Best way to remove these clips

[UncleJoe]

I am working on a fun project and I need to remove a lot of these clips. Some come off with a twisting motion but none come off too easily. The small rod is not threaded and the fastener appears to grip tight when installed but I can not figure out an easy removal method. I have a metal trim clip tool and some plastic trim tools but they do not help very much. Any Ideas.

Thanks, I am sure once I figure the correct system this project will go pretty easy.

 

[VanDamn]

Can you cut the stud with a disc, pry the prongs up and remove it that way...or did you want to save the studs?

 

[posaune]

I hate those things. I'll be watching this thread closely. So far, I've just tried to turn them while pulling up. That works (if the shaft they are on doesn't turn easily), but is not fun, especially when the clips are round with no good way to grip them.

 

[UncleJoe]

Can you cut the stud with a disc, pry the prongs up and remove it that way...or did you want to save the studs?

I need to save the stud

 

[Ritter4.0]

Depending on what is on the other side. I would take a small piece of plywood, and hold it tightly to the other side. Or two pieces of wood on either side of the pin on the opposite side of the clip. Then take a hammer and tap the rod part out just like you would a pin.


Or cut the clip in half, but I would spray that MDF or whatever it is with a little water (maybe 2 squirts from a bottle or so) first to keep is from burning.

 

[sselander]

if you do not need the clips, you can cut them with a Dremel and a small cut-off wheel.

That should go pretty quick.

 

[Ritter4.0]

I just thought of another one. Get a pair of end cutters and use them to get under both sides of the round parts of the clip at the same time. Pull and twist and pry to get them off from there.

 

[fr0mastaj]

What about something like a panel clip pliers?

 

[AlchemyMetalworks]

What about something like a panel clip pliers?

Why that's just ridiculous! Whoever heard of such a thing! Why in the world would you use the correct tool?

 

[jdcompman]

Without the correct tool I just take a small pick and bend up a couple of the little tabs that are gripping the stud. Once the clip is off, simply take a hammer and smash the little tabs back flat again and they will reinstall as good as new. This way you don't leave huge gouge marks in the stud as well.

 

[airbuff101]

Joe,
Are these found on a vintage car? What car?
Rob

 

[UncleJoe]

They are vintage but not off a car.

 

[Bull]

Is that pair of pliers above really meant for just these types of clips? I have never seen those pliers before.

Joe, PM incoming.

EDIT: When I search for "panel clips" online, most results are for plastic door panel clips. If the pliers are meant for that, then these metal clips might be too beefy for the tool to pop them loose.

 

[Lotek]

Might help to give us an idea of what this is, and how big the studs are. Unless you absolutely have to save the steel clips, I would cut them off and replace them with automotive clips or speednuts, any good auto upholstery shop should have them in different sizes, those are one way retainers, not meant to be reused or removed.

 

[sselander]

We called them "push nuts" when I used to work at a hardware store. A regular hardware store should have the spring steel rectangular ones.

 

[Bull]

Lotek, will the clips you pictured thread onto any unthreaded steel stud, as long as the correct size of clip is chosen?

 

[posaune]

Why that's just ridiculous! Whoever heard of such a thing! Why in the world would you use the correct tool?

Is that pair of pliers above really meant for just these types of clips? I have never seen those pliers before.

I've been eyeing those pliers for awhile and have assumed that they were for plastic. The steel clips like the op's (at least the ones I've encountered) I don't think would come straight off even with the pliers. If they did, I wouldn't want to be around for it without a face shield and a vest!

 

[Bull]

I concur, those pliers are almost certainly meant for dinky plastic clips. So, the poster who indicated they were the correct tool for the job (AlchemyMetalworks) was just having a laugh at our expense.

I've been eyeing those pliers for awhile and have assumed that they were for plastic. The steel clips like the op's (at least the ones I've encountered) I don't think would come straight off even with the pliers. If they did, I wouldn't want to be around for it without a face shield and a vest!

 

[jjjrmx5]

I've been eyeing those pliers for awhile and have assumed that they were for plastic. The steel clips like the op's (at least the ones I've encountered) I don't think would come straight off even with the pliers. If they did, I wouldn't want to be around for it without a face shield and a vest!

Correct. That panel clip tool pictured above is really meant for "Christmas trees" aka the ribbed plastic barbed plug that holds the headliners up in most SUV's, vans and larger vehicles made these days.

The idea is by squeezing the handles that you "pop" the fastener out of the headliner without marring the fabric (or plastic if doing door pads) without having to pry anything against the soft door plastic or fiberglass underlying the headliner.

No way they would take off those push nuts.

I would try 90 degree bent end linesman pliers for the pushnuts, or prolly get impatient and break out the dremel or wiz wheel and start slicing and dicing the nuts enuff to pry off without damaging the hardboard/masonite or studs.

jjjrmx5

 

[Lotek]

Lotek, will the clips you pictured thread onto any unthreaded steel stud, as long as the correct size of clip is chosen?

The flat ones just push on, and are one way, will work on steel, the ones that look like nuts screw on and can be removed, usually used on softer metal or plastic.

 

[Lotek]

I concur, those pliers are almost certainly meant for dinky plastic clips. So, the poster who indicated they were the correct tool for the job (AlchemyMetalworks) was just having a laugh at our expense.

They really aren't worth a sh** for plastic either, I use either a Snap On remover or the nylon tools to get door trim off.

 

[jjjrmx5]

They really aren't worth a sh** for plastic either, I use either a Snap On remover or the nylon tools to get door trim off.

They're worth thier weight in gold if you remove and/or repair or modify headliners. It's a specialized tool, but works great for one or two specialized tasks in my world.

 

[AlchemyMetalworks]

I concur, those pliers are almost certainly meant for dinky plastic clips. So, the poster who indicated they were the correct tool for the job (AlchemyMetalworks) was just having a laugh at our expense.

Mebbe

It's been my experience that pushtab fasteners like that are a ***** to remove if they've been properly installed. They usually have one feature that does the actual holding, so the key to removing them is destroying/disturbing that feature...then the damn things just fall off.

If these pushtabs are the "good" kind, the feature that does the holding will be at the base. That's a PITA because that is where the rod it's holding is most likely to break.

My suggestion is use a soldering iron and apply heat to one side of the sleeve, and a flat tool to pry up the tab on that side. If you've got a good soldering iron, it should be a 5 second job per fastener.