It’s a bolt on the hinge of a folding chair. No idea what the actual proper name for it is, though.

Can it be removed without destroying it or any part of the chair itself?

Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

  • SwingingTheLamp@midwest.social
    20·
    6 days ago

    No. As noted, it’s a rivet. It was originally a straight piece of metal rod with a cap (visible in the top image) at one end, inserted into the joint, then the other end deformed with a rivet tool to create a lip on the end (lower image) so it stays in place.

    To remove it, use a drill bit about the same diameter as the rivet shaft, and drill it out from the end in the lower image. You usually only have to drill less than a millimeter before the lip breaks free, and you can pull out the rest of the rivet. The trick here is that the rivet is probably hardened steel, that means it’ll take a carbide drill bit, and some time.

    This is obviously a destructive procedure for the rivet, and then you need special tools to put in another. It might be possible to replace with a screw, but it won’t be quite the same.

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      12·
      6 days ago

      A machine screw with a crown nut and lock washer would work well. At least the crown nut would make for a nice smooth cap.

      Those machine rivets are hard to beat for clamping strength with minimal exposed fastener.

  • Somewhiteguy@infosec.pub
    9·
    6 days ago

    It’s a rivet, and it can be drilled out, but replacing it with an equivalent joint is going to be difficult. if you don’t use the same material. This looks like a beach chair or some kind of outdoor thing. You might be okay replacing it with something like this: https://www.amazon.com/YORANYO-Assorted-M5-Decorate-Bookbinding/dp/B0B7WMQM97

    You may be able to go to a local hardware store and find similar, but in lower quantity and maybe something not as specified for leathercraft/book binding. If you do go that route, put some loctite in the thread so you don’t unscrew yourself accidentally and lose one or more.

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      5·
      6 days ago

      I was thinking binding post too, but those just don’t ever get tight like a rivet. It may still work, just be a little loose. Loctite is a smart idea as insurance.

      Maybe add a nylon washer between the parts, so it compresses just a little when tightening the binding post. Would make for a smooth motion as a bonus.