removing a broken tap

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 20, 2005 | 09:13 PM

#16

alchymist

"Mifflin Clay"

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 3,177

Likes: 4

From: Mifflin, PA

Center punch - the "spring loaded snap" type. Just keep snapping away - take it out in pieces. Seems the hardened tap can't withstand the shock.

Aug 20, 2005 | 10:10 PM

#17

itsoj

New User

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 12

Likes: 0

From: In the woods in N.C.

I love it. The heck of it is...it works sometimes.

Aug 21, 2005 | 11:10 AM

#18

FLgargoyle

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,988

Likes: 14

From: Travelers Rest SC

It really gets interesting when you then break the carbide drill off in the tap! At work, we burn 'em out with an EDM machine. You DO have one of those, don't you?

Aug 21, 2005 | 11:53 AM

#19

mrxlh

Postmaster

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 2,654

Likes: 0

From: Bossier City, LA

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLgargoyle

It really gets interesting when you then break the carbide drill off in the tap! At work, we burn 'em out with an EDM machine. You DO have one of those, don't you?

Exactly why we never drilled them anyway, we always opted for the edm right off the bat. THe EDM would almost always burn out the HSS. tap faster than burning out a carbide drill.

Back to your original question, breaking the tap into little pieces has always worked for me if I did not have a welder available, welding a nut (I have a TIG machine and prefer it in this instance for the accuracy) onto the tap would be my first choice.

Ryan

Aug 21, 2005 | 02:49 PM

#20

gbadgley

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 302

Likes: 0

I have found that it is waste of time to TRY to remove a broken tap in 1 piece, just take a punch and smash it. Greg

Aug 25, 2005 | 03:17 PM

#21

murph1

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 165

Likes: 0

From: southeast mi

seems like the best "trick" for me is using a punch and then beat the poop out of the tap..you will break it into tiny pieces and then just blow them out of the hole...i'm usually the one they go to at work when taps,carbide pins, are broken at work...forget about the tap extracters,seldom do the work with rusted holes and such..good luck..and remember the safety glasses...

Aug 26, 2005 | 05:30 AM

#22

stangboy_82

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 166

Likes: 1

From: Aviano AB, Italy

I think about the only way that hasn't been said here is taking a high speed pencil grinder with a round file bit that's smaller then the tap and just grind in far enough to use an easy out. I work on F-16's and that's what we do when working away from out better toys

Aug 26, 2005 | 12:00 PM

#23

berkad

Posting Guru

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 1,097

Likes: 0

From: Home, at last!

Happens to me at work all the time. ALL THE TIME!!!!!! Two sure fire ways. Use a small chisel or screw drive and gentle tap (they never break flush) the high side counterclockwise. This takes patience but it will come out. Tap are too hard to drill so forget it.

Last resort: This works but be careful and wear safty glasses please. Place a small ball bearing on the tap and hit it HARD with a hammer. Both are hardened steel but the ball bearing is harder. After several sharp blows the tap will begin to shatter. I have used this once and it does work, though the first option rarely lets me down.