Does anyone have any ideas about how I would get the broken tap that I now have out of my rear end housing ? I have heard of a tool but none of the people that I know can help me (this includes the Snap On guy) There has got to be a proven way I would think. Please someone, help me!!! THANKS
if its a through whole you can take a small chisel and break the tap into small pieces,i've done it with a close hole but its harder.you will have to retap the hole afterwards, but its out...ive done this allot take your time...ive heard of the tool but cant tell you where to get one...
They are called "fingers" sorta thin blades on a handle that slip in the flutes to grab the tap. Most machine shops have them and you can get them from places like MSC etc. I'm sure you could cobble something similar for a one time deal. Also, use a bunch of air pressure (100+psi) and lube down the hole while backing the tap out seems to help. Good luck.
how big of a tap? I have gotten one out by using 2 drill bits that fit down in the gaps. a screw driver between to appy twist.
I have used the Omega drill at work to remove broken taps. You have to flatten out the broken tap with a chisel to get it started straight. On a Bridgeport Mill you can drill right through them with ease. Our whole shop was pretty amazed the first time we tried it. I don't know how it would work with a hand drill. Good luck. I also use punches ans chisels to break the tap into pieces and fish them out with a pick. http://www.shoprutlandtool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=95708&langId=-1
Carbide drill in a milling machine will take care of it. Grind the end of the broken tap flat if you can, then use a carbide center drill,or a D-bit,to get started. If it broke at the bottom of the hole,you have to drill it,or sink EDM. If it broke part way down,you MIGHT get lucky,and be able to get it to back out with carefull use of a center punch and a small hammer.
If you have a mig or tig welder you can weld a nut to the broken tap and gently back it out .This can be done even if the tap is down a little below the surface if your careful wiggle the tap back and forth dont try to just back it out . the welding softens the tap and helps break it loose .it may need to be done a couple times but it works well if your carefull .I worked in a radiatror shop for 5 years and they specialized in very large equiptment radiators like power plant backup diesel generator cooling systems.These units have a couple hundred bolts holding the radiators together ,some as large as10x10 feet a dozen or more broken 5/16 bolts a day was normal.I have never had a bolt that this didn't work on and it almost always works on taps also but like I said it can take a few tries depending on how deep the tap is .I will usually build up a nub of weld on top of the bolt or tap ifits deep use a hot weld and short arcs you want to let it cool just enough to pile weld up .You then drop a nut over this weld stud and weld to it through the nut just fill the hole.Once the nuts welded on use a wrench or socket to loosen it.I had to use this operation today to get a 3/8 tap burried full depth in a steel plate out it took 3 welds but it came out complete and I didn't damage the hole by chizeling at it
Try cutting a slot down the center of a flat bladed screwdriver... then slide the fingers down into the slots on the tap... works for me.
I've had this happen a couple of time, I took a dremel "and like 5 bits" and ground out one side of it. Its a pain in the *** but it worked, you just have to be real careful not to screw up the hole any more than it already is. If worse comes to worse, up size the hole to the next larger tap size. Good luck, sometimes its hard to get a welder into the spot you need to get at but that might work easier.
A cheap tool can also be made from an old socket with grinding, depending on the size of the hole/tap. If worst comes to worst. there is an electric arc process that can be used to remove broken bolts, taps, & screw extractors, but it's hard to find machine shops that can do it.
say what? should I use a hammer drill as well? I don't think a masonary bit would do much to tool steel..
Better than a reamer broken off in your rear. I feel your pain. You have plenty of good ideas. A tap is harder than a drill or most anything else so be careful not to break more stuff in the process.
A Carbide tipped Masonary drill WILL cut hardened tool steel no problem. But they use cheap Carbide,and are not sharpened correctly for steel. Better than nothing,but not by much.Expect to use a couple,at least. Depending on where the broken tap is,you could try heating the area red hot,and cooling slowly to anneal the tap,then use a regular drill bit.
I worked for 38 years in a tool & die shop and used most of the ideas mentioned above. If one method does not work, try something else. Good luck. Bob
I think it's all been said, but if worst comes to worst edm WILL get it out no trouble. I broke a carbide tap down a hole in a through hardened block. EDM was my only option and it had no trouble.
I broke a tap off on the while retapping for a door striker, I managed to use a small set of needle nose plyers and turn it back out. Good luck
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