How do you remove a broken drill bit?

OK:

1. Is the bit broken off even with the wood, or is even a little sticking out?
2. What kind of wood is it? Harder is worse.
3. Could you drill a bigger hole, if needed?
4. Could you start a hole from the other side and punch through a little bit of wood to push the broken drill bit out?

Face it, you may have to trick out a hole saw and then make a grain matching plug.

Good luck!

You might be able to get ahold of it with a pair of needle nose pliers if it is a twist drill. Turn and pull it until yoiu get it out far enough to grab it with bigger pliers. Keep twisting and pulling.

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

Look for a screw extractor thingy. WOODCRAFT # 124211 is a good place to start. Now that you know what you’re looking for, you can probably find one locally. If not, it’s an excuse to buy another tool. You’ll get used to that: it’s an affliction we all share.

The way it’s used is CAREFULLY. Chuck into your drill, drill around the broken screw deep enough to clear it, lever it out with a small chisel or scredriver,etc., remove it and replace it with a grain-matching plug. Simple after you’ve done it, really. YOU CAN DO IT—YOU’RE A LUMBERJOCK, AND YOU’RE OK!

Steve

-- Steve in KY. 44 years so far with my lovely bride. Think I'll keep her.

Take an awl and very carefully remove a small amount of wood around the broken drill bit, when you can grab the bit with a needle nose pliers turn it in a counter clock direction with a little upward motion. This should extract the broken drill bit.Then use a slightly larger bit and drill through the same hole, this should do away with the shoulder that you made scraping the wood around the broken drill bit. Hope this makes sense.

mike

-- never enough time in a day so use it well

Do what Mike said, but you may need to use a razor knife to excavate enough to get a good grip on the drill bit. If needle nose don’t get it buy a needle nose vise grip. Trust me through the years you will use them hundreds of times. This is a project for yourself and new hobby. The battle scar will be a reminder of how far you have gone 10 years from now. You have learned an important thing- DRILLBITS DO NOT TURN CORNERS. Just like I did 30 years ago. Good luck and have fun with it. KB1

-- KB1KnoB