Removing spinning rivets from Snap-on tool box drawer slides

[tool_scrounge]

I am a fan of used 80's vintage Snap-On tool chests as they fit well at work and are really well built.

I picked up this KR650 top chest and am in the process of cleaning it up.

The ball bearing drawer slides are extremely dirty and greasy. Also one set is damaged and needs to be replaced. I would like to remove them for cleaning as it will be very hard to get them completely clean in-situ.

The problem is the rivets holding the slide in place are VERY loose and do not want to be removed. Adding to the complexity is the rivets are recessed in the slides and I do not want to damage the good slides.





Things I have done:

1) Just drill them. Unfortunately the rivets just spin.
2) Use a small drill at an angle. Unfortunately the rivets just spin.
3) Use a screwdriver to keep the riven from spinning. Unfortunately it is really hard to put enough force on the screwdriver to prevent the rivet from spinning without putting too much force on the drawer slide bearings.
4) Use a rotary grinding tool with an abrasive wheel. I did this on one rivet and it did work. But there is a lot of grit in the slides and the rivet head popped off destroying the small grinding stone. Not my favorite solution.


Things I am considering:

1) An excuse to buy an Air Capital or equivalent Rivet Removal Tool. In theory the serrated collar edges will keep the rivet from spinning. But I would need to confirm the collar diameter is small enough to fit into the slide or just grind them until they do fit.


2) Use a greased tapered punch to expand the rivet so it does not spin and can be drilled. This could work but I would need to be very careful not to bend the unsupported tool box wall as it is a double wall and I have no access to support it from the back.
3) Use a steel grinding burr. Still creates a lot of debris but easier to fully clean out with confidence than grit.
4) Use a piece of tape or glue to immobilize the head. Unfortunately there is too little space for tape and too much grease for it to be effective. But with a lot of de-greasing it may be a possible option.

Any other options I am missing? Thanks

 

[tool_scrounge]

 

[The Cobbler]

what about trying some crazy glue on the rivet head , let it set then try drilling

 

[PCustoms]

I usually wedge a screwdriver under the head or grab it with pliers.

In your case a small prybar or wedge under the slide should put enough pressure to hold the rivet.

 

[LXCam]

I suppose if the rivet tool doesn’t work there’s always a pencil grinder or dremel option with a really small diameter stone….a whole bunch of them

 

[Beerhippie]

I suppose if the rivet tool doesn’t work there’s always a pencil grinder or dremel option with a really small diameter stone….a whole bunch of them

I have these things called carbide burrs. They outlast stones handily.

 

[LXCam]

I have these things called carbide burrs. They outlast stones handily.

I do too, but you might find doing this is better stoned

 

[Wamsutta]

What I do is use a drill bit larger than the hole so that it lessens the chance of the drill bit going through the hole. Then I waller the drill bit around in an effort to shave some material off the rivet head. A super sharp drill bit works better because it's more likely to cut the rivet than spin the rivet. At some point the rivet will separate from its lower half without enlarging the hole in the box.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

I am a fan of used 80's vintage Snap-On tool chests as they fit well at work and are really well built.

I picked up this KR650 top chest and am in the process of cleaning it up.

The ball bearing drawer slides are extremely dirty and greasy. Also one set is damaged and needs to be replaced. I would like to remove them for cleaning as it will be very hard to get them completely clean in-situ.

The problem is the rivets holding the slide in place are VERY loose and do not want to be removed. Adding to the complexity is the rivets are recessed in the slides and I do not want to damage the good slides.





Things I have done:

1) Just drill them. Unfortunately the rivets just spin.
2) Use a small drill at an angle. Unfortunately the rivets just spin.
3) Use a screwdriver to keep the riven from spinning. Unfortunately it is really hard to put enough force on the screwdriver to prevent the rivet from spinning without putting too much force on the drawer slide bearings.
4) Use a rotary grinding tool with an abrasive wheel. I did this on one rivet and it did work. But there is a lot of grit in the slides and the rivet head popped off destroying the small grinding stone. Not my favorite solution.


Things I am considering:

1) An excuse to buy an Air Capital or equivalent Rivet Removal Tool. In theory the serrated collar edges will keep the rivet from spinning. But I would need to confirm the collar diameter is small enough to fit into the slide or just grind them until they do fit.


2) Use a greased tapered punch to expand the rivet so it does not spin and can be drilled. This could work but I would need to be very careful not to bend the unsupported tool box wall as it is a double wall and I have no access to support it from the back.
3) Use a steel grinding burr. Still creates a lot of debris but easier to fully clean out with confidence than grit.
4) Use a piece of tape or glue to immobilize the head. Unfortunately there is too little space for tape and too much grease for it to be effective. But with a lot of de-greasing it may be a possible option.

Any other options I am missing? Thanks

Option number 1. I own a tool like that, worked well and kept it from spinning. Without it I was very frustrated. I recommend number 1.

 

[rsanter]

You listed it but I drill then with the drill bit at an angle.
Yes it takes more time but has never failed to work for me

 

[GeoBruin]

Use a small drill bit to drill a hole in the crown of the rivet. Doesn't have to be very deep. Then use a small pin punch to keep the rivet from spinning while you drill out the shank.

 

[Frankie156]

I am a fan of used 80's vintage Snap-On tool chests as they fit well at work and are really well built.

I picked up this KR650 top chest and am in the process of cleaning it up.

The ball bearing drawer slides are extremely dirty and greasy. Also one set is damaged and needs to be replaced. I would like to remove them for cleaning as it will be very hard to get them completely clean in-situ.

The problem is the rivets holding the slide in place are VERY loose and do not want to be removed. Adding to the complexity is the rivets are recessed in the slides and I do not want to damage the good slides.





Things I have done:

1) Just drill them. Unfortunately the rivets just spin.
2) Use a small drill at an angle. Unfortunately the rivets just spin.
3) Use a screwdriver to keep the riven from spinning. Unfortunately it is really hard to put enough force on the screwdriver to prevent the rivet from spinning without putting too much force on the drawer slide bearings.
4) Use a rotary grinding tool with an abrasive wheel. I did this on one rivet and it did work. But there is a lot of grit in the slides and the rivet head popped off destroying the small grinding stone. Not my favorite solution.


Things I am considering:

1) An excuse to buy an Air Capital or equivalent Rivet Removal Tool. In theory the serrated collar edges will keep the rivet from spinning. But I would need to confirm the collar diameter is small enough to fit into the slide or just grind them until they do fit.


2) Use a greased tapered punch to expand the rivet so it does not spin and can be drilled. This could work but I would need to be very careful not to bend the unsupported tool box wall as it is a double wall and I have no access to support it from the back.
3) Use a steel grinding burr. Still creates a lot of debris but easier to fully clean out with confidence than grit.
4) Use a piece of tape or glue to immobilize the head. Unfortunately there is too little space for tape and too much grease for it to be effective. But with a lot of de-greasing it may be a possible option.

Any other options I am missing? Thanks

I had the same problem, I hammered a nail in the hole to expand the rivet to the point where the rivet won't spin any more, it worked great. Had to do it to about 8 rivets.
So good luck and Godspeed Sir.

 

[JradM]

I have these things called carbide burrs. They outlast stones handily.

This was going to be my suggestion too. If I was trying to do this myself - that's what I would do. Probably with a 1/8" shank Dremel-sized bit as opposed to a 1/4" die grinder, given the size of the rivet.

The big advantage is if you use a ball-shaped burr, you can carve at it with the side of the burr - then the motion against the rivet is up & down as opposed to circular (and therefore shouldn't cause the rivet to spin).

 

[PMD1966]

I suppose if the rivet tool doesn’t work there’s always a pencil grinder or dremel option with a really small diameter stone….a whole bunch of them

An air chisel should be able to remove the rivets.

 

[LXCam]

An air chisel should be able to remove the rivets.

Absodamnlotely one would…

 

[dnschmidt]

Cam, you're a beast.

 

[Beerhippie]

An air chisel should be able to remove the rivets.

I'd just go straight to the plasma cutter. I could blast that rivet out through both walls of that box!

 

[FigN⋅m]

I'd just go straight to the plasma cutter. I could blast that rivet out through both walls of that box!

I'd blast 'em with my Ruger MKII

 

[msharley]

Absodamnlotely one would…

**** his ole lady with dat!

 

[Beerhippie]

I'd blast 'em with my Ruger MKII

I have that option! 5 1/2" BB in stainless.



The original, NIB Ruger walnut target grips were the best gun show score I ever had for $15!

 

[tool_scrounge]

Ok. Time for an update.

4 slides out, 2 to go.

Two of the slides removed had rivets staked enough to not spin and I was able to slowly drill the heads off with small drill followed by a larger one.

The other two removed slides had rivets that spun freely. I had high hopes for the peen the rivet tight with the tapered end of a penny nail as suggested by @Frankie156 . Sadly I had no luck with that method to stop the rivet from spinning. I ended up crudely chewing the rivet head drilling at an angle. Took a while and generated a lot of debris.

For the last two slides, I will probably use a grinding burr if the rivets spin too much to drill.

I have some Craftsman punches with a slight taper on the back end. Grinding off the straight part of punch and using lubrication may have worked to stake the rivet. I just had a hard time sacrificing the punch.

Thanks for all the input!

Now to see if I can find a replacement pair of Snap-on 8-3388ALRS slides.

 

[tarbellb]

Try a tapered centering bit or even countersink bit

and plenty of pressure

Still no love, break out the die grinder

 

[humber2]

I’d be trying to hold the rivet head with my needle nosed vicegrips.

YMMV

 

[no704]

Just a thought, probably won’t work, but you could try heating the rivit maybe with a soldering iron?

 

[Wamsutta]

I get the impression some of you guys don't know what I mean by wallering out a rivet with a drill bit.

 

[FigN⋅m]

I get the impression some of you guys don't know what I mean by wallering out a rivet with a drill bit.

I know exactly how to wallow out a NON-spinning rivet. Need to get creative otherwise.

 

[Wamsutta]

I know exactly how to wallow out a NON-spinning rivet. Need to get creative otherwise.

The thing is though, by wallering it out with all the different angles, it momentarily keeps the rivet from spinning. It's during that time when it's not spinning that it's getting shaved down. The ideal scenario is when the rivet tears away in a ring and sticks to the drill bit. After that, all you have left is the center portion of the rivet and that pushes out real easy with a pin punch.

 

[PMD1966]

Try a tapered centering bit or even countersink bit

and plenty of pressure

Still no love, break out the die grinder

A Dremel tool with a 1/8" carbide burr would work.

 

[tarbellb]

A Dremel tool with a 1/8" carbide burr would work.

Sure would, probably take twice as long but a option

I only use my dremel for the most delicate of work, but thats just me

 

[tool_scrounge]

Well the last two rivets came out with an 1/8” drill bit at an extreme angle. Using a smaller bit works better. Took a while but did chew its way thru. Photo below of when the rivet head was almost drilled off. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

 

[david3921]

I would have tried a small hole saw around the rivet and cut the slide out. A bit delicate of an operation but it would remove the slide and allow you to hold the rivet better to drill it out.