How to remove a broken bolt in a deep hole | remove broken bolt in recessed hole

Snap on makes 3/8 drive sockets that snap on to thread taps so you can use a racket

Trust me. The total satisfaction when the end of a broken bolt is finally in your hand really is one of life's pleasures.

Over 20 years pulling wrenches and I've never thought to drill out a bolt and use as a guide. Great tips. Totally worth watching.

Drilling a bolt and using this to guide a drill bit into the center of a sheared bolt just saved my company tons of money and machine down time on an industrial machine. Also, it made me look like a resourceful, smart engineer. Thank you!

What I usually do is just pretend I never started working on it and go drink a beer.

Usually when I snap off a bolt, it's because it's hopelessly corroded (that's why it wouldn't come out). Step one, drill a hole in the bolt. Step two, snap your drill bit off in the hole. Step 3, swear....a lot.

I love the centring jig. A broken bolt is enough to make you cry. You instantly get that sinking feeling when you know the bolt just broke, however the feeling of joy when you're holding the broken little bastard in your hand once you've removed it is priceless.

I've spent 40 some years having to remove broken bolts out of situations like these. The idea of drilling out a bolt to use as a guide is an excellent idea. The idea of a hinge sighting drill is new to me, also. Great ideas!!

Absolutely genius. I'm 42yo and never heard about or seen a hinge/ self centering drill bit. I've been fighting broken bolts for decades. This blows my mind and I'm ordering some now. I've got bolt extractors and left handed bits, but always have an issue drilling through the center of a broken bolt. Thanks for sharing.

Very informative! Thanks for not playing annoying filler music in the background!

Drilling out some bolts for different sized threads was a GREAT idea. I've drilled out wooden dowels to do the same basic thing, but your bolt idea is much more accurate and dependable! A quality set of bolt extractors adds to the enjoyment of having that lodged bolt finally land in your hand.

Listening to this guy talk about tools/mechanic work is like a bed time story for me.... so easy to listen to... and so skilled!

This is one of the best videos I have seen about removing broken bolts for DIY person. I "had" a broken bolts in my 2008 Chevy Cobalt automatic transmission pan. Thank you.

So glad I found your socket head bolt jig technique. I had a broken recessed manifold bolt on my 5.7 hemi engine in a tight space that I was able to utilize your technique to extract it. Thank god because I couldn't find a local auto machine shop to do this job so I was at a real loss until I saw your video. I only had 5" of space to work with and there was no way I could get a hammer on a punch to mark center on this recessed bolt. The only real modification I had to do was to cut the drill bit shaft back about an inch so my right-angle drill attachment with the shortened drill bit could be inserted into the socket head jig. Thank you

I have removed hundreds of broken bolts, but I have never seen your idea of drilling a hole in a bolt for a guide. I guess your never too old to learn a new trick. Thanks for your time.

Great tips! I had never used a drilled out bolt to center the hole. I have done hundreds of snapped off bolts before. A tip back atcha! Use your wrench to turn the extractor in while tapping on it to get a better bite. It provides an impact driver like effect, and, I believe, in many of my extraction experiences, made the difference between a successful extraction, and snapping off the extractor.

You’re saving lives mate, I worked in the UK for 13 years, you’ve helped me lots of times then, I moved home now, yore helping me here! Many thanks and all the best!

I was taught by my old foreman and mentor, he said that “the harder the material is, the slower you go “ that covers drilling, tapping, lathe and milling work. Like the channel but love AEG tools more! Have a great 2020!

Wow, really well done. Using the hinge bit is genius, and the centering bolts another really smart idea. Thank you.

Nicely done. I particularly like the patience you showed when having extraction issues. Thanks.