repo_man

I've seen a few posts on what they are, how you remove them, replace them, etc around the past week or so so heres a quick little post on rivets guys. Hope this helps anyone wanting (or thinking about) taking their case apart or affixing new peices. This post was taken and tweaked from my current build log. Hope this is helpful to someone!


First, a rivet before it is used and how it works.

These are the rivets you'll find in PC cases, pop-rivets. (In this picture) the top part above the 'head' is the actual rivet. The long piece behind that is what the rivet gun clamps onto. It pulls this rod down (or up, however you look at it) to the 'head' The end of the rod is larger than the sleeve of the rivet, thus making it buldge or split as the rod is pulled. This swells the rivet larger than the hole and holds the pieces you are riveting together. I found a good .gif of this. With the rivet gun.



Here you can see a rivet gun and the rivet. It pulls the rod into the 'sleeve' of the rivet and pulls the pieces tight. Once the rivet is tight the end of the rob breaks off and you are left with what you see on your case.


Just a quick cut-away of the used rivet.



So thats what is left. Just the top of the rivet and the bulged out bottom.




Removing rivets

To take a rivet off you simply find a drill bit a little larger than the hole in the head. All you are actually doing is drilling the head of the rivet off, thus in turn the back falls of and the pieces you are de-riveting is free.



Here you can see me drilling the head out. Also on the bit is a previously drilled rivet head. Don't worry, they always stick on the drill-bit like that,lol. Just take a pair are pliers, grip the leftover heads, and reverse the drill. Nice clean bit again!



Now we've drilled through the head and the bit actually (generally will) push the back half of the rivet off.



One clean hole ready for a new rivet!



And here is a rivet gun and rivet. Just put the new rivet in the hole, slide the gun over the top (the rod that sticks out) and clamp the handle down. You'll probably have to clamp it twice, just let the handle go, slide the gun down again, and regrip the handle. The gun has a pair of 'teeth' in the top and grips the rod and pulls it, thats how it works.

And if you don't have a tivet gun and want to grab one for yourself and your future modding, pop-rivet gun kits can be purchased from McMaster-Carr from $34.74 USD with a 200 piece assortment of rivets at http://www.mcmaster.com/ search for item number 6659A23





If you have any questions feel free to post here and me or some of the more advanced modders will be happy to help!

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Current Projects - Sanguineus Cinis Cineris Hinges for Syrillian's Silentium

Completed Build Log's Project: Phoenix Flip this Tower
My guides and How-to'sBondo Q & A Rivets!

legoman786

This is a fine tutorial to those who can't remove rivets lol

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Aumotocnic "An unfortunate member of the overclock.net insomnia club"
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repo_man

Thanks

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Current Projects - Sanguineus Cinis Cineris Hinges for Syrillian's Silentium

Completed Build Log's Project: Phoenix Flip this Tower
My guides and How-to'sBondo Q & A Rivets!

noobdown

can you use rivits on say the glass for a side window with out it breaking?

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repo_man

I haven't personally used them for that (maybe someone who has can pitch in?) but I'd try it on a spare piece of acrylic first.

I'm just guessing/assuming that if the acrylic was >3/8" thick it would hold up and not crack. But I would def try a rivet on a spare piece first.
(Personally, double sided tape works just as good [if not better] and can't be seen. Or screws, but thats just my .02)


Someone who has used them for this??

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Current Projects - Sanguineus Cinis Cineris Hinges for Syrillian's Silentium

Completed Build Log's Project: Phoenix Flip this Tower
My guides and How-to'sBondo Q & A Rivets!

hiiyah777

Not that my vote really matters, but I vote sticky. Rep+!

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burrbit

agreed.

this is actually what i needed too, cause i was planning on taking apart a case to paint it, and didnt really know the steps of reriveting a case.

bravo!

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dthmtlhed

Whats the usual size for PC pop-rivets?

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xfire - Onyxyth

repo_man

Thanks man!

Glad this helped then!

IIRC I used a 1/8" rivet on my current build. I know for a fact I used a 9/64" drill-bit to drill them out.

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Current Projects - Sanguineus Cinis Cineris Hinges for Syrillian's Silentium

Completed Build Log's Project: Phoenix Flip this Tower
My guides and How-to'sBondo Q & A Rivets!

fstfrddy

They come in various sizes in steel, brass, aluminum and copper. If you are going to use them to mount acrylic use a backing washer and soft aluminum rivets to help prevent splitting.

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