drill bits

[r404a]

snapped off a bit and an extractor today, really batting a thousand...both are eating up any bits I try to use to drill out with, anyone got any ideas on some hard bits? do they have a diamond tipped bit?

r404a

[jpsmith1cm]

can you get in with a dremel, cut a slot and back it out with a screwdriver?

[deux]

You can buy bits that are reverse drilling, made for real hard stuff like extractors. I find they tend to work wery wery wery great! I have great luck with the bits even spinning out
the broken pieces as I drill.

Stop at a bolt supply house. The have wonder full toys there!

[r404a]

thanks for the input guys


r404a

[turbomaster]

I have had some luck with the dremel and diamond tip cutting bits. Tedious work for sure, spent 2 days rehabbing 4 holes on a cvhe flange, but got her done.

[C & R]

You can heat them with an Oxy-Acetylene torch to remove the temper and then you can drill them out. With some practice you can also use a cutting attachment and get them cherry hot and hit the oxygen and blow them out – it takes a bit of practice to get good at it. You then run a tap through any threads to clean them up.

[amickracing]

How deep is the stuff broken off into the hole? If it's almost flush just tack weld a nut over the top of it and unscrew it (make sure you cross your fingers while you're loosening!).

If you're buddies with a dentist, ask them for some of their snazzy drill bits (grinding bits). Those work sweet. A former dentist of mine saved a small box full, ran them through the autoclave and gave them to me for free.

The above ideas work too!

[basshound71]

Had the same problem on a CVHF. The biggest problem area was on the motor where the terminal plate mounts to the motor. We heated some of them up and it broke them loose. We welded nuts to 2 of them. We drilled out several with Dewalt bits. I believe on that rebuild we broke off about 25 bolts.

[heavymetaldad]

Try bits rated for drilling stainless steel. they cost a little more, but so what.
From Mcmaster Carr.................. where else!
http://www.mcmaster.com/#drill-bits-for-stainless-steel/=9ys2px

[knave]

wow good ideas on bolt extraction

[r404a]

Had the same problem on a CVHF. The biggest problem area was on the motor where the terminal plate mounts to the motor. We heated some of them up and it broke them loose. We welded nuts to 2 of them. We drilled out several with Dewalt bits. I believe on that rebuild we broke off about 25 bolts.

same type of machine, same place

r404a

[turbomaster]

Makes you wonder, why don't they just put a little never seize on the bolts at the factory.
They know they are going to have to come back apart sooner or later!

[turbomaster]

Another last resort is to burn 'em out with a cutting torch or plasma cutter and re-thread,
maybe with a tap and maybe with helicoils.

[klove]

Makes you wonder, why don't they just put a little never seize on the bolts at the factory.
They know they are going to have to come back apart sooner or later!

That would cost...........let me see?????? $.835 cents per bolt! That would mean a final cost of $17.52 per bolt to the customer after factory markup. Can't let the manufacturer not make a profit, now can we? Imagine the markup on 73 cents worth of anti-sieze - it'd be like buying 2 Tylenol from a hospital!!

[r404a]

I was just cussin trane today for not using antiseize.got cobalt to get through the extractor and ordered some carbide bits to try the drill bit pain in the you know what.

r404a

[milkyway]

I have had some luck with the dremel and diamond tip cutting bits. Tedious work for sure, spent 2 days rehabbing 4 holes on a cvhe flange, but got her done.


wow., good deal, 2 days huh., sounds like a pain in the arss, at least you got it done.

[milkyway]

You can heat them with an Oxy-Acetylene torch to remove the temper and then you can drill them out. With some practice you can also use a cutting attachment and get them cherry hot and hit the oxygen and blow them out – it takes a bit of practice to get good at it. You then run a tap through any threads to clean them up.

Yes. I agree. If anyone has ever used a cutting torch and is familiar with it . I think this might be the fastest way to go.

[milkyway]

You can heat them with an Oxy-Acetylene torch to remove the temper and then you can drill them out. With some practice you can also use a cutting attachment and get them cherry hot and hit the oxygen and blow them out – it takes a bit of practice to get good at it. You then run a tap through any threads to clean them up.

Yes. I agree. If anyone has ever used a cutting torch and is familiar with it . I think this might be the fastest way to go.

Damn stupid smart phones

[heavymetaldad]

Yes. I agree. If anyone has ever used a cutting torch and is familiar with it . I think this might be the fastest way to go.

Damn stupid smart phones

:eek2:
i would wind up burning a hole thru the machine......... :oops:

[r404a]

:eek2:
i would wind up burning a hole thru the machine......... :oops:

just what I was thinking too.


Carbide bits did a good job and I also got these special carbide bits that looked like something that you would use with a dremel tool. One had a ball at the end and one looked like a christmas tree and they did a great job burning through that broken off bit. thanks for all of the replies.


r404a

[double bogey]

Problem with the cutting torch on the blind holes. Its easy to overdrill the bolt and get the ease out to deep and break it off. I have got them out by heating several times to remove the temper, and use cobalt bits. Never tried diamond bits, but I bet they work. Good luck.

[txhvac]

Another last resort is to burn 'em out with a cutting torch or plasma cutter and re-thread,
maybe with a tap and maybe with helicoils.

404a- I feel your pain, I had a CVHE-1250 motor terminal plate (same as everybody else) broke an easy-out (Proto) of in the bolt hole, I did what Turbomaster said, I had a really good welder hit the hole w/ a cutting-torch on oxy/ace rig, got it out and re-tapped. I'll never use an extractor or easy-out on those/ any chiller bolts again. Drill it out! And re-tap, heli-coils work ok. If the extractor breaks you'll be in a bind. At least on the motor plate the bolt hole goes all the way through. You won't be able to drill the extractor piece out, plasma or cutting torch works.

[txhvac]

That would cost...........let me see?????? $.835 cents per bolt! That would mean a final cost of $17.52 per bolt to the customer after factory markup. Can't let the manufacturer not make a profit, now can we? Imagine the markup on 73 cents worth of anti-sieze - it'd be like buying 2 Tylenol from a hospital!!

No doubt!! Sad but very true!

[socal13]

drill it out and retap larger

[WayCoolJr]

Let's see 2 days, divided by 4holes re-done = A whole lot of persistence