Extracting a snapped drill bit

[GWMark]

This is a slight longshot, but has anybody got any bright ideas about how to extract a steel drill bit that has snapped inside a brass casting?

 

I was drilling a 0.5mm hole into a solid brass casting if a clack valve when the drill be snapped. Of course it snapped flush so there was no protruding end to get hold of. I'm trying to come up with a way to get the bit out since I need to solder a wire into the hole once drilled. Using another drill to try to drill out the first drill seems like a no-hoper, the casting is too small to do much with in terms of a second hole. Should I just give up and try to source another casting?

 

Thanks

Mark

[PenrithBeacon]

The only way I know of removing a broken drill is to use a spark erosion machine.

 

Regards

[melmerby]

This is a slight longshot, but has anybody got any bright ideas about how to extract a steel drill bit that has snapped inside a brass casting?

 

I was drilling a 0.5mm hole into a solid brass casting if a clack valve when the drill be snapped. Of course it snapped flush so there was no protruding end to get hold of. I'm trying to come up with a way to get the bit out since I need to solder a wire into the hole once drilled. Using another drill to try to drill out the first drill seems like a no-hoper, the casting is too small to do much with in terms of a second hole. Should I just give up and try to source another casting?

 

Thanks

Mark

Could you drill from the other side and knock it out (Possibly using the remains of the broken drill as a drift), filling the unwanted hole afterwards?

As you say trying to drill out a drill is not on as the metal is too hard, all you will do is wander off into the brass.

 

Keith

[Talltim]

There was a thread about this and Bill Bedofrd suggest a warm solution of Alum to dissolve the steel bit. Not sure if this is compatible with brass

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/99188-drill-broken-in-hole-what-do-i-do/

[raymw]

Another link, to go with my previous ones,  which hopefully will guide you in not breaking the drills in the first place http://www.nancylthamilton.com/resources/recipes/removing-drill-bits/

[david.hill64]

Brass has a higher coefficient of expansion than steel so if you are really lucky heating the brass as hot as you can might just let the drill drop out (or be able to be knocked out). I don't hold out great hopes though.

[Stubby47]

is the drill bit magnetic (or more correctly, attracted to a magnetic source) ?

[Silver Sidelines]

I wondered about a combination of sitting in hot water outside and using a magent.

 

Ray

[david.hill64]

I wondered about a combination of sitting in hot water outside and using a magent.

 

Ray

I was thinking more of a gas torch.

[PenrithBeacon]

I wonder how expensive this brass casting is and whether a replacement is available. If so, I'd scrap the existing casting and go again.

 

Regards

[GWMark]

Thanks everybody, the Alum or using the expansion were the sorts of things I was hoping for. However I contacted High Level, the kit supplier, and Chris has helped me out. So I think I'll just with a replacement casting.

 

Thanks for the suggestions

Mark

[Stubby47]

That's the easy way out !!

[royaloak]

Now you have got a replacement on the way maybe you could experiment with some of the extraction methods mentioned to see if they work, knowing that damaging the piece doesnt matter.

 

Of course finding the time might be a little more difficult!