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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Help drilling out a titanium bolt

2006

I know that titanium is both stronger and lighter than regular steel or stainless.

But I also thought is was harder?

When trying to drill out a broken titanium bolt, The drills was not up to it, they just wear out like when you sharpen a pencil.

Greets

Rune Wilthil
Geoconsult - Kristiansand, Norway

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2006

Ti is not harder or tougher than several alloys. It is strong but not necessarily stronger. It is lighter.
To drill out a bolt, hardened steel drills and even good high speed drills are rarely up to the task. Try a cobalt drill. A carbide drill would be great, but I suspect that you are talking about a rather small bolt and you will probably get a side load and break the drill.
You do need coolant and a proper speed and feed. (And sharp good drills)

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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2006

Hi Rune,

Good ole J.W. has had, apparently, a lot of personal experience and what he said about drilling and drill bits, leaves me in the cold.

There is another option ... and you should be thankful you didn't have Nimonic bolt which would be UNDRILLABLE.

The option for Nimonics was to 'burn' it out, ie. use an 'arc' of some type. The so-called sacrificial drilling.

And if you continue drilling, won't a nice cool spray of oil OR some solvent aid in the process. James mentioned that.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).