How to remove a drill bit that snapped while drilling a vent hole

[Doug Fay]

I was was being careless and snapped a High Speed Steel drill bit in the vent hole I was drilling. So I ordered some carbide drill bits to drill out the HSS drill bit. One of them snapped, too, and it was also stuck in the vent hole. That made things much worse. Rather than commit suicide for being so stupid, I ordered some diamond-tipped drill bits from Amazon, and after going through about five of them, I managed to grind out the snapped bits. Boy, did I feed good after that!

Here is the link to the diamond bits I used: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BC6G4CD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

I got the 1.5 mm dia. drills because that's slightly under 1/16", and I wanted to make sure I didn't make the hole any bigger than 1/16th". I used thread cutting oil as a lubricant.

Used my drill press at it's highest speed (around 3000+ RPM), with light pressure, often sort of bouncing it lightly. Put in a new bit whenever it seemed the diamonds on the tip might have been worn off (even after removing them, though, it looked like there were still some diamond pieces on the tip).

Anyway, it finally worked, and I am very relieved

PS - here's a document that describes how to drill a vent hole, and it works perfectly if you don't get careless or lazy: https://cdn.trackofthewolf.com/imgHowTo/DrillTouchHole/touchholedrill.pdf

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Dont buy those chinese easy outs, they will break.
You need to heat the area around the bit and try and use picks to turn it outward.

 

[Ben Meyer]

Sort of on topic, but I have a stuck vent hole liner. Its pretty tight. I know it WILL come out, as i know I put antiseize on the threads the last time I had it out. But the problem is, it has a flat head screwdriver slot that is worn to the point that I can't get purchase with any flat head I own. While this isn't a huge deal, I would eventually like to replace it(already have a new one). I could try a left handed drill bit, or just drill+easy out. Or somehow cut a deeper slot into it.

My question is, what's the best way to "heat" that area up? Handheld blowtorch? Electric heat gun? I wouldnt want to remove the stock, but definitely don't want to burn it, or discolor the metal.

 

[mikesto44]

I've had very good success with the Easy Outs. I've removed scope mount screws excetra with them.
Those screws are tiny. Only trick is getting a good set. Course the other trick is running them counter clockwise. Don't ask how I learned that..

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

My #1 go to is a
Carbide spade bit

 

[andy52]

As a last resort, you can get some liquid nitrogen, freeze the bit, and tap it with a center punch, and it will shatter.

 

[Paladin357]

I actually had a 3/16" bit snap on me when I was recently drilling/tapping my flintlock for a vent liner. Fortunately there was a little bit sticking out of the hole, so I CAREFULLY used my dremel with a cutting disk to flatten the sides. After that I was able to use pliers to twist the bit out.

I've had bits break on me in other projects and have never had luck drilling them out.