Drilling a bolt out...

[DanielJames]

Hi all

can anyone recommend me a drill bit, preferably that I can pickup from Screwfix tonight, that will do the job of drilling out snapped-head M6 bolt.

I've been told Cobalt but can't see on Screwfix that there is much of this. Is it a brand or a type of bit?

Any advice appreciated
Dan

[Toaster Pilot]

The titanium jobber bits Screwfix do will do this job - alternatively, get Cobalt ones from Toolstation. Buy a few different sizes, start small and go slow, with plenty of cutting oil.

[andy-xr]

Set of these

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-hss-cobalt-drill...

And I'm guessing you're not using a battery powered drill? Mains would be better, as it might take a while

[conkerman]

Will an easy-out not do it?

[rhysenna]

If you can flatten down the bolt with a file and centre pop it so your drill won't wonder.

[DanielJames]

Toaster Pilot said:

The titanium jobber bits Screwfix do will do this job - alternatively, get Cobalt ones from Toolstation. Buy a few different sizes, start small and go slow, with plenty of cutting oil.

Never heard of them before, turns out there is one across from the Screwfix I was going to go to!

Will go there and buy individual. Will go 2mm > 4mm..

[Toaster Pilot]

Get the cutting oil from there too

Hope you have a decent drill handy....

[DanielJames]

conkerman said:

Will an easy-out not do it?

Ahh forgot to mention the crucial bit! The reason I'm asking for a strong cobalt bit is that a stud extractor has already snapped off in the hole!

[Toaster Pilot]

Oh st - get multiple bits in each size and a REALLY good drill in that case.

[DanielJames]

Toaster Pilot said:

Oh st - get multiple bits in each size and a REALLY good drill in that case.

Dad's in the trade so I have his old 18v Dewalt cordless and quite a few batteries. I imagine I'll be going through the lot..

[Toaster Pilot]

Drilling out bolts is enough of a pain in the ass without getting one of those fking things stuck in there too, I feel for you

[DanielJames]

Toaster Pilot said:

Drilling out bolts is enough of a pain in the ass without getting one of those fking things stuck in there too, I feel for you

Aye it'll be a pain in the arse.

Wonder if Machine Mart will appreciate me returning the stty extractors...

[J4CKO]

Depends on where its been, exhaust ones seem to be heat treated and are like diamond hard.

Cobalt, slow speed, lubricate, wear eye and hand protection.

[CO2000]

If drilling doesn't work get a nut welded onto the broken bit, that is if you have access to a welder.

[C.A.R.]

Snap! (no literally, as in I have the same problem...pun intended)

Also M6 thread. Thinking of trying one of these 'easy out' things but never had to before. How far into the stud (it's only an M6x16 bolt) should I drill my pilot hole before going at it with this easy out?

And what does an easy-out attach to? A drill, or a hand ratchet?

[BigTom85]

Stud extractors are a nightmare to drill out. Good luck!

[DanielJames]

C.A.R. said:

Snap! (no literally, as in I have the same problem...pun intended)

Also M6 thread. Thinking of trying one of these 'easy out' things but never had to before. How far into the stud (it's only an M6x16 bolt) should I drill my pilot hole before going at it with this easy out?

And what does an easy-out attach to? A drill, or a hand ratchet?

If you're doing that buy good ones, I bought a cheap Clarke set from Machine Mart for £12 I think it was and it's a load of rubbish.

They go in by hand.

[J4CKO]

My thinking with stuff like that, is rather than struggle, is to take a step back and see if you can remove what it is attached to and get it on a bench, for example a sized alternator adjuster, remove the mounting block it was on, i.e. go up to the next largest assembly, makes it easier to use heat, cold, brute force and special words.

[DanielJames]

J4CKO said:

My thinking with stuff like that, is rather than struggle, is to take a step back and see if you can remove what it is attached to and get it on a bench, for example a sized alternator adjuster, remove the mounting block it was on, i.e. go up to the next largest assembly, makes it easier to use heat, cold, brute force and special words.

Unfortunately not. This is my radiator support bracket bolt on the top of my front section of the chassis.

I was nearly there with my previous cobalt bits, I'll get to toolstation tonight and get some more

[shalmaneser]

Get lots and lots of heat on it if you can, plumbers blowtorch should do the job.

I've never been able to get a snapped off EZ-out removed!