How to Open Riveted Carts

How to open RCA Riveted Carts

by John Winnard (winnardjno@spamionet.net)

WB01417_.gif (1257 bytes)

Subject: Re: RCA Appreciation
From: winnard (winnardjno@spamionet.net)


BEFORE you do any obvious drilling, altering, etc. You might try this method.
You will need......
Soldering Iron
Clothes Pin
Center Punch
Small hammer.

Plug in your soldering iron, and let it warm up. Turn the tape you are about to remove the rivet from face down on a table top. Compress a clothes pin and while the clothes pin is squeezed open, insert the 'handles' of the clothes pin inside the open end of the cart. The clothes pin will apply pressure to both halves of the cart. NOW, using no pressure, let the soldering iron rest on top of the rivet. When the rivet reaches the correct temp, the clothes pin will force the two cart halves open. When the cart halves separate, turn the cart over with the label facing up, and open the cart. Do necessary repairs to the cart, (splice, etc. ) then put the two halves together. NOW turn the cart face down again, with the rivet up, and GENTLY tap the rivet back into place with the center punch, and hammer. Nobody will ever know the tape was opened.

Also -- you can use the soldering iron to drive the rivet back in! That way there is no banging which might dislodge the tape.


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