Thread: FUBAR - again - How to drill carbide?

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I've found that left hand twist drills in a reversible drill motor get out most broken bolts without too much of a problem.

The heat generated from the drilling and the vibration seem to do the trick.

A good penetrant helps here as well.


Left hand twist drills are available, but you can make your own by simply sharpening a right hand twist drill so it cuts left handed.

Great ideas!!!

I had to look up Wire EDM too.
Eletrical Discharge Machining.

The bolt is the upper, first left of center timing cover bolt.

It did twist off during removal due to rust, as did the one at 9 oclock.
I progressively drilled and tapped the one at 9 oclock without any trouble.

I have considered going without that bolt, but if it leaks oil, I'm really going to hate myself. Looks like the punch and carbide bit are the plan.

The carbide ball sounds good too, if I can find one small enough.

I may never use an Ezy Out again.

First post on here, hello everybody.

There is a machine made just for this purpose. It's a sinker type EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) Called an Elox Tap Disintegrator. Won't say most automotive shops have them but the old ones will. If not an Elox then a sinker EDM (not wire cut) found in regular machine shops especially if they make tooling.

These machines can clean a tap or easyout out of a blind hole very nicely and leave the threads to be just cleaned up. Been there done that to many times.

Jud

Hey Jud, welcome.

Don