Dissolving broken tap???

[Asphodel]

Hi, Zamble,

kcstott is right, a carbide end mill will remove a broken tap......usually.....but carbide end mills are brittle, too, and its tricky.

If, as I sense, you haven't much machine shop experience, accept that your most cost-effective solution to the problem would be to take the part to a specialist firm who routinely does 'broken tap extraction' with a 'tap buster' or similar EDM equipment. (look in the yellow pages, or an on-line search under 'tap extraction') Having the job done correctly by someone who has the appropriate equipment is 'cheap at the price'.

cheers

Carla

[asm_]

Send the receiver out for anodizing.
The anodizing shop will hate you, but the anodizing chemicals will often disolve or partially disolve broken taps.

And possibly ruin all other parts in the same tank. I wouldn't come back and pick up the part if I were you.

.

[Think4WD]

X2 on the EDM. In my mind that's the only way to go. Don't want to mess up the aluminum and you can't still put a tap. EDM will be quick, cheap enough and quarenteed good results.

[Think4WD]

*drill out dang iPhone lol.

[Bastard]

I used a Walton broken tap extractor, and the fingers just bent. The broken tap is about a third of an inch in, when it broke. It was new, I just tapped one hole, no problems. I put lube on it and started. It seemed like it was going in ok, then after 2 turns or so, snap. I was going to try to drill it out, but it is an uneven break. When I used a lite glass to look at it, to make matters worse it was also broken. I just don't think the flutes go deep enough for the extractor tool.

It is broken in one of the holes for a v-block screw.

you put lube on it & turned it twice... were you not backing the to allow the tool to work properly.
and what lube were you using?

I know those are pretty much irreverent at this point and pictures would help.

letting it soak in oil might help, using a punch & breaking the tap, drilling it out are all good options though without actually seeing what we would be hypothetically be working with we really can't tell you what would be the best path to take.

[crobemeister]

Just had this same thing happen to me recently. I used a dremel with a diamond ball mill bit to cut a hole into the center of the broken tap, then i just hit it with a punch once it was weakened enough and it broke right out.

[prosys1]

X2 on the EDM. In my mind that's the only way to go. Don't want to mess up the aluminum and you can't still put a tap. EDM will be quick, cheap enough and quarenteed good results.

Find a tap removal service like Jerry's in OC.

http://www.brokentap.com/

I've had them remove 0-80 taps from parts worth thousands of $$.

[FMJBT]

If it's not too deep, a TIG welding torch will burn it out as well as a Plasma cutter will. The steel will typically melt and ball up before enough heat can build up in the aluminum to get it molten.

[CRTguns]

Send the receiver out for anodizing.
The anodizing shop will hate you, but the anodizing chemicals will often disolve or partially disolve broken taps.

... Galvanitic corrosion.