Workshop Tip - Don't Throw Stuff Away!

**Retro Steam Tech** · Apr 4, 2020, 04:36 PM

**soretoe** · Apr 4, 2020, 06:56 PM

it's ammazing how much i have made out of that junk ,( that i have been ordered to throw out) for her.

**Karl_H** · Apr 6, 2020, 07:25 PM

I have ground down broken taps to make (short) bottoming taps - will get me 3 or 4 more rounds after the regular tap bottoms out.

**Retro Steam Tech** · Apr 7, 2020, 01:43 AM

That's just what Rob (YouTube Channel xynudu) said. In fact he 's just done a short video ion the subject. I will certainly be doing that to any broken taps in the future.
Cheers.

**Okapi** · Apr 7, 2020, 06:20 AM

This is a perfect video especially for that time when people have less money and in place of putting things away give them a second and usable life!!!
Old bits or taps made perfect tools for inside threading on the lathe or for an inside circlips tool etc…

**Retro Steam Tech** · Apr 7, 2020, 09:17 AM

Thanks. never thought about the circlip tool, good point.

**NeiljohnUK** · Apr 20, 2020, 10:55 AM

That was going so well, until that bottle of knatspiss appeared...

**Toolmaker51** · Mar 21, 2021, 04:04 PM

A wise man [M. Klotz] says it's not scrap unless under 3 grams IIRC; I say it's not until it can't be held.....also has something to do with how much work required to purchase in the first place.

**motorhead** · Jul 18, 2025, 05:05 PM

On the rare occasion that I use and break a spade drill, I sharpen the shank portion to a point and use them as scribes, center punches, or I make them into nail sets out of them.