Broken tap FUDGEEEEEEE

[MichaelBikel]

Is there a way to remove a broken tap from a piece that can't be thrown on the drill press? I have heard of people using carbide bits to drill out the tap then the kind of pic the rest out. Would that be possible with a hand drill? I should mention that it broke and I tried to twist it out then broke more so there is nothing to grab and the top surface is not flat. The other side however is a bit concave so a drill bit would fit right in it...

 

[Professur]

Centre punch it to shatter it, and pick out the pieces.

 

[gdocktor3]

Weld a bolt to the broken piece then use that bolt to get it out. Probably the quickest and easiest way.

 

[rlitman]

I've had luck using a torch.
What is the tap stuck in?

 

[rlitman]

Weld a bolt to the broken piece then use that bolt to get it out. Probably the quickest and easiest way.

A nut perhaps might work. That's the usual method for removing a broken bolt. I wouldn't expect much luck with that on a tap. Welding to a tap is just going to leave it more brittle.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Tap extractor work?

http://www.waltontools.com/

 

[gdocktor3]

And yes a hand drill will work. That's only way to do it without press. For this reason I bought really really good left hand bits and multiple extractor sets. This is one set I have that I love. Made by ridgid, Hansen or Irwin then rebadged by Matco, snappy, etc. http://www.toolup.com/ridgid-35585-...fLyB02gk2GVGeSdQZw-zXJimGOWuRBib_EhoCFSfw_wcB

 

[gtlaw]

If it's in something non ferrous this might work

 

[Fender1325]

If theres enough to grab on, welding a nut on could work.

Otherwise, take a file, file the top flat. Punch a divot in the center and drill a hole in. Then take a cold chisel and whack the outer edge inward towards the hole. Redrill if it doesnt come out.

Ive heard of reverse drill bits but havent used them.

Worst case take it to a machine shop and theyll drill it and helicoil it. I had to have that done to my intake manifold on the 1950 cadillac intake manifold

 

[gdocktor3]

A nut perhaps might work. That's the usual method for removing a broken bolt. I wouldn't expect much luck with that on a tap. Welding to a tap is just going to leave it more brittle.

No I don't think welding to tap will be easy. But drilling a tap out is uber difficult with a hand drill.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Yikes, that's pretty much the worst.

Who makes the tap, or was it more from abuse?


__________
Chris
Product Manager

 

[MrGiggles]

Taps and Easy outs are a ***** because the steel is so hard. Hard to drill, period, even more so when the surrounding metal is softer.

I've shattered broken easy outs with an air chisel and a sharp punch. I imagine it could work for a tap too.

 

[G_P]

X3 or 4 on shattering it. You can also bring it to a machine shop and they can often burn them out if they have the equipment to do so.

 

[Boilerhouse]

I can't remember if it was a tap or an easy out, but I used a carbide bit to drill it out (with a hand drill). Not to be confused with a masonry type, this bit had 3 straight flutes. I thought it worked quite well.

 

[[email protected]]

Use a tap remover. You will dull your drills and take forever to drill them out. What size tap is it and how many flutes does it have I have some extra removers I'd be willing to sell cheap

 

[zkling]

Need a picture. Too many variables.

 

[48548]

Hmmm... Never knew they made something like this.

 

[moriboy]

Hand drilling will be almost impossible. We have had luck sometimes drilling them out with a carbide endmill but most often the threads are no good if we are successful getting the tap out. There are companies that are setup to burn out broken taps, but not knowing what your part value is, I wouldn't know if it's cost effective to do so.

All I can say is good luck. I've scrapped may thousands of dollars of parts out due to broken taps....

 

[qctech]

Rescue Bit

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I've done the punch and shatter technique. Good results as long as the part is tough enough to take the beating.
I've never had any good luck with tap removers. I always ended up with the fingers broken off in the hole with the tap.
Drilling can be done with a hand drill. Left handed bit, slow speed, plenty of cutting fluid.

 

[Fretters]

Hmmm... Never knew they made something like this.

They've been around longer than you'd think. Currently reading through one of my old books, (from the early 1920's), and there's almost the exact design of that in the suggested tools to make.

 

[rsanter]

First try. Tap remover.
Second try, dremel tool or die grinder to weaken the tap and a punch to break it

Third try....pray

Bob

 

[GTA Matt]

 

[leg17]

Depends how the tap got broken.
If it bottomed out or seized up, extractors are out.
Most methods trying to back it out are also out.
If it accidentally got knocked off cleanly, they might.

EDM or disintegrator is a real good solution.
If you can't manage to get it burned out, (EDM or tap disintegrator), the shatter method is left.

A good start is a high speed grinder with carbide burr. 1/8" or 1/4" shank. Got one of those? Otherwise, masonry drill bits are worth a try. They won't last long but they are cheap.
Get as much out as you can with them staying inside the root of the thread. Your objective is to open up the center so the "thread" parts can be worked out. Then sacrifice some punches and try to shatter the remains and pick them out. Tedious work. Careful, the brittle tap and carbide burrs will shatter, not bend. Wear glasses.

Most of the other methods mentioned do not go well usually and you will be back to burn or shatter anyway.

A reminder:
In the real world, many items like drill bits, taps, punches, various extractors, burrs, etc., are best considered "perishable tooling". Use it up if you have to in order to finish the job. Just the price of work.

 

[Strouty]

The waltons can remove bottomed out taps, I have also removed seized taps, but I had to use heat also. Those tangs (fingers) are really strong, I bent the hell out of them, but they did not break.

 

[bonneyman]

Tap extractor work?

http://www.waltontools.com/

Dang, great link!

 

[jdepiero]

if you are going with the shatter method with a punch, besides safety glasses wear gloves and long sleeve shirt. Some years back I had a piece of the tap puncture my arm trying to shatter it out. Left a small puncture mark and I did not know until it got infected some days later the piece was in my arm. Had to have it cut out. it was in over .250"!

 

[MichaelBikel]

Did not expect that many responses! I ended up welding a few inches of 5/16 rod onto the protruding portion and gave it a few back and forth twists. Took about 10 minutes and it came out.

thanks all

 

[JJThrasher]

I've drilled a broken carbide broken bolt extractor out of the bottom of an engine block using a hand drill laying under the car with coolant running down in my face. Slow going. Really freaking slow going. But it is possible.