# Question \[bolt removal\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103 "2015-09-21T15:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![billfromacrossthestreet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@billfromacrossthestreet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfromacrossthestreet)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/1 "2015-09-21T15:42:52Z")
> **[Photobucket | Make your memories fun!](https://s556.photobucket.com/user/johnathond94/library/Mobile%20Uploads)** > > Make your memories fun! Anybody know a way I can get this bolt out i got no clue ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/2 "2015-09-21T16:02:02Z")
**Moderator Note** Welcome to the SDMB, **billfromacrossthestreet**. I have edited the thread title to more clearly indicate the topic. Please use more descriptive thread titles in the future. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/3 "2015-09-21T16:11:39Z")
That is not a bolt, it is a rivet. It is not made to easily removable. I soppose you could try drilling it out though. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/4 "2015-09-21T16:12:18Z")
It’s not a bolt, it’s a rivet. You need to drill it out. Just get a drill bit a little bigger than the bottom part (the first picture) and it’ll break it and the whole thing will come out. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/5 "2015-09-21T16:15:23Z")
It looks like you would drill it out: use an electric to remove that flange on the left picture and then punch the bolt through. Or you might grind off one of the ends–and then punch the bolt through. The grinder might be a grinding attachment on an electric drill. With either method you are removing the outer material so that what is left is the same size as the hole. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/6 "2015-09-21T16:15:38Z")
If there’s any slack you could cut the head off with a Dremel-type cutter (or saw). ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/7 "2015-09-21T16:16:26Z")
You could try a drill bit that is slightly larger than the hole on the riveted end to drill that rivet head off. Or you could use an angle grinder to grind off the rounded head. Either way you are going to destroy the bolt/rivet and may harm the main piece. It’s not really meant to be removed. And before you try you should already have a plan for what you are going to use to replace the rivet. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/8 "2015-09-21T16:38:31Z")
Someone beat me to it, that is a rivet ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/9 "2015-09-21T16:40:34Z")
> [@davida03801](#): > > Someone beat me to it, that is a rivet Can you suggest any ways to remove it though? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/10 "2015-09-21T16:47:10Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Can you suggest any ways to remove it though? I think it has something to do with a drill bit that’s a bit larger. Or something. It’s not clear. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/11 "2015-09-21T17:33:48Z")
Why do you need to remove this OP? I am just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/12 "2015-09-21T18:09:29Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > It’s not a bolt, it’s a rivet. You need to drill it out. Just get a drill bit a little bigger than the bottom part (the first picture) and it’ll break it and the whole thing will come out. This. You can use the other techniques on heavier stuff, like iron riveting, but for light assembly rivets like this… use a bit about half again larger than that bottom roll-over, and drill carefully until the ring is drilled away. Out pops the rivet. ---
**Author:** ![billfromacrossthestreet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@billfromacrossthestreet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfromacrossthestreet)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/13 "2015-09-21T20:37:53Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Why do you need to remove this OP? I am just curious. its a cot i was gonna put the fabric in a washing machine and have it cleaned but i just get some kind of cleaner now bc i was hoping to reuse not buy new revits ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/14 "2015-09-21T20:46:46Z")
> [@billfromacrossthestreet](#): > > its a cot i was gonna put the fabric in a washing machine and have it cleaned but i just get some kind of cleaner now bc i was hoping to reuse not buy new revits You could always replace the rivet with a bolt to make it easier to disassemble next time. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/15 "2015-09-21T20:54:49Z")
> [@billfromacrossthestreet](#): > > its a cot i was gonna put the fabric in a washing machine and have it cleaned but i just get some kind of cleaner now bc i was hoping to reuse not buy new revits You don’t have the tools/machines to install that type of rivet yourself. You could put a bold in, but I think you’d be better off with a clevis pin (and cotter pin). Home Depot/Lowes will probably have some kind of locking clevis pin that will make it easier to work with and harder to lose. ---
**Author:** ![billfromacrossthestreet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@billfromacrossthestreet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfromacrossthestreet)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/16 "2015-09-21T20:57:28Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > You could always replace the rivet with a bolt to make it easier to disassemble next time. sounds GOOD to me! ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-bolt-removal/732103/17 "2015-09-22T00:17:40Z")
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