Broken Tap Solution

paul2748

paul2748

Well-known member
A while back some member asked about solving a problem about getting a broken tap out. One solution involved some kind of liquid that dissolved the tap in the hole w/o destroying the surrounding metal. I had saved this info but cannot find it. A search didn't help. Any one direct me to the original posting or the name of the product.Many thanks
 
I am extremely curious what would dissolve HSS but not iron. From what I know about metal... there isn't a chemical that would allow this type of reaction.
 
There are special broken tap extractors made for this. They work unless the broken tap is really jammed in. Try blowing out any chips with air, then use a flat punch to hit the end of the tap to hopefully loosen it a little, then use the extractor.
 
Also I did notice this
13f806140c289ae8523e20c9d06db34a.jpg
 
These is a machinist process called an Ellox machine which will shatter it to pieces and not touch the surrounding metal. But it is a specialized process and can be expensive.
 
philipswanson said:
These is a machinist process called an Ellox machine which will shatter it to pieces and not touch the surrounding metal. But it is a specialized process and can be expensive.
Click to expand...
Had that done to a broken exhaust manifold bolt in a head once. I thought I remember that the machinist said it had to be submerged in water. I had to strip the head bare as it was OHV engine. Wasn't to bad of a price at the time but I worked in another part of the shop.
 
Like Phillip suggested, EDM (Electric Discharge Machining) works very well. About 15 years ago I paid $25 to have a broken tap removed from an irreplaceable die cast zinc convertible top casting. Well worth the money. Also, your local vocational trade school may have this ability or know a shop that does it.
 
There are a lot of shops in the Los Angeles area that specialize in removing broken taps and bolts, probably due to the aerospace industry. You might ask around to see if there is anything in your area.

Charlie Stephens
 
I would try to use needle nose pliers. Insert the ends into the flutes of the tap and turn in both directions to loosen stuck tap and unscrew. Tap has to be sufficient size for pliers to fit.
 
When I retired from Navy Civil Service, there was a machinist retiring also that set up a portable Ellox machine in a van and drove around fixing broken bolts, drills, taps, etc. Made very good money.
 
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