Help! Drill bit stuck in a block of wood...

winmagfrog

winmagfrog

Joined
Nov 16, 2005
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1,149
BLUF: I was drilling into a block for a hidden tang handle and the bit got stuck. I beat on it, twisted, pried and begged it and it's not coming out. It is now broken (above the wood), but I still have about an inch and a half sticking out to grab on to. How do I get the bit out without destroying my expensive block of wood?


Alright now the long version, I just got back in town and have been itching to work on a project knife that I've had in mind for a while. It's my first attempt at a hidden tang and I'm using a Scrapyard Dumpster Mutt that I abused on deployment. I've done some mods to the blade and am moving on to the handle. I never thought a hidden tang would be so tough! I bought a nice block of Desert Ironwood and have rough shaped it on a band saw, and was starting to drill my hole tonight. First, bits aren't even close to long enough, next my drill press is crappy. So the press stalls out (I was running at the slowest speed), and I've been trying to get the bit out ever since. I got it to move about an inch and ended up pushing it back in (great idea) to see if it would loosen up. No luck. I'm hoping there is some easy fix for this as I'm sure it's happened before. It's currently in the freezer resting from our hour and a half wrestling match...

So, what kind of home remedies do you veterans have?
 
You could try to put the bit in a vise and tighten down good and try and twist the block back off the bit.
 
Let's see,

If you've tried to unscrew it, turning the bit counterclockwise with pliers, and haven't been able to remove the bit the flutes of the bit are probably jammed with drilling swarf, jamming the bit in place. Next step, put the exposed end of the bit in a vise, hold onto the wood and try to move them apart by "unscrewing" the wood from the bit. Turn the wood, not the bit.

Still no success? Well, you may have to burn the bit out, i.e. heat the bit with a torch and try to burn away the drillings. Now, if the wood is stabilized, this
process is going to REALLY stink.:grumpy: But it will work.

Next time, withdraw the bit frequently while you're drilling to clear the flutes and the bit won't get stuck.

Good luck,

Bill
 
Thanks guys, I'll give it a go in the morning. Good advice all around. So much to learn...
 
+1 on what Mr Hoffman was said. Something you could try as well is dripping some motor oil down the flutes and letting it set up right for an hour or so, so the oil can penetrate to the bottom it might slip out then.
 
drilling in materials like wood, it would benefit you more using high rpm and peck drilling. sometimes tool breakage is cause by rpms being to low. as far as getting the drill bit out, if you can line it up on the other side and match the hole you already have, drill though and push the old drill out. i have done that in steel a few times and it usually works.
 
Do you have access to a wire feed welder? If yes, weld about 6" of rebar or even an old screwdriver to it, put the wood in the vise and twist away.....
 
I have never come across (yet) a bit in wood that I couldn't get out. Vise grips, and work it back and forth?

Matt
 
heat up the end a little at a time and hopefully the heat will loosen the bit. you can also try putting the wood in some hot water to expand it enough to loosen the bit.
 
Got it out with the vice and some patience. I'm not sure if freezing it overnight helped or not, but putting it in the freezer did keep me from smashing it. As it thawed in the vice the bit started to move, so maybe it did help.

Thanks again for the tips, and I'll post pics when I'm all done. I have always been a "All in" kind of guy, so hopefully this project will work out!
 
I was building a retention wall and predrilling for the rebar to pound into each layer when my 18 inch drill bit got stuck. The first time it happened I just pounded it in and bought another one. This last time I was more determined I used vice scrips and even though it would turn, could not extract it. I took some old bolt cutters that rarely get used, tightened it down on the small lip at the end of the bit, and with a 2x4 at the base was able to pull it out like the motion of using a hammer to remove a nail. The further it came out, the thicker the piece of wood I had to use at the base. But it came right out and was not damaged!
 
Jerry Wright said:
I was building a retention wall and predrilling for the rebar to pound into each layer when my 18 inch drill bit got stuck. The first time it happened I just pounded it in and bought another one. This last time I was more determined I used vice scrips and even though it would turn, could not extract it. I took some old bolt cutters that rarely get used, tightened it down on the small lip at the end of the bit, and with a 2x4 at the base was able to pull it out like the motion of using a hammer to remove a nail. The further it came out, the thicker the piece of wood I had to use at the base. But it came right out and was not damaged!
Click to expand...


This thread is 9 years old Jerry...

Seinfeld_Breitling.jpg
 
Burton Harruff said:
You could try to put the bit in a vise and tighten down good and try and twist the block back off the bit.
Click to expand...
Hello. Your tip to use a vise just saved one of my kitchen drawers. A drill bit got stuck an would not budge. I saw your message about using a vise which my dad had put on his workbench. I was then able to get the vise tight enough to back the bit out of the drawer. Thank you so much!
 
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