I've drilled them (awful), grinder (awful), and even used plasma cutter to burn the centers out (awful). We build schoolies and do this often. Very helpful video. Less hazardous in every way. Thanks much.
thank you so much for this video! i, like many, thought power tools would always be easier, but it turns out there are somethings done better by hand (+ a hammer and chisel) :)
Thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words. Sometimes it turns out that way…also, I wanted to show a method for those who might not have the money or experience with air and power tools. A bus conversion can be their first step into a journey…can’t expect everyone to have the same knowledge and resources. Glad it helped!
We’ve been using a punch to knock out the center of the rivet pins as well and are going to try using an air chisel this weekend to get all of the rivet heads off. Hoping it goes easier
I don't know about the genius part... ha! Thanks for the kind words though. It might be a good method for some who can't rely on electricity or want to spend little money on tools. I used a 3 lb. sledge to help get some weight behind it but choked up on the handle for more control. With the gloves, the handle was a bit slippery... The last thing I wanted was to have to hammer slip out of my hand because there was a high probability that it was going through the window. Good luck!
@@burntfritter Thank you. I have a 28oz hammer and a 3 pound sledge. We will see how it goes. We are getting rid of a majority of the windows. So wre are not to worried if a few break. LOL
Good thought putting the steps together to make it work for you. One comment you should practice using the entire hammer handle, you have 6 more inches of force there and it would save you many swings once you get accurate. Hope you build went well.
I am about to run into this issue also with the mini school bus I bought, side stuff I did not need to safe and the rivets drilled out easily, except the few steel ones mixed in. Will have to give your method a shot, whatever method I use my shoulder will hate me though lol.
I decided after all to get an air chisel, bad shoulders will not hold up to the hammer stuff but won't let stop me, just had to consider another option.
When you removed your panels was the whole ceiling insulated throughout? I might opt not to remove it if it's already insulated. The conversion I'm doing is no frills, just for camping a few weeks at a time, not for full time living or showing off.
Yes, it was but it was only thin, poorly installed fiberglass insulation. Depending on where you are located and if you need to keep it heated or cooled, it might be worth it. Either way, good luck with your build!
@@justintrussell7739 Glad to hear that! I thought it took less effort to shear the heads off of the rivets rather than drill them out overhead. Great solution for people who don't have an air compressor, electric outlets, or limited on funds for tools.
EXCELLENT vid, dood! I just subscribed. Thank you for the tip. I subscribe to Reeses on Recess (those 2 are so cute and driven) and Transcend Existence (dood is a GURU of metal) and The Steampunk Bus guy (he is VERY resourceful and clever) and a few others. I am gathering awesome tips from all of you guys, for when I do mine. I really like your explanation of coring out that central shaft, and then the chisel. Look forward to more!!! P.S. Awesome followup stills at the end.
Thank you for the kind words and for checking out the video! I haven't had as much time to work on the bus lately as I would like. If I do anything worth sharing, I'll try to make another video.
I've used rivets in my line of work for 40+ years, unless your scraping drilling is faster, leaves a more finished job and you can use the cut heads for backing washers.
Did you watch the entire video? I drilled out the 3/16" aluminum pop rivets on the walls. If you want to drill out 1/4" steel rivets that are over your head all day while hot metal shavings poor down on you, be my guest. Congrats on your 40+ years, Ronald.
I just used a cordless drill, 3/16" drill bit but only on the smaller aluminum rivets. The larger, steel rivets are a pain to drill out so that's why I opted to shear them off instead. Just a hammer and a chisel... pretty cheap, no electricity or air compressor needed. Good luck!
So, what blade would you use for that? I'm new to this...I need easy doing my first conversion, not a ton of power tool or building experience. And do you mean getting in between the sheet metal and the rib and sawing down across or am I missing something? Also, what else, on a conversion, would a sawzall be handy for? 🙂
drilling is the only way to go - if the rivet spins tilt drill on an angle and it will cut through it, most rivet are imperial sizes - ie 1/8 -5/32 - 3/16 so use right size drill for them
I have to agree with you on this. Air chisels are way underused it seems in most bus conversions. And they have SO many other uses than just rivet removal!
Are you even working on a bus or are you just here to naysay, Ronald? I've taken the ceiling panels off with the method described in the video and the metal is just fine. I reused the metal for window panels. I cut out 24.25" x 26.5" sections and they worked great. I'm sharing this information to help people not to dictate what can and cannot be done. If you want to drill them out, no one is going to stop you and no one is going to care.
All this video proves to me is that removing those beautiful metal panels is pointless. That fiber glass insulation looked perfect. Nice and yellow as new... I think reinsulating a bus is a waste of time and money. What difference can it make when you're surrounded by windows. 🤷🏼 all the way around. Ive been im both regular busses and reinsulated ones and feel no different. But anyways. 😂 good luck with that
I've drilled them (awful), grinder (awful), and even used plasma cutter to burn the centers out (awful). We build schoolies and do this often. Very helpful video. Less hazardous in every way. Thanks much.
No problem. Thanks for the comment! Good luck with all of your conversions!
You saved me a few days work, thanks
Awesome! Glad to hear that. Good luck with your build!
thank you so much for this video! i, like many, thought power tools would always be easier, but it turns out there are somethings done better by hand (+ a hammer and chisel) :)
Thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words. Sometimes it turns out that way…also, I wanted to show a method for those who might not have the money or experience with air and power tools. A bus conversion can be their first step into a journey…can’t expect everyone to have the same knowledge and resources. Glad it helped!
Nice thanks bro
thank you for this video i’m going to use this method
We’ve been using a punch to knock out the center of the rivet pins as well and are going to try using an air chisel this weekend to get all of the rivet heads off. Hoping it goes easier
Good luck!
Great suggestion! This would be handy if you are working on the bus in a location without power. 👏
Thanks! My thoughts exactly. Not everyone has access to a bunch of tools or electricity.
Pure genius
I don't know about the genius part... ha! Thanks for the kind words though. It might be a good method for some who can't rely on electricity or want to spend little money on tools.
I used a 3 lb. sledge to help get some weight behind it but choked up on the handle for more control. With the gloves, the handle was a bit slippery... The last thing I wanted was to have to hammer slip out of my hand because there was a high probability that it was going through the window. Good luck!
@@burntfritter Thank you. I have a 28oz hammer and a 3 pound sledge. We will see how it goes. We are getting rid of a majority of the windows. So wre are not to worried if a few break. LOL
@@ForestTre Ha! Sounds good!
cool burntfritter !! we do the same work ! wish a good work for you guys !
Thank you! Good luck to you as well!
Good thought putting the steps together to make it work for you. One comment you should practice using the entire hammer handle, you have 6 more inches of force there and it would save you many swings once you get accurate. Hope you build went well.
I am about to run into this issue also with the mini school bus I bought, side stuff I did not need to safe and the rivets drilled out easily, except the few steel ones mixed in. Will have to give your method a shot, whatever method I use my shoulder will hate me though lol.
Yea, those larger steel rivets are no joke.... good luck!
I decided after all to get an air chisel, bad shoulders will not hold up to the hammer stuff but won't let stop me, just had to consider another option.
I do have an advantage, a short bus.
@@mobilehomelife4028 I understand. Definitely more than one way to go about it. Do what works best for you and your situation. Good luck!
2019 for me, year of the bus !!!
Clever, thank you
Wouter d.B. Thanks for the kind words and checking out the video!
Nice to see someone else removing the panels as well. Whats your plan for the bus?
Brilliant, thanks for sharing!
No problem! I hope it helps you out.
Thanks for sharing! Great advice!
You're welcome!
When you removed your panels was the whole ceiling insulated throughout? I might opt not to remove it if it's already insulated. The conversion I'm doing is no frills, just for camping a few weeks at a time, not for full time living or showing off.
Yes, it was but it was only thin, poorly installed fiberglass insulation. Depending on where you are located and if you need to keep it heated or cooled, it might be worth it. Either way, good luck with your build!
Thank you amigo
You're welcome. Good luck!
@@burntfritter the pop rivets are coming off pretty easy with these tools
@@justintrussell7739 Glad to hear that! I thought it took less effort to shear the heads off of the rivets rather than drill them out overhead. Great solution for people who don't have an air compressor, electric outlets, or limited on funds for tools.
EXCELLENT vid, dood! I just subscribed. Thank you for the tip. I subscribe to Reeses on Recess (those 2 are so cute and driven) and Transcend Existence (dood is a GURU of metal) and The Steampunk Bus guy (he is VERY resourceful and clever) and a few others. I am gathering awesome tips from all of you guys, for when I do mine. I really like your explanation of coring out that central shaft, and then the chisel. Look forward to more!!! P.S. Awesome followup stills at the end.
Thank you for the kind words and for checking out the video! I haven't had as much time to work on the bus lately as I would like. If I do anything worth sharing, I'll try to make another video.
they sell an air hammer with rivet cutter at harbor freight for 9 bucks. if you got air on site, use that.
I've used rivets in my line of work for 40+ years, unless your scraping drilling is faster, leaves a more finished job and you can use the cut heads for backing washers.
Did you watch the entire video? I drilled out the 3/16" aluminum pop rivets on the walls. If you want to drill out 1/4" steel rivets that are over your head all day while hot metal shavings poor down on you, be my guest. Congrats on your 40+ years, Ronald.
@Virginia Solomon ;)
I think that a "step-style" drill would work well.
This helped allot but.... DAMN man these rivets are going to be the death of me. They wont drill. What kind of drill did you use?
I just used a cordless drill, 3/16" drill bit but only on the smaller aluminum rivets. The larger, steel rivets are a pain to drill out so that's why I opted to shear them off instead. Just a hammer and a chisel... pretty cheap, no electricity or air compressor needed. Good luck!
@@burntfritter ultimately we used a grinder. One s thing is sure we're probably going to use rivets on this bus build. They're durable.
dude, once you get the first panal off just run a Sawzall between the lips and cut the rivets in half !! i did the whole row in 2 minutes !!!
Great idea! Thanks for the advice. Most of the panels are off already but I'll try that on the last two.
mason chase awesome, thanks for sharing!
So, what blade would you use for that? I'm new to this...I need easy doing my first conversion, not a ton of power tool or building experience. And do you mean getting in between the sheet metal and the rib and sawing down across or am I missing something? Also, what else, on a conversion, would a sawzall be handy for? 🙂
drilling is the only way to go - if the rivet spins tilt drill on an angle and it will cut through it, most rivet are imperial sizes - ie 1/8 -5/32 - 3/16 so use right size drill for them
Air chisel is much faster. had all the panels out in an hour.
I have to agree with you on this. Air chisels are way underused it seems in most bus conversions. And they have SO many other uses than just rivet removal!
If drilling is the only way to go, how did it work with the chisel and hammer?
I didn't know it was a race...
I used a cold chisel , couple hits they pop right off . Even the steel ones
Makes extra work if your reusing the metal, it bends easily, straighten? Not so much.
Are you even working on a bus or are you just here to naysay, Ronald? I've taken the ceiling panels off with the method described in the video and the metal is just fine. I reused the metal for window panels. I cut out 24.25" x 26.5" sections and they worked great. I'm sharing this information to help people not to dictate what can and cannot be done. If you want to drill them out, no one is going to stop you and no one is going to care.
Air hammer bro
if it has a centre pin to knock out I would use a rivet gun and a small snap punch. Then drill the head off. easy but very tedious.
Have fun with that!
wht if u used an air hammer would it be quicker
What if you don't own an air hammer and an air compressor with enough CFM?
@@burntfritter thanks for the info but you're kind of being a little bitch to everyone just asking questions.
I'm starting on these rivets today, but I'm only 5'7" and every one of them is well over my head. This is going to be a long, miserable slog. :)
All this video proves to me is that removing those beautiful metal panels is pointless. That fiber glass insulation looked perfect. Nice and yellow as new... I think reinsulating a bus is a waste of time and money. What difference can it make when you're surrounded by windows. 🤷🏼 all the way around. Ive been im both regular busses and reinsulated ones and feel no different. But anyways. 😂 good luck with that
Thanks!!!