Tap removal

[mekanik]

Nice find Adrian
I have been in Engineering for 50 years and never come across that one,good news is Alum should be pretty easy to get hold of.
Regards
Mike

[Crazy L]

Wow, Awesome, I've never heard of that one and I've worked in some right old school shitholes in my time. Normally it's the old boys who share this stuff.

[Robin Hewitt]

Amazing, I typed into google, "Alum dissolves" and "steel" popped up on the drop down menu

I never knew that.

Then I tried typing "dissolves steel" and "alum" was the only real suggestion.

[routercnc]

Not seen that one before. Only seen spark erosion for removing taps (from steel I think).

[Clive S]

Ok after making this for a HTD belt. upon drilling & tapping for the grub screws the tap broke full depth so I had a go with alum.
it took 500g of alum and 12 hours on the induction hob (the dish was on a piece of 3/8 steel plate) in two sessions at just below boiling point and having to keep it topped up with water ever 45min.

Result tap was dissolved completely but did discolour the aly a bit, I could have made a new one quicker but wanted to try out the procedure. If I had to do it again I would have use a much deep container and suspended the part on a copper wire.

[Doddy]

12 hours on the induction hob

Your not married, are you!?

Mine (the wife) complains if I even try to cure dry-film solder mask in the oven.

Women!

[Clive S]

Your not married, are you!?

Mine (the wife) complains if I even try to cure dry-film solder mask in the oven.

Women!

Ah Yes, You need somebody to keep an eye on it to make sure it was topped up

[magicniner]

If I had to do it again I would have use a much deep container and suspended the part on a copper wire.

This -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhzbpDgTvXU

Use a 3L pop bottle to keep it topped up unattended