How to Drill Pop Rivets

Pop rivets fastened into metal

Pop rivets are simple metallic fasteners made of steel, stainless steel or aluminum that are used to fasten differing thicknesses of plate steel or sheet metal. Pop rivets are easy to drill out with a drill bit capable of drilling through metal and a drill. It is a task that takes only a few seconds to complete, and the plate or sheet metal that was riveted together can be re-riveted, or fastened together in another way, when the pop rivet is removed because it is undamaged.

Things You'll Need

• Drill Metal drill bit Metal punch or nail set Hammer

Instructions

1. Select a drill bit that is capable of drilling through metal in a size that will be large enough to separate the head of the rivet from the rest of the rivet. For example, if the diameter of the rivet is 1/8-inch, a 3/16-inch drill bit will be large enough to remove the head of the rivet.

2. Place the drill bit into a drill and tighten the chuck around the drill bit.

3. Place the drill bit in the center of the rivet head and begin drilling. When the head separates from the rest of the rivet, stop drilling. Total drilling depth will only be 1/16-inch to 3/32-inch at the most. You do not have to drill through the sheet or plate metal the rivet is fastened into to remove the head of the rivet. When the head of the rivet separates from the rest of the rivet, it will likely ring itself around the drill bit.

4. Pop the rest of the rivet through the other side of the plate or sheet metal the rivet is inserted into with a metal punch or a nail set and a hammer.