Drilling out rivits to remove top panel from case: how did you do it?

[Cheetah8799]

Hi all. I'm wanting to cut an exhaust blowhole in the top of my case. Only problem is that the top panel is held on by rivits. I know many of you have drilled these out, and I'd like to know if you have any tips on how to remove these. Also, how did you re-attach the panel? Normal case screws? Anything special? Did you have to re-tap the holes to add some threads, or did you just force the screw in there?

P.S. actually doing the work isn't a problem for me. I just don't want to have any unfriendly suprises... I'll be measuring the place for the blowhole prior to removing the panel. I'll be cutting the hole with a drill press and hole saw.

Thanks.
-Josh

 

[Zepper]

Just use a drill the same diameter as the rivet hole - you don't want to enlarge the hole. Use a pop-rivet tool (available from any hardware or discount store - Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart etc.) with the correct size and type rivets to reattach the top.
.bh.

 

[Cheetah8799]

ya, I wasn't sure if most people re-rivit the case, or use screws. Personally I would like to use screws, just in case I want to mod it again in the future. I guess I'll see how it goes with screws, since I don't own a rivit tool...