[TheForge] stubborn rivets

[Bruce .]

Okay, guys, it's time for one of Einstein's "thought experiments":

Take a steel plate, maybe 1/2" x 3"x3".  SCRIBE a 1/2" circle in the center
of the flat so the circle will survive a little abuse.  Heat the plate to
below red.  Quickly measure the diameter of the circle.

Does anyone think that the circle will have got smaller?  If so, please
justify your conclusion (or share whatever you've been smoking).

So, why should it be different if that scribed circle were a drilled hole?

Now, I defer to greater experience whether heating is a good means for
removing a rivet.  I find that truly experienced workers usually know HOW
to do something, but often can't explain WHY it works.  "How" is more
important practically.

Bruce
NJ

On Tue, Aug 9, 2016 at 9:21 PM, jerry Frost <akfrosty at mtaonline.net> wrote:

> Bingo Mike. No, heating the spring will NOT expand the hole making the
> rivet
> drop out. As Mike says the hole will shrink, this only works on rings say a
> nut on a bolt type situation. In the center of plate like a leaf spring
> it's
> a no go.
> removing them.
>
>
>