We know nothing is more frustrating than a drill bit breaking off during a build or DIY project. If you have faced this and are looking to remove the drill bit from the wall, then you have arrived at the right place.
Here we will provide the step-by-step process of removing the drill bit from the wall based on two common scenarios.
How To Remove A Drill Bit From The Wall?
How to remove a drill bit from the wall depends on how the drill bit has stuck to the wall. Based on how the bit broke off, you can use two methods for extracting it.
If the bit broke off in a way that a small length of the bit is sticking out from the wall, don’t panic more because, in this case, you are lucky. You can remove the drill bit from the wall quite effortlessly.
If your bit is broken off below the wall’s surface, the extraction process is a little bit tricky. But don’t worry, we said, though not impossible. With a little bit of effort, you can extract the drill bit from below the surface of the wall.
When the Bit Is Above the Surface of the Wall
Step 1
Take a set of vise grips. Spot the bit and place them at the bottom of the bit.
Step 2
Place the vise grips around the neck of the bit and tighten.
Step 3
Now twist the grips around the counter-clock direction. Use your force to pull the bit away from the wall. After a while, you should be able to extract the bit from the wall.
When the Bit Is Below the Surface
This is a more critical process than the previous one.
Step 1
Take a washer and place it in a way that hole in the washer is flush with the hole in the wall. Use a ball-peen hammer to tap the washer hammer until the broken end of the drill bit is flush with the washer.
Step 2
Now weld the inner ring of the washer to the drill bit with a wire welder. Weld a perfectly-sized nut to the washer. Follow the instructions that come with your wire welder and put on a welding mask and gloves before you do any welding.
Step 3
Now use a crescent wrench and tighten around the nut. Turn the wrench counterclockwise direction while pulling slightly away from the wall until you remove the drill bit from the wall.
How To Prevent The Drill Bit From Breaking?
Prevention is better than cure. You can use some precautions before you drill so that the drill bit never breaks inside the wall. Here are our tips on how you can prevent the drill bit from breaking it in the future.
Lubricate the bit before you use
Use a drop of cutting oil to the end of your drill bit before you start drilling into anything, especially rigid materials such as metal or steel, etc. This way, you can prevent the bit from snapping off while you’re drilling. Moreover, it will keep your drill safe from overheating.
You can purchase cutting oil from many online stores.
Insert the Bit as Far As you Can Into the Drill
You should insert the drill bit as deep as you can into the drill. This way, the drill driver will hold the bit securely and will lessen the strain on the bit, which will keep it from going off when you’re drilling into something.
Ensure you change drill bits correctly. Completely tighten the chuck whenever you install a new bit.
Important: DO NOT insert the bit past the flutes or the cutting edge of the bit. If you do, that will damage the bit.
Speed Up Your Drill Slowly
When you are working, speed up your drill slowly. Place the drill bit against the drilling material and start the drill slowly. Allow the drill to deliver full-speed slowly, so it doesn’t put additional strain and heat on the bit; this way, you will be able to save it from breaking.
Important: If you use the drill at full speed on rigid materials like steel or metal, the bit will sleep and can cause an accident.
Useful Tools:
Whether you want to remove a drill bit from the wall or want to drill a perfect hole without breaking the bit, you will need the best tool in your hand. That’s why we also prepared a list of valuable tools.
IRWIN CURVED JAW with Wire Cutter, Vise-grip Locking Pliers, 10-Inch
These Curved Jaw Locking Pliers come with a Wire Cutter feature. You can use the hardened teeth for securely gripping a wide variety of surfaces from any angle. It also has a hex key adjusting screw to vary pressure and draw materials closer together.
With the classic guarded trigger, these pliers offer you a controlled release with just a touch. The pliers are built with heat-treated alloy, and therefore it is durable and lasts for a long time.
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Locking Pliers with Wire Cutter, Curved Jaw, 10-Inch
This a highly rated vise grip in Amazon and is ideal for a wide range of applications. You can grip a variety of shapes from any angle with the Curved jaw with hardened teeth. The classic trigger release will provide you maximum locking force.
It comes with a wire cutter for more versatility. The pliers with wire cutters are built with high-grade heat-treated alloy steel, making them durable and long-lasting.
Best Cordless Impact Wrench
Cordless impact wrenches passed a long way, and now it is essential for DIYers and professionals. They are the best tool to remove rusted nuts or drill bits from the wall. Here is our list of the best cordless impact wrench:
DeWalt DCF889M2 20V MAX Impact Wrench Kit
Dewalt is a renowned name in the power tools industry. Like their drill/driver, this unit is also a very popular wrench kit. The compact cordless wrench does not come with the same torque as the Milwaukee M18 Fuel but has other advantages.
This lightweight and compact impact wrench easily fit into a tight space, doing the job straightforward even in a challenging situation.
Milwaukee 2767-20 M18 Fuel Impact Wrench
This is a half-inch battery-powered impact wrench from the famous power tool manufacturer Milwaukee. The impact wrench is highly compact in design and delivers tremendous power from its brushless motor. Cordless impact wrenches are not like the old days, and this Milwaukee m18 fuel is an excellent example of this.
Neiko 10878A 20 V Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Wrench
This impact wrench from Neiko is one of the most affordable cordless impact wrenches you will find in the market. But, the tool did not compromise with the quality even though the price is competitive compared to many other best cordless impact wrenches. You will have a 20-volt battery system in it with a fast-charging charger.
DEWALT DCF899HB 20V MAX XR Impact Wrench Kit
DeWalt products are excellent in quality. This Dewalt DCF899HB is the same. This cordless impact wrench has a heavy-duty impact mechanism and delivers max breakaway torque of 1,200 ft-lbs with the highest 700 ft-lbs of tightening torque. It has a brushless motor for extended efficiency and more durability.
PORTER-CABLE PCC740LA 20V MAX Impact Wrench
This cordless impact wrench from Porter-Cable is an excellent choice for performing maximum DYI tasks at ease. This tool has a half-inch anvil with a hog ring to allow you to change the socket.
This Porter-Cable impact wrench can deliver 2,500 impacts per minute for faster driving. It comes with 330 ft-lbs of torque which is sufficient for general tasks around the house or the auto shop.
Makita XWT11T 18V LXT Impact Wrench Kit
Makita is not that famous like Dewalt and Milwaukee, but the brand has produced some incredible power tools over the years., The three-speed Makita XWT11T brushless cordless impact wrench is an ideal choice if you don’t want to have a powerful monster for your daily use.
The impact wrench runs on either 2.0Ah or 5.0Ah Makita batteries, with the latter providing up to 65% more run time.
DEWALT DCF889B 1/2-Inch 20V MAX Cordless Impact Wrench
This Dewalt DCF889B can generate a max of 20V and 300 ft-lbs. You can extract most lug nuts with ease with that power, and the stuck ones will need some extra effort.
CRAFTSMAN CMCF900M1 V20 Impact Wrench Cordless Kit
With this CMCF900M1, you can easily remove lug nuts and drill bits. Moreover, the quick battery charger can charge the 20V battery in a short time, meaning you don’t have to wait longer to finish your job.
Ryobi R18IW3-0 ONE+ 3-Speed Impact Wrench
This impact wrench from Ryobi is an incredible driving tool. This tool delivers not only high torque but also an ergonomic design, that allows you, to work for a longer time without hurting your wrist.
Kobalt 24-Volt Max-Volt 1/2-in Drive Cordless Impact Wrench
This Kobalt 24V max cordless impact wrench can be an ideal choice for DIY. This tool generates 650-foot pounds of maximum torque. The powerful 24 V 4ah high capacity battery supports your automotive or other applications for a more extended period.
Conclusion
We hope you found the solution of how to remove a drill bit from the wall if you were stuck with a broken bit in your wall. If you never faced it, use our precaution tips so that you never have to. We hope the lists of useful tools will also help you—best of luck with your next project and best of luck.
