easily. Barring that, grinding would be the next best option. A torch would work wonders too, but requires some skill and precautions.

Cadwiz · 01-24-2005, 04:21 PM

I would definately not use a torch on the front end parts of anything I planned on driving at some point. The cut-off wheel is the ticket. Had to do this very same procedure on a blazer about two months ago. Cut the head off as close to the adjacent material as possible and use a punch to knock it the rest of the way out.

james t kirk · 01-27-2005, 03:56 PM

I don't know about autos, but I am involved in repairing big old steel bridges every day of the week with MILLIONS of rivets.

We never torch them, we use a rivet buster to bash the heads off.

Basically a jackhammer with a special point on the end.

beaco · 02-01-2005, 05:49 PM

angle grinder. Might be hard to drill if it's a big rivet.

xniper · 02-01-2005, 07:51 PM

Air chisel thats the way to go. by the way air tools make me hard...

01-22-2005, 09:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
rfra3645 Crazy Location: geff il	how to cut large rivet???? ok so i need to replace my lower balljoint on my truck and its rivited on.. when i bought the part the guy told me to cut it off and slap in the new bolts. i wa sliek that easy he said yup .. and away i went.. now im gonna do it but how the hell do you cut a 3/4 or 5/8 rivet??? apears to be verry solid.. anyone got any ideas??? __________________ this post is a natural product made from recycled electrons. the slight variations in spelling, grammar and punctuation enhance its individual character and individuality and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects. if you cant read my post i dont want to hear about it move on. thanks

01-22-2005, 09:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	Cutoff wheel. You can get them that work on a drill. Get some safety glasses too, if you don't have a set. __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate!

01-23-2005, 05:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
rfra3645 Crazy Location: geff il	no they are loacted on the bottom of the knuckle on my truck... verry dificult to get a drill on. or wheel.. was wondering about a chisel of some sort? is that possible? __________________ this post is a natural product made from recycled electrons. the slight variations in spelling, grammar and punctuation enhance its individual character and individuality and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects. if you cant read my post i dont want to hear about it move on. thanks

01-23-2005, 09:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	For a piece of metal that hefty, you'll be at it for a while with a chisel. My choices would be a die grinder with cutoff wheel, or use a regular grinder to make a flat spot on the rivet head, then centerpunch and drill the rivet out. __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy

01-23-2005, 11:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
crewsor Women want me. Men fear me. Location: Maryland,USA	If you know anyone with an air compressor and zip gun, thats the way to go. An air chisel should knock the head off easily. Barring that, grinding would be the next best option. A torch would work wonders too, but requires some skill and precautions. __________________ We all have wings, some of us just don't know why.

01-22-2005, 09:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	die grinder w/ a cut off wheel

01-22-2005, 11:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Adog Tilted	Can you drill off the top of the rivet head??

01-23-2005, 11:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
IowaEric Tilted Location: You'd never guess..	Drill it with a quality bit.

01-24-2005, 04:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cadwiz Insane Location: work	I would definately not use a torch on the front end parts of anything I planned on driving at some point. The cut-off wheel is the ticket. Had to do this very same procedure on a blazer about two months ago. Cut the head off as close to the adjacent material as possible and use a punch to knock it the rest of the way out. __________________ Semper Fi

01-27-2005, 03:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
james t kirk Junkie Location: Toronto	I don't know about autos, but I am involved in repairing big old steel bridges every day of the week with MILLIONS of rivets. We never torch them, we use a rivet buster to bash the heads off. Basically a jackhammer with a special point on the end.

02-01-2005, 05:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
beaco Upright	angle grinder. Might be hard to drill if it's a big rivet.

02-01-2005, 07:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
xniper Upright	Air chisel thats the way to go. by the way air tools make me hard...