How To Remove Broken Field Tip From Insert

[cloudbaseracer]

I have a carbon arrow that has a broken screw in part from a field tip stuck down in the insert.  It sheared off deep down where it just starts o screw in. There is no way to heat the insert without damaging the carbon so ..... how do you guys do it?  

By the way, these were some Allen 5/16 field tips I bought at Academy. I am really surprised that it broke from shooting into a tree at a squirrel!  Buyer beware I guess.

Anyway - I want to use this arrow so need to get the shaft out. The inserts have been put in with regular old hot melt.

Cheers,
James

[dingas]

I think you should be able to heat the carbon with no ill effects so long as you dont give it too much direct heat. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in, but I have done it before...
I try to stay away from anything Allen makes. I just find the quality low.

[cloudbaseracer]

I am familiar with carbon and the last thing you want to do to it is heat it up.  That is when it breaks down - you may not see it but it will not be as strong and will be brittle.  

I hear you on the Allen stuff - they fail in my book!

[Fletcher]

Easy out

[xtrema312]

No heat unless you get a tip in it.  I would say pull the nock and try a drill bit.  Whip the shaft hard sending the bit base first into the insert to try and knock out the insert.

Maybe try a small dab of epoxy on something like a cut off nail to see if you can bond to the end of the insert.  Let set and try and turn it out.

[Fletcher]

Easy out.  If you're not great at drilling, find someone that is.  The 8-32 thread isn't going to cut you much slack.

[McDave]

Hot melt has a fairly low melting point.  I would imagine you could hold the end with the insert in boiling water for a minute or so and then poke it out with a straightened coat hanger from the back.

[cloudbaseracer]

Sorry guys! I should have mentioned that I have added tapered wood inside the shaft just like the "ultimate arrow" thread.  This will prevent me from accessing the insert from the back.

[stykbow67]

Is it long enough that you could cut it off behind the insert and glue in a new one?? I realize this will change the spine so just put some flu flu's on and make it a permanent squirrel arrow    

Steve

[cloudbaseracer]

Not really long enough to cut as these are my most custom arrows ever and really dialed in.

[Killdeer]

Screw in a new field tip, heat the tip to where the hotmelt loosens, pull the insert and put the end of the shaft into cold running water. Unscrew the tip and trash the insert.

Or is there not enough thread to get a turn or two into the insert? Could you find a screw the right size to self-tap into the opening of the insert?

Killdeer

[xtrema312]

A lot depends on what kind of insert and how far down the break point is in the insert and in the threads. It sounds like it broke off right at the start of the insert threads so you have no thread to try and get into for pulling or heating.  In that case, I would try an oversize screw or bolt with a fine thread that will just start to thread into the smooth part of the start of the insert. Us a tap if needed to cut some threads.  Thread in the screw or bolt down to the start of the insert point threads. Then heat that up and pull out.

[KSdan]

I use a drill bit as wt. inside the shaft.  Swing the shaft down like an impact driver.  A few times will hit the insert and drive it out.   Always works for me. .  . just be ready as the insert and bit will come flying out of there.  It helps to be standing on carpet so it doesn't ricochet across the concrete floor! (ask me how I know!!)  

[xtrema312]

Killdeer bet me to it while I was taking a break from typing to dealing with the kids.

[calgarychef]

You could heat a piece of metal good and hot and press the end of the insert against the metal long enough to soften your glue then pull the insert.  I've done it before using just the element on the stove.  On the other hand if you don't want to heat it up then just toss out the arrow and buy another.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

If you have used epoxy to glue the insert in. Try putting it in the freezer over night, then go drop it a few times on the concrete the next day. heat will expand, cold will contract the metal and freezing it makes the glue brittle.  If that don't work your toast....

[Bud B.]

Buy you a 5/16 slip on rubber bunny buster blunt and have at it. Still a good squirrel arrow.

[LKH]

I think you're out of luck.  The easy out would probably expand and split the shaft before you had enough force.

What is the insert made of????

[Bullfrog 1]

I use one of those small eyeglass screwdrivers. You can usually get that to catch on the end of the broken field point and get it to turn out.   BILL

[Andy Diggs]

Harbor Freight sells a set of small LH drill bits for less than $10. I have had good luck with them for similar projects. They will usually catch and unscrew the broken screw without having to use an easy out. That being said I would try Killdeers idea first.