Unriveted

Unriveted refers to something that has had its rivets removed. Rivets are mechanical fasteners that permanently join two or more objects together. They are typically made of metal and are inserted into pre-drilled holes, with their ends then deformed or "upset" to create a permanent bond. The process of unriveting involves removing these fasteners, which can be done through various mechanical or thermal methods.

The primary purpose of unriveting is to separate components that were previously joined by rivets. This might be necessary for repair, replacement, or disassembly of structures. For example, in aircraft maintenance, damaged sections of the fuselage might be unriveted to allow for the removal of the damaged part and its replacement with a new one. Similarly, in historical artifact restoration, unriveting might be employed to carefully dismantle a piece for study or repair without causing further damage.

The method used for unriveting depends on the type of rivet and the materials being joined. Common techniques include drilling out the rivet head, grinding it off, or using specialized rivet removal tools. In some cases, heat can be applied to soften the rivet material, making it easier to remove. The process requires precision to avoid damaging the surrounding materials. Unriveting can be a labor-intensive process, especially when dealing with large structures or numerous rivets.