Drill Bit in Horn

[rafterob]

Please tell me I'm not the only one this has happened to. While drilling the spout hole through into my horn the drill bit seized up. Stuck like holy bejeezus. :cursing: Tried a vice grips and was peeling metal off the shank. Clamped it tight in my vice and the bit twisted off. Sawed off some more of the horn around the bit and tried again. It won't budge. My theory is the horn got hot enough to melt to the bit like superglue. Any suggestions?

 

[Roy]

Never done that before... If there is enough of it left you may be able to heat it up and jerk it out...

 

[bingo1952]

Are you trying to back it out like you would if you were unscrewing a bolt or trying to turn in the direction of the cut? Usually they will back right out if you "unscrew" them.

 

[jethro224]

Could be "glued"... :hmm:

Heat should free it up but you will still have to "unscrew" it to get it out.

Next time drill slower and frequently pull the bit out of the hole to clear it of built up horn dust/shavings. Makes a lot of difference.

Good luck getting the stuck bit loose.

 

[Tman]

I would heat the bit with a propane torch, carefull not to scorch the horn, with a touch of what got it stuck in there you should be able to back it out.

 

[wulf]

I would think to boil it and back it out...Then
when ever making a hole in a horn to use a curved
piece of wire the shape of the horn and heat it
red hot and burn a hole..Thats what origionally
was done..I would suggest doing the hot wire out
side as it can be very smelly..

 

[omarick1948]

Boil the spout end and immediately clamp the bit into a vise and twist out the drill in reverse.

You don't need to heat a wire to drill the hole in the future. Some did in the old days but most were drilled. Next time. Start with a smaller drill bit and slower speed of your drill or use a hand drill. Good Luck!

 

[brubincam]

-----weren't hoofs & horns used to make glue-----

 

[dlpowell]

I quit having that problem when I switched back to an old electric drill that has a key chuck. Stay away from aggressively profiled drill bits designed for wood. A nice metal drill bit is less likely to hang up. I usually run 4 sizes thru a tip before I'm at the final 5/16" hole.

 

[rafterob]

Just an update. The boiling thing worked pretty good at first. Had it about half way out and then the bit snapped off! This time about an inch inside the horn :cursing: I will take it to the gun builder and see if he can drill it out. This was the second sized bit I was using and had it buried full length in the horn when it seized up.The advice on the metal bit is good. I think that aggresive cut you talk about led to the weakness in the bit which led to breakage.I hope I can save this, it is a nice big horn with some great distress marks that give it that antique look.

 

[john armstrong]

It happened to me once, same exact deal. Threw the horn away and grabbed another.

 

[omarick1948]

Just an update. The boiling thing worked pretty good at first. Had it about half way out and then the bit snapped off! This time about an inch inside the horn :cursing: I will take it to the gun builder and see if he can drill it out. This was the second sized bit I was using and had it buried full length in the horn when it seized up.The advice on the metal bit is good. I think that aggresive cut you talk about led to the weakness in the bit which led to breakage.I hope I can save this, it is a nice big horn with some great distress marks that give it that antique look.

Just a thought, as I have never tried this idea!

You mention that this is the second sized drill bit. You might try having a friend grip the horn and try tapping the drill bit on through with a punch? :hmm: If the second bit is just enlarging the hole. The bit might follow on through the existing channel. I know sounds :youcrazy: but I don't think your gun builder friend will be able to drill the broken bit out. GOOD LUCK and keep us informed!

Rick

 

[dlpowell]

I've had bits break off in the tip. Luckily the tips were fairly wide and I could drill down next to the stuck bit and continue. Eventually the bits would grab the stuck one and out it came. I've never lost one yet. Best thing to do is to use an electric drill. It'll make life a whole lot easier.