How to Remove a Rivet Like a Pro

The Right Way to Remove Pop Rivets and Blind Rivets Without Damage

If you’ve ever needed to disassemble a project that uses rivets—especially blind rivets or pop rivets—you know it’s not as simple as removing a screw or bolt. Knowing how to remove a rivet the right way can save time, protect surrounding materials, and prevent tool damage. Blind rivets are commonly used to secure window regulators and window channels to the door. They’re also used to secure inner fender liners, body panels, license plate brackets, splash shields, and many aftermarket-installed items.  I’ll walk you through the most reliable and professional methods to remove pop rivets and blind rivets.

What Is a Blind or Pop Rivet?

Understand What You’re Dealing With
Before I show you how to remove a rivet, it’s essential to understand what type of fastener you’re working with. A pop rivet (also called a blind rivet) is a two-part fastener designed to be installed from one side of a workpiece. Once set, the mandrel (the long pin) snaps off, leaving behind a dome or flat head on one side and a clinched body on the other.

Rivet head styles

The challenge is they’re permanent—meaning they weren’t designed to come out easily. But I’ve removed thousands of them, and I’ll teach you how to do it cleanly and safely.

Tools You’ll Need to Remove Pop Rivets

You don’t need specialty tools to remove blind rivets, but the right setup helps. Here’s what I recommend:

• Center punch and hammer
• Sharp metal drill bit (usually 1/8″ to 3/16″)
• Protective eyewear

Best Methods to Remove a Blind Rivet

1. Drilling Out the Rivet (Most Common Method)— The goal is to drill out just enough of the rivet head to detach the head from the shank. You’re not trying to enlarge the hole. So choose a drill bit slightly larger than the rivet shank diameter, which usually works best.

2. Drill into the rivet head— Place the drill bit in the center of the rivet head and apply light pressure. Go slowly to avoid slipping. Once you drill through the head, the rivet should loosen, and you can either pull it out with pliers or tap it through with a punch. Drill just deep enough into the rivet head so the head detaches from the body of the rivet. The head will usually spin when it’s detached.

Use a punch and hammer to push the rivet body out— Using a pin punch a bit smaller than the diameter of the rivet, tap it out.

Clean the Hole— After you remove a blind rivet, check the hole for debris or burrs. If necessary, use a deburring tool or a round file to smooth out the edges.

Alternative Methods to Remove Blind Rivets

There are cases when you may not want to drill—either due to lack of access or risk to the base material. In those situations, you can:

• Grind the rivet head using a rotary tool or die grinder
• Use a cold chisel and hammer to shear off the head
• Use a rivet removal tool, a specialty punch set designed for flush-cut removal

These alternative techniques can also help remove blind rivets in tight or delicate areas where drilling may be impractical.

What Not to Do When Removing Rivets

I’ve seen many DIYers make these common mistakes when trying to remove pop rivets:

•  Using a dull drill bit – this causes the rivet head to spin, causing excessive heat that prevents drilling and mars the surrounding material
•  Drilling too deep – you only need to go deep enough to separate the head
•  Skipping the punch – this increases the chance of the bit walking and gouging metal or paint
•  Not wearing safety gear – always wear eye protection when working with metal shavings

If you’re replacing the rivet afterward, take note of the hole size—it may need to be slightly enlarged if you damaged it during removal. You can then replace it with a rivet of the same grip range and material strength.

©, 2025 Rick Muscoplat