Wine tote rivet removal

[petersenj20]

My wife found this wine tote at the jockey lot. The bag is in excellent shape but the handle is rotten. I.   Need to remove the steel rivets but figure will probably spin and oversize the hole. I can always stitch a new handle in but wont really match since dont have rawhide string. Any suggestions?

 

 

[jimi]

Hi there, Try holding the rivet with a pair of pliers while drilling the rivet?

[fredk]

Is it a ready-rivet or a solid rivet peened over?

an idea; if you are going to replace the strap; cut away the strap from under the rivets then you'll have a gap to fit bolt or wire cutters into to get at the stem of the rivet and cut though that

Rivet a new strap on

 

Edited September 14, 2019 by fredk

[RockyAussie]

The picture does not show the rivet type very clearly but on many a centre punch hammered into the middle will normally give you some clearance to cut at with side cutters or nail removing pincers.

[Matt S]

I use carbide burrs to "drill" out rivets, once a starter hole is established with a centre punch. I find that at certain angles they bite but don't force the rivet to turn, which is usually what happens when using a twist drill..

Edited September 15, 2019 by Matt S

[petersenj20]

On 9/14/2019 at 11:41 AM, fredk said:

Is it a ready-rivet or a solid rivet peened over?

an idea; if you are going to replace the strap; cut away the strap from under the rivets then you'll have a gap to fit bolt or wire cutters into to get at the stem of the rivet and cut though that

Rivet a new strap on

 

That's the one. Worked a charm. All good advice. Gracias.