What is the recommended drill size when removing a solid shank rivet?

When removing a solid shank rivet, the recommended drill size is one size larger than the rivet shank. This is because drilling with a slightly larger size than the shank allows for the removal of the rivet without damaging the surrounding material. The correct approach minimizes the risk of creating a situation where parts of the rivet remain in the hole, enabling effective rivet extraction.

Using a drill size smaller than the rivet shank would not effectively remove the rivet, as the drill would not engage sufficiently with the material of the rivet. On the other hand, drilling two sizes smaller than the rivet shank would also hamper the removal process and could potentially result in more damage to the structure surrounding the rivet.

By selecting the appropriate drill size, technicians can ensure a clean removal of the rivet, which is a critical aspect of maintaining the integrity of the airframe structure during repair or modification work.