If you’re trying to drill a hole in your wall or some other material, you’ll likely be using a bit, which is made of metal and has a rounded end. Your drill bit might break off one day, and you’ll find yourself trying to remove it without damaging any more of the surface. Or maybe you don’t want to bother someone with the work anymore. Whatever the reason may be, this article will show you exactly how to remove a broken drill bit so you can get going with your next project. So, Let’s move!
Causes of A Broken Drill Bit
A broken drill bit is one of the most common causes for a drill to stop. It’s essential to identify the damage to decide what kind of replacement part you need. If your drill bit suddenly stops spinning, it’s time to investigate the cause. There are a lot of different reasons why this can happen.
Improper materials
If you are drilling into a material that is too hard or too soft, this will cause the drill bit to break. The drill bit’s teeth will bend over and dig into the material, breaking the teeth and making the bit useless. The best material for a drill bit is steel.
Misuse of the drill
Over-tightening or over-loosening. While drilling, you might try to grip your drill, which can cause it to break. It’s also possible to damage the drill’s parts and burn the engine if you apply too much power to get it unstuck.
Use of a drill bit not designed for the material drill
If you use a drill bit that is too large or small for the material, it will break. It can also occur when using a drill bit designed to drill into the wood on steel – the teeth on the steel side will break while drilling.
Inappropriate speed of the drill bit
You need to make sure that you select the proper speed setting based on what you’re drilling into. Otherwise, your drill bit might break. Also, if your bits are new and sharp, don’t go too fast. It will cause them to dull quickly and be useless after only one use.
Lack of lubrication
If you don’t use liquid lubricant when drilling into materials such as ceramics, it can cause your drill bit to break. When you don’t use lubricant and drill into hard materials, this can quickly wear your bits and cause them to break.
Improper mounting
You need to make sure you’ve mounted your bit properly in a drill press or by hand. If it’s loose or improperly mounted, the rotation of the drill will cause it to fall out of place and break.
Improper mounting
If you are drilling into the material and do not have the drill bit/spindle mounted adequately. Or, if your drill bit is not fastened in place tightly enough and it shakes while you’re drilling, this can cause the drill bit to break.
Overheating
When your drill is too hot, it might break. If your machine is hot and you don’t cool it down properly, this can cause the drill bit to reach a temperature where it will break.
Excessive Load
If you are drilling something too big for the drill bit to handle, you will likely break it. Always use a drill bit that is the same size or smaller than the material you are drilling.
How to Remove a Broken Drill Bit?
When you find that your drill bit has broken into the material and can’t be removed using pliers, it is time to use a screw extractor. Screw extractors are from left-handed drill bits. This tool works on drilled materials where pliers can’t remove a broken drill bit. Here is the procedure for removing a broken drill bit using the screw extractor.
Mark the Depth of the Broken Drill Bit
Draw a horizontal line across the drilled material on the left side of your broken drill bit near its shank. The depth level of your damaged drill bit allows you to stop drilling before destroying any existing material nearby. Because most drilled materials have several layers, drilling takes time and effort, even if you think you can easily reach the broken drill bit.
Clear the Broken Drill Bit from its Housing
When using a screw extractor to remove a damaged drill bit from a drill press. You must first clear the broken drill bit from its housing to be turned over for a better angle and better grip of your screw extractor.
Drill Holes Around the Drill Bit
You are now free to drill holes around the drill bit so that it can be turned over and removed. While drilling, be careful not to drill into other identified materials such as electrical conduits, water pipes, or gas lines.
Use Screw Extractor to Remove the Broken Drill Bit
After drilling through all the holes around the drill bit, use your screw extractor to remove it from the material. The screw extractor can now better grip the broken drill bit to remove it from its housing.
Similar Post You May Read: Top 5 Best Drill Bits for Drilling out Broken Bolts
Replace any Damaged Materials
The broken drill bit has now been removed, and you can find a replacement for it. If you need to replace a broken bit, ensure it is the same type to prevent unintentional springing.
Tips to Prevent Breaking Bit While Drilling
There are many reasons why drilling a hole can be difficult or dangerous. You might not see the bit, there could be rats, it could use up all your power, too many sparks might fly out and hurt anyone in the room, or you might get too tired. Fortunately, if you take some steps before drilling, you should have no issues.
- Be sure always to wear eye protection, even when working outside at night. It will protect your eyes from any flying sparks from the drill bit.
- Take care of any animals in the area before starting work to prevent them from running into it.
- Set up a barrier to protect any delicate objects on the ground.
- Wear heavy shoes to protect your feet from sparks that might fly out of the drilling hole.
- Always use the correct size drill bit for the hole you are trying to drill. Too big or too small, and you won’t make it.
- Get someone else to help hold the drill in place, so it doesn’t move around or try using a drill bit holder that can be attached to different materials.
- Add some oil or water to your drill. It will help keep it cool so that it doesn’t break as easily.
- Make sure your drill is completely dry before starting to drill. Also, make sure you are sober. It’s suggested that you do not drink alcohol before drilling.
- Plan out where you will place your hole. It will minimize the amount of confusion when drilling starts.
- Make sure that your drill bit is sharpened and clean for each hole you want to drill.
FAQs
Can you drill out a snapped drill bit?
Yes, but it’s not a good idea. You can use a chisel to remove broken bits, a vise jaw to clamp the screwdriver, or even your teeth to remove broken bits. Sometimes getting a drill bit out is as simple as finding one with the correct diameter that fits in without snapping again.
Is it possible to remove a broken carbide drill bit if the metal shank snapped out of the drill bit?
In some cases, a broken drill bit can be removed. However, there is a good chance that the broken end will break off in the hole. The hole must drill wide enough to get enough grip on the shank with a wrench to remove it. It’s not easy to make such an enlargement, especially if the hole is in an essential location like a cylinder block or crankshaft.
How do I get rid of broken bits in concrete?
The easiest way to remove a broken drill bit is by using a vise jaw with a larger diameter screwdriver as a clamping screwdriver. Another easy way is to use your drill press and a larger-diameter drill bit. If the shank doesn’t come out, you may have to replace it if you cut off the remaining metal piece.
Can you remove broken bits from holes in cement by using a saw?
It is possible to cut out or grind away the broken bit without removing the whole drill to get it out. However, grinding will make the hole too small for this purpose. You can also use a larger-diameter drill as a reamer to enlarge the hole without removing the metal that’s stuck in it.
How do you get broken drill bits out of metal?
You can use a punch or center punch to hammer around the bit. If that doesn’t work, you can file enough metal to get a good grip with pliers and then pull it out. Another option is to heat the shank partway and quickly cool it by plunging it into ice water so that it shrinks slightly. Use pliers or channel lock pliers to grab the shank when it’s skinny enough.
How do I remove a broken drill bit from wood?
Take off as much of the old shank as you can with your drill press. Then use your rotary tool to carve out its end and enlarge the hole to give you something to grab onto with vise grips or pliers. If that doesn’t work, you can use a center punch or chisel to make a hole in the wood so pliers or vice grips can grab it.
Final Words
If you have a broken drill bit, there are a few ways to remove a broken drill bit. You can use a vise grip to grip the broken bit and twist or use a hammer and chisel to break it off the shaft. Be sure to wear safety goggles and proper safety gear, so you don’t injure yourself. Finally, always dispose of broken drill bits properly. They don’t cause further damage or injury.
