![]() Check your extraction kit’s table for the right size bit for the bolt size. STEP 3: Switch to an extraction bit.įor a stubbornly entrenched bolt, you’ll need an extraction bit. If the bolt hasn’t loosened at all, proceed to Step 3 for extraction. Remember, “righty-tighty, lefty-loosey”-turn the bolt left (counter-clockwise) to remove it. Hopefully, reverse-drilling your pilot hole will loosen the bolt enough to let you use vise grip pliers to remove the bolt. ![]() Now, place the drill bit on the punch mark you made and, holding the drill securely, slowly reverse-drill a small pilot hole in the bolt, about ¼-inch deep. The torque of drilling in reverse (i.e., counter-clockwise) will prevent you from further tightening the threads on the bolt. Set your drill on reverse and as slow a speed as possible (ideally, 20 RPM), and insert the left-handed drill bit. Pro Tip: If you’re picking up a kit for the job, invest in quality the last thing you need is a cheap bit breaking during this process. This provides a better bite when you use your drill in reverse to remove a fastener. STEP 2: Slowly, use a left-handed drill bit to create a pilot hole.Ĭheck the table on your extraction kit to select the proper-sized left-handed drill bit (also called a “reverse drill bit”) to make a pilot hole in this broken bolt. Unlike traditional drill bits, which are considered right-handed and threaded in a clockwise direction, left-handed bits are designed with a counter-clockwise thread. Furthermore, if the threading on the bolt hole is damaged, you may be unable to use a new bolt once the old one is extracted. If the threads on either the bolt or the bolt hole are damaged, it may make bolt removal impossible. A precise pilot hole is critical to help you to avoid damaging the threads of the broken bolt when you extract it. Hit it squarely with the hammer to create a starting point for drilling a pilot hole. Place the center punch as close to the middle of the broken bolt as possible. Photo: STEP 1: Hammer the center punch in the middle of your broken bolt.
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