Uh! Anyone in MT with an EDM machine?

[Smith]

Well, the VEPR conversion was going just TOO well. Should have known. Drilled the hole for the bullet guide, thought I'd save a few bucks and use the two taps (6/32 BTW) I had on hand and low and behold one broke! finally shattered that one through. Cleaned it up and went for the second one. Slow half turns, backing out, with lube and BAM! It broke. Now, it's in there good. Went to bust that one out and drill larger and thought I was making headway when the punch broke off in the tap! BTW- this is my 15 bullet guide install, and I was using taps that I had used before with the correct tap handle.

Long story short anyone know or have and EDM machine in the Nashville area that can help me get that hole opened back up?

[RED333]

http://www.skylinemfg.com/

Now I have never used them, just did a quick google and found them.

I post to a forum about the Saiga and a few people have trouble with

the broken tap thing.

My S308 did not need the guide so I am happy.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Real dumb idea, never tried it. You can get a cheap set of numerous tiny diamond dremel bits for a few bucks at harbor freight. Maybe other places too. I've used those little diamond grinders to some odd stuff. Like one time etched deep several large letter words in a chunk of granite for a little dog tombstone and only wore out one of the grinders, something like 19 or 29 bits left in the set. Just sayin MAYBE one of those little diamond bits could make progress on a hardened tap.

[Smith]

Probably going to try a carbide bit or get one of the machine shops who have some good bits to drill it out for me.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I may be a bit naive but, cant you do that with a good bit and a drill press?

But I'm one to do anything backwards until it goes forward. Draw your own conclusions from that!

Edited September 28, 2012 by 6.8 AR

[Smith]

I may be a bit naive but, cant you do that with a good bit and a drill press?

But I'm one to do anything backwards until it goes forward. Draw your own conclusions from that!

I could, but I'm at the point of agrivation I don't want to mess with it anymore.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I understand. My son had a problem with his Saiga 12 and was leery about letting me do my thing.

[dlm37015]

call danny johns in columbia tn one of the best gunsmith/machinest in middle tn

[DaveTN]

Are the flutes clear to where you can get a tap extractor in it?

[Smith]

Are the flutes clear to where you can get a tap extractor in it?

Nope. I'm going in the AM to have a machinist drill it.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Getting a machinist to do it is best option most likely. I doubt if a carbide drill bit or any steel type cutting tool will do much to the hardened steel of a good quality tap, but am very ignorant and could easily be wrong. Which was why I suggested try grinding it out with a diamond or some other hard grinder if you want to go at it yerself. Or maybe a ceramic/masonry bit if you can find one so small.

I found out trying to shorten a regular hardened tool steel drill bit one time, Get the bit short enough for drilling a hole way back in a cabinet where even an angle drill wouldn't do the job with a full-length drill bit. Needed just a nub of a drill bit.

So anyway, took a hacksaw and cut off the non-hardened shank easy-peasy, like cutting butter. But the bit was still too long, so took a couple of swipes in the middle of the hardened part (it was a high quality, sharp steel hacksaw blade). Only took a couple of swipes to knock all the teeth off the hacksaw blade, and it didn't even make a mark on the quarter inch drill bit. So then I compounded my folly by knocking all the teeth off a sharp-as-beejesus blade in a metal cutting bandsaw, still without making a mark on the hardened steel. It wasn't even an expensive hardened bit, just a random old sacrificial drill bit that had been sitting who knows how long in the bottom of the toolbox.

Dunno much about mechanical stuff, but up till then didn't realize how hard ordinary hardened steel can be. But you can grind the hardened steel. even if it isn't real cooperative about being cut.