HOW TO REMOVE A BROKEN TAP

Before going through all of this, just try and grab it with a set of pliers and see if you can twist it back out, i have done that a few times with succes

Great tip. I have somehow been extremely lucky in broken tap repairs but I will use this method if my luck runs out. Thanks and take care.

Just broken a tap below the surface so will try this technique. Many thanks

like your prototrak we have 12 of them in our college workshop. great machines

I noticed you were power tapping with a hand tap (4 flutes). These are designed to be powered by hand not machine because they require that you stop forward motion every so often and back up to break the chip that is forming on the cutting edge. If you do not do this they have a tendency to break due to chip packing. A far better choice for power tapping is what is commonly referred to as a “gun tap” which has an angled notch at the beginning of the tap which serves to push the swarf ahead of the tap thus dramatically reducing the tendency of the chips to pack. They are ideal for through holes such as your example, and can be used on blind holes if the design allows for the drilled hole to be deeper to allow for a chamber more or less, for the swarf to be pushed into. Small sizes such as you show being used are also 2 fluted, thus increasing the internal web thickness of the tap making them stronger to boot. Try them. You will soon stop using hand taps for power tapping I believe.

Heh Thank you that was brilliant! I did not know how that was even possible. I had nearly finished my part… getting a bit chuffed it was nearly finished….then …. 😮 Thanks again 👍🏻👍🏻

What a great video thank you very much I will store this the back my mind next time I have a broken tap. If only this technique could work if a tap brakes on a car..

Using a spade point, straight flute, solid carbide drill works a treat, and there's a much smaller chance of breaking it. I have a couple in my toolbox specifically for this application. Last time I had to drill out a broken tap, there was over an inch of the tap embedded in the part, and it took longer to position the quill in the x/y than it did to drill out the broken tap. If you use taps regularly, you WILL break one.

Saved my butt. Tks

Best one I’ve seen yet. I broke 2-1/4 x 20s today. I’m ashamed of myself. 1/8 carbide and pecking should do the trick. I won’t be able rest tonight. Lol

I would have used the length of the tap sticking out and vice grips to back it out before I tried what you did. IF that failed to remove the tap...then I'd do something like you did.

Great

I felt trascendental spiritual release watching this. There in no bigger @#$%^&!! Moment than when that happens. Thanks for sharing.

As others have said, you should be using a machine tap (spiral point), not a hand tap. Also, you should chamfer the holes before tapping. Nice shop you have there!

Procunier tapping head changed my life. I can tap M1.6x0.35 holes like it's nothing now.

Can you do this with carbide tap ? Use carbide endmill small pecks

I've broken a tap and swore so bad a preacher driving by asked me if I was ok

i’ve encountered the nightmare many times and I’m going out into my garage right now to see if I can peck through an end mill.. Because I’ve tried to set it up and use a car by 10 mil to cut it out but no go,, i’m gonna try this pecking method…

what if you don't have a milling machine?

When you have that much sticking out can't you just unthread the broken tap. Sorry if that seems simplistic but I've never done this before. So don't give me a row🙂