Foolproof ways to remove machinery tags?

[mikew13]

Need to remove a few tags on a Delta motor for DP, and a scrollsaw before painting.
I have attempted to with a Dremel but I can't seem to do a good job of it.
Is there a certain dremel bit or a foolproof secret to this?

 

[A_Pmech]

A steady hand.

 

[Givl Reggin]

I ***-u-me you're talking about nameplates that are held on with rivets? If so I'm thinking a cold chisel would do a good job at shearing the heads off... if you find they are held on with adhesive, a heat gun with a putty knife works well.

 

[yasha32]

If they are pop rivets, drill the center a little bit then hit the halves apart with a thin punch. Works for most rivets i've come across.

 

[A_Pmech]

I find the easiest way to remove them is using a rotary tool and a small fiber-reinforced cutoff wheel. Start at the top of the button head and grind down with a reciprocating motion until you're **almost** to the suface of the tag. Do the same for the remaining drive screws. Then, slip a thin, flexible putty knife behind the tag and gently work it until the remainder of the head breaks off and the tag comes free.

Grind the tail of the drive screw flush. Drive screws are too hard to drill under most circumstances, so drill new holes when you reinstall the plate.

 

[Provincial]

For drive screws (round headed rivets with spiral ridges on the shanks) I have had good results from using a small cold chisel that is ground so the cutting edge is flush on one side. By this, I mean that the chisel edge is formed on one side by the flat of the chisel and the other edge is ground on the bevel. The chisel will lay flat against the plate and not dig into it. Alternate your blows from one side to the other to lift the drive screw out straight up. Once the head of the drive screw is lifted enough you can use a small carpenters pry bar to finish the job.

 

[Outlawmws]

Why not just pry the spiral rivets off? it's not that difficult.

If it is an actual rivet, (not common in my experience) then grinding or drilling makes sense.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

If we are talking rivets or drive pins here, seems to me drilling from a carefully placed centerpunch would be best as it would avoid all contact between tools and the face of tag...just start small and work up in drill size till head of the hardware is ready to pall off.

 

[rodknocker]

Just keep in mind where the other end of that rivit is going, make sure it doesn't get lost in the motor.

 

[5lima30]

Don't remove, just mask them and paint away! Much easier IMHO.

 

[240sxguy]

^ This guy read my mind. When we did the jambs in my car I carefully masked the door decals off and nobody is the wiser!

 

[rsanter]

Use two sharp wood chisels, one on each side aimed to get the sharp edge under the head of the rivet.
Once it lifts the rivet a little then a little prying action will pop it out

Bob

 

[Sh1thead]

I vote masking tape trimmed carefully with razor blade

 

[Kenwc]

If these are not true rivets, they're "drive screws" and they in fact have a long barely there thread twist to them. If you have enough meat on the screw after you've gotten the tag off with any of the above methods...try and get hold of it with vise grips and turn it out.

I have cut slots in the head with a dremel cutoff disk and used a screwdriver to unscrew them...have won a few...lost a few that way.

 

[Greatbear]

I use a set of flush end nippers to grab and pull the drive pins out.

 

[bgott]

Slide a stiff putty knife under the tag up to the drive screw and work it up out of the casting. Tap it a little with a small hammer to help it out.