Yes, there are a number of things to do....
Go to a professional machine tool place like Production Tool or Enco and
buy a can of Tap Magic for aluminum....(you should have been using it
when you broke the tap and you wouldn't have broken it).....also buy a
device call a broken tap extractor.......you will need to know how many
flutes are on the broken tap, so check it before you go shopping.
The tap extractor has little fingers that slip down in the flutes. The
tap extractor is turned with a tap handle so if you were turning your
tap with Vise Grips when you broke it, buy a good tap handle too. When
you get home, drench the hole and broken tap with the tap magic and
slide the fingers of the extractor into the channels and try to back it
out. If is doesn't start backing out, give it a little twist forward to
try to break the galling loose, but don't go forward too hard and the
extractor isn't strong enough to make it cut forward. You have about an
80/20 chance of getting it out easily.....
Now that you have the Tap Magic for Aluminum, use it on all future
aluminum tapping projects. It will save you grief.....
-----Original Message-----
From: shop-talk-owner@autox.team.net
[mailto:shop-talk-owner@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of nicholas harteau
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 7:15 PM
To: shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: breaking off a tap?!
I can't even believe it. I was tapping some threads into what basically
amounts to aluminum stock (an aftermarket upper tailgate for my truck)
and I broke the lovely tap off inside the pillar!
Not only that, it's a brand new tap.
The break is on a pretty extreme angle.
I have no idea how to get this out besides take it to a machine shop and
pray. Any ideas?
--
nicholas harteau
nrh@ikami.com
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