How to remove a broken tap

[Guest avitt]

Let's say that your "friend" sheepishly confesses to you that he has broken a tap off in his Rolex case, while cleaning the threads for a new crown tube. He shows you a case that looks something like this:

You confirm that there is indeed a High Speed Steel bit hopelessly sheared off in the hole. He asks you if anything can be done...

Of course, the first thing that you do is lecture your friend about the proper use of hand tools, and explain to him that you yourself would never be in this situation. After that, you let him know that yes, there is an easy, cheap fix for this problem. Here are the steps:

1. Obtain some Alum from the spice section of your local grocery store.

2. Bring about 1" of water to a boil in a glass, ceramic, or aluminum pan. Pyrex is perfect.

3. Add in about 1.5 ounces of Alum.

4. Bring the mixture down to a simmer (lowest heat). Drop in the case. Push the pot to the side of the burner, and the case to the side of the pot. (This to assure that the case won't be accidentally overheated and discolored.)

After a few seconds, a rapid stream of bubbles will begin to emerge from the tube hole.

5. Cover the pan to limit evaporation. Simmer for about 3 hours.

6. Remove the case, rinse, and allow to cool.

7. Use a paperclip to press out the dissolved remains of the tap.

In the end, your "friend" will be delighted that the tap is out, and the case is ready for him to try again (this time, pre-drilling with a 2.65mm bit, of course.)

[Shundi]

Alum spice to the rescue apparently! Hope your "friend" was happy he found a solution

[omni]

Definitely faster than the vinegar bath. Nice to see a confirmation of the post about my jeweler's solution for removing the stem out of a crown with alum.

[Guest avitt]

While I have personally removed a couple of broken stems by soaking in vinegar for about 3-4 days, my "friend" told me that he soaked the broken tap for about a week, with very little effect.

I told him that he could also dissolve the tap in a room temperature alum solution, but he would have to wait for many days, instead of a few hours.

[ChipWrecked]

Another benefit of this solution is the delicious soup that remains. Mmmmmm good.

[Francisco]

Very good info.

BTW, can anybody help me to find this product in Spain or Europe? I think we do not use this product here. It is the first time I see this product in my life.

Any link to a shop or Ebay? I cannot find it in ebay.

The name in Spanish of this product?

Thanks,

Francisco

[Guest avitt]

Very good info.

BTW, can anybody help me to find this product in Spain or Europe? I think we do not use this product here. It is the first time I see this product in my life.

Any link to a shop or Ebay? I cannot find it in ebay.

The name in Spanisk of this product?

Thanks,

Francisco

As a clue, Alum is used here to make pickles.

[Francisco]

As a clue, Alum is used here to make pickles.

Thanks...do you know the formula?

Francisco.

[Guest avitt]

Here is the best description of Alum that I have found:

http://www.ochef.com/1080.htm

It's basically a salt. Can be one of several compound, but the most common is potassium aluminum sulfate.

[HauteHippie]

Nice. I love these "home remedies"!

[alligoat]

Pretty cool avitt. Obviously this stuff doesn't react with stainless steel.

Francisco, my Spanish dictionary refers to the Spanish word as 'alumbre'

[Francisco]

Pretty cool avitt. Obviously this stuff doesn't react with stainless steel.

Francisco, my Spanish dictionary refers to the Spanish word as 'alumbre'

Thanks.

However, alumbre is also a deodorant. and many times they explecitily say that does not have aluminium

Francisco.

[Toadtorrent]

As a clue, Alum is used here to make pickles.

Here's a dumb question for you. Why does Alum dissolve the bit, but do nothing to the case? Does the stainless steel chromium content make it more resistant to corrosion or whatever it is that the alum is doing to the high speed steel? Is the alum acting as a corrosion agent or catalyst or whatever in the system???

[Guest avitt]

Here's a dumb question for you. Why does Alum dissolve the bit, but do nothing to the case? Does the stainless steel chromium content make it more resistant to corrosion or whatever it is that the alum is doing to the high speed steel? Is the alum acting as a corrosion agent or catalyst or whatever in the system???

All I can say is that the Alum causes rapid oxidation of the carbon steel. (It won't effect ss or aluminum.)

Pretty general, I know...But I can get you more information, if you want. Both of my parents are chemists (retired professors). My mom loves to give me the details of these types of reactions, while pointing out how little I learned in college