Posted by Heath Satow on September 06, 1997 at 18:38:13:

In Reply to: Topic: Drilling and Tapping posted by Chris Ray on September 01, 1997 at 17:37:20:

: Tapping is a simple machining operation that many people overlook either because we have broken a tap in a hole once and couldn't remove it (happens to all of us at one time or other), or because it's simply a mystery. Well, it isn't a mystery and if you've had a broken tap remain in a hole and couldn't remove it, well it's just a tough apples kind of thing and we have to move on with our lives. --snip--

:Chris Ray

I'm one of those people that occasionally breaks a tap in a hole (who hasn't?) and this is how I've dealt with it when tap-removal tools don't work.

Since taps are the hardest substance known to man, much harder even than diamond --grin--, drilling out a tap is virtually impossible. The only thing left to do is destroy the tap that is left in there.

I usually use my plasma cutter to blast out that area where the tap is, and fill weld the area. Grind flush and start over. Don't quench the area, or you may harden the area and ruin your drill bit, and have to start over again. Let the piece air-cool, re-drill and tap more carefully next time.

PS, I've found the best lubricant for drilling and tapping stainless steel to be good old water, better than any oil-based lube I've tried, but this is only for stainless.

-Heath

-antfarm

• Fusionworks - design, fabrication, installation

Follow Ups:

• Re: Topic: Drilling and Tapping peter ferro 10/20/97 (0)