Tip For Removing Broken Drill Bits Or Easy Outs

"EDM" or "MDM" Find a shop that has one.
The only way!
Trailer the bike there. They will be done before a cup off coffee is cold.
Or pull your head off and scratch your head and buy $100 worth of gaskets to put back together.
If you don't know what they are? Goggle them.

I do want to know what that is, and took your advice; apparently, MDM is mobile device management, something to do with "I.T."

EDM seems to refer to electronic dance music; my friends ar all into that, but I don't see how it can get out a broken tap.

After working an hour to fabricate a part, I broke a tap in it.
I threw it in the scrap barrel and made another.
So I really would like to know what you're talking about.

mark in Portugal wrote: I do want to know what that is, and took your advice; apparently, MDM is mobile device management, something to do with "I.T."

EDM seems to refer to electronic dance music; my friends ar all into that, but I don't see how it can get out a broken tap.

After working an hour to fabricate a part, I broke a tap in it.
I threw it in the scrap barrel and made another.
So I really would like to know what you're talking about.

Laser dissolving the tap, it's not on every corner.

mark in Portugal wrote: I do want to know what that is, and took your advice; apparently, MDM is mobile device management, something to do with "I.T."

EDM seems to refer to electronic dance music; my friends ar all into that, but I don't see how it can get out a broken tap.

After working an hour to fabricate a part, I broke a tap in it.
I threw it in the scrap barrel and made another.
So I really would like to know what you're talking about.

It's a machine works like a mig welder. I have a friend who has a welding service. He has had one for the past 20 years.
ELECTRIC DISCHARGE MACHINING (EDM)
www.brokentap.com/services.html

I have one, but I haven't used it for 20 years. This might help - ALWAYS us lube when tapping! :whistle:

Well when you're out in the middle of Bum FK, you have to make do and learn the limits. I don't try to EZ out small bolts anymore if I can help it and always have Heli Coils on hand just in case. :whistle:
Steve

toolmaker wrote: I have one, but I haven't used it for 20 years. This might help - ALWAYS us lube when tapping! :whistle:

KY or Astroglide ? I find the Astroglide is slicker but dries out faster :silly: :woohoo:

:whistle:

Besides using the correct type of cutting oil for the operation and material you are working on....

Here is another hard lesson I learned - as soon as you suspect a drill bit is dull or not cutting easily like it is supposed to - stop! Throw out dull drills in a place you can't change your mind and retrieve it for "one last try". Don't try drilling hard steel materials with HSS (coated or not) or carbon steel drills.

This advice goes even more so for dull or cheap-o taps. If the tap isn't cutting with nearly zero resistance, throw it far, far away - don't put it back in the tool box - it is time for a new one. Also, IMHO buying carbon steel taps and dies just isn't worth the few dollars saved - buy only quality HSS thread cutting tools - or better. Carbon steel taps (most hardware stores and mechanic's tool vendors only sell carbon steel taps) cutting in aluminum have a nasty tendency to turn in somewhat easily but seize and break off when you try and back them out. Removing broken taps is one of the worst jobs in a machine shop. You have to use expensive carbide drills and usually they are ruined by one broken tap extraction. And if you break a carbide tool in there, only EDM or chemical removal is going to save your ass....

Cool, thanks.
I've been doing mechanics, steel fabrication, and now machining [hobbyist level] for a long time and I'd never heard of them.
The tap I broke was in lube!
It was still dumb though; isn't it always?
I was chasing a thread I'd cut in stainless with the lathe. I'd succeeded with the first one and got cocky.

Still, I don't think an electric discharge machine is in my future; unless I find one on the side of the road or something.

Tune-A-Fish wrote:

mark in Portugal wrote: I do want to know what that is, and took your advice; apparently, MDM is mobile device management, something to do with "I.T."

EDM seems to refer to electronic dance music; my friends ar all into that, but I don't see how it can get out a broken tap.

After working an hour to fabricate a part, I broke a tap in it.
I threw it in the scrap barrel and made another.
So I really would like to know what you're talking about.

Laser dissolving the tap, it's not on every corner.

That’s not a laser; that’s a WIRE EDM. It cut out that square die opening in one solid piece, dropped it out and is now taking a skim pass. That blue is the electrical discharge between a brass wire (usually .010-.012” diameter) and the steel workpiece. It runs continuously between two spools and is being flush with a column of deionized water. It requires a start hole for the wire and must be able to pass all the way through the part.

A SINKER or RAM type EDM would be used for removing a broken tap or bolt, or creating a cavity with 3D shape that doesn’t go through the part; like a mold. It uses an electrode usually made from graphite or copper and is submerged in dielectric oil.
Unless you have free access to an EDM machine; drilling out a broken bolt is going to be the most cost effective.

Sorry, that’s probably more information than needed; but EDM was my specialty for 18 years.

There are some cases where tapping is done dry: cast iron, brass, bronze, and most non-metals