I Screwed Up and Broke My Drill Bit... Can It Be Fixed?

[AzShooter]

Trying to put a new fiber optic front sight in my S&W 617 I used a #54 drill bit.  It broke after just a short time and didn't go through the sight.  I can't get the bit out.   

 

Should I just leave it in and use Blue Loctite to hold the bit or try to drill from the other side?  

 

Should I use a 1/16 drill bit and go from the other side?

[TaterHead]

Easy out tool, if there is one small enough.  But I don’t know about drilling the broken bit to start the easy out. Maybe too hard.

Edited November 7, 2022 by TaterHead

[Braxton1]

Drill bits are usually VERY hard, which equals "brittle".  If you can tap on the bit with a punch, it will usually shatter and come out in tiny pieces.

 

The problematic issue may be the small diameter of the bit itself.  Will a tiny punch exert enough force to shatter the bit without really gouging the heck out of the hole itself?

 

 

[barry]

Drill fron other side untill you feel it hit other drill bit then tap out With small punch. Obviously not with a hand drill,in a mill.

[Miranda]

in this case, the advice to drill from the other side and punch/tap the broken bit out is good.

 

I wanted to let you know when I do the get a drill stuck in a work piece...

I often toss out the part.

I am hoping you pictured the sight in place and

are not trying to drill both at the same time. 

 

miranda

 

 

[barry]

Looking closer at pic sight isn't seated all the way into bbl. Will need a new sight. Sight should be held tight into bbl in vise or with a clamp. Also best to drill 1/2 way from each side.

[Boomstick303]

The issue with drilling broken drill bits out is you will typically enlarge the hole because drill bits are extremely hard.  Maybe use a punch from the backside.  I would take it to a gunsmith and maybe they have tricks for issues like this.  I have yet to be able to use an easy out to get any broken drill bits out.  I have learned how to not break drill bits moving forward, because it usually never ends well in trying to remove them.

[barry]

In 40 years as a machinist and gunsmith the only thing I've ever seen an ez out do is make a bad situation worse. Replaces a broken hard part with a very hard broken part. Broken drills can be cut out with a carbide e.m. with proper setup. 1/16" is tough. Best to drill from other side till you hit tip of drill then tap out. If not capable stop and take it to someone.

[pjb45]

 CAll Kodiak Precision. Don GOLEMBIESKI. 
He is about 7 minutes from Rio. 

[AzShooter]

Thanks pjbg45.  I'll give him a call.

 

[konkapot]

Looks like it's Dremel Time. Max RPM and get to work!

[barry]

Do your self a favor and ignore this

[donnyglock]

On 11/7/2022 at 10:18 AM, barry said:

In 40 years as a machinist and gunsmith the only thing I've ever seen an ez out do is make a bad situation worse. Replaces a broken hard part with a very hard broken part. Broken drills can be cut out with a carbide e.m. with proper setup. 1/16" is tough. Best to drill from other side till you hit tip of drill then tap out. If not capable stop and take it to someone.

This!!

[AzShooter]

Settled.  I'm going to take it to someone with more skills then I have.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[konkapot]

I still think my suggestion deserves some recognition/validation. What could possibly go wrong?

[Miranda]

max rpm only melts metal to the abrasive...

 

[broadus123]

I think your suggestion deserves some recognition John, but Barry's might be a tad better.

[marco207p]

@AzShooter did you get this broken bit out?  Just wondering know how it was done if so, always looking for new ways to get things like this done. Knowing we will more than likely run across it more. 

[AzShooter]

Never got it out and it's holding up well.  Must be in far enough so I'm going to leave it until it falls out.

 

[Miranda]

your job was far better than first thought.

 

well done!

 

miranda