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Posted: 3/29/2009 9:43:17 AM EDT
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Doing the lower received mod - for the set screw to hold in the spring and detent, my 4/40 tap snapped off.
Any really good ways to get it out? Thanks in advance! |
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Oredered it - thanks a million for the guidance. |
| hey , i am a machinist and in my experience the small tap extractors from about 1/4 down don't work very well . If you know someone that is a machinist not just someone that works in a machine shop but someone with real skill they can get it out for you without harming any thing around it . you will probably need a skilled manual machinist . if you lived closer to me i would help . sorry |
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Quoted:
hey , i am a machinist and in my experience the small tap extractors from about 1/4 down don't work very well . If you know someone that is a machinist not just someone that works in a machine shop but someone with real skill they can get it out for you without harming any thing around it . you will probably need a skilled manual machinist . if you lived closer to me i would help . sorry I'll have to give the suggested tap remover a try and I know a machinist if that fails. |
I never tried this but can you install the spring and detent through the pin side? You'll have to trim the spring but you might be able to use the tap as the set screw? holding the detent in place while pushing in the pin? Not sure it can be done?   Or just use one of those button release take down pins?
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| Find a machine shop or tool and die shop around you that specializes in EDM. That's electrical discharge machining or machine. They can burn the tap out and clean up the hole for you. I would bet that most shops are game for just about anything in this economy. good luck |
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Find a machine shop or tool and die shop around you that specializes in EDM. That's electrical discharge machining or machine. They can burn the tap out and clean up the hole for you. I would bet that most shops are game for just about anything in this economy. good luck EDM |
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I never tried this but can you install the spring and detent through the pin side? You'll have to trim the spring but you might be able to use the tap as the set screw? holding the detent in place while pushing in the pin? Not sure it can be done? Or just use one of those button release take down pins?Gppd idea, but I'll take the time to make it right based on some suggestions here. |
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Find a machine shop or tool and die shop around you that specializes in EDM. That's electrical discharge machining or machine. They can burn the tap out and clean up the hole for you. I would bet that most shops are game for just about anything in this economy. good luck That'sthe current plan. Thanks to all that had this idea. |
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Taps inevitably will break at some point. I saw those kits for sale in the EE and my first thought was what if your tap breaks? That is a small hole. I want nothing to do with that. My second though was about how many people who have never even drilled out a broken bolt or had to use a torch to blow out a broken tap, are going to F up their lower with this stupid kit. Go buy 10 extra springs and detents, put them in a safe place, do not use them on a build, and then call it a day. You will be way ahead in the long run. I am not one for madatory labeling of things, but those people selling that garbage should warn people, because I bet 90% of those buying the modification kits have no idea what they are getting into. |
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Taps inevitably will break at some point. I saw those kits for sale in the EE and my first thought was what if your tap breaks? That is a small hole. I want nothing to do with that. My second though was about how many people who have never even drilled out a broken bolt or had to use a torch to blow out a broken tap, are going to F up their lower with this stupid kit. Go buy 10 extra springs and detents, put them in a safe place, do not use them on a build, and then call it a day. You will be way ahead in the long run. I am not one for madatory labeling of things, but those people selling that garbage should warn people, because I bet 90% of those buying the modification kits have no idea what they are getting into. Tapping a piece of aluminum usually isn't a problem, but I've broken a couple of taps in my day. First off, use the best quality tap you can find... I have found that once I get the tap started, I cut in a couple of threads, then remove the tap, clean and re-oil then cut maybe two more threads and repeat the clean and oil routine...With small threads like 4-40 I may go even slower,... personally I used a 6-40 tap with 6-40 set screws on my receivers which was the next size up...Main thing, don't rush! 
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To be safe: Never tap more than a 1 maybe 2 threads without backing up nearly a full turn and continuing. Lots of oil......If you are tapping a blind hole (not a trough hole) you should not even try if you haven't done it before. IMO Maybe practice on a junk piece of steel first.
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You could drill/grind some very small holes around the tap. Then use some needle nose pliars to grab the tap and turn it out. Then you could leave the hole as it is after the tap removal or you could tap it to a larger size and use a larger set screw.
Tapping small holes in aluminum is usually a recipe for breakage - especially for first timers. Be sure to use a tapping fluid that is specifically for aluminum. YMMV |
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Well after a few day of waiting for the Tap-X Acid and some loss of the anodizing where I spilled some acid, I drive the remaining crap out, threaded the hole very carefully and made the modification
Now where'd I put that black magic marker 
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Well after a few day of waiting for the Tap-X Acid and some loss of the anodizing where I spilled some acid, I drive the remaining crap out, threaded the hole very carefully and made the modification
Now where'd I put that black magic marker That stuff really worked?...Amazing!
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Well it worked well enough that after 4-5 days of applying it, cleaning it, degreasing it and re-applying the acid, I was able to drive the remnants out on day 5 or so.
Nice kit - had all the items - degreaser, acid, neutralizer, small, thin tool and glass eye dropper as well as a pinch of modeling clay to dam through holes and build a cone around the hole. Of course I hope to never need it again. Experience is a great teacher. |
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