mag drills

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I'm just curious what are peoples thoughts on mag drills, to be honest I don't know really anything about them other than they magnetically clamp into place and they look like a mini drill press. I first seen one on Lanse's (ChuckE2009) youtube where he was putting a new axle on a generator welding unit, I hope to buy some sort of drill press soon but I have quite limited space so it would have to be a quite small drill press and even the small ones would take a lot of my space and the practicality to be able to move to mag drill to wherever it works best on the bench in comparison to what I'm drilling looks quite cool. Could anyone tell me more about them...ie would they do the job the same as a drill press? Are they better or worse in any ways? Thanks for any help
Reply:This is the drill I have been looking at http://riggertools.co.uk/drills/81-e...etic-dill.htmlMy thinking is I could make a plate/frame to fit around the vice, clamp the drill to it and then its basically a pillar drill? One other question too while I'm here, I've been told when welding on a car you must disconnect the battery to protect the electrics.... is there any chance having a mag drill on the workbench and then going welding could do any harm to the drill? That's probably a stupid question to you guys but it's just one of those curious possibilities running through my head that I thought I would ask
Reply:This is timely. I can't think of a better tool for drilling holes away from any edge of a large plate. A drill press usually turns out to be much smaller than you need. I wish I had a mag drill, but I need my car more. As to Maxwell's equations, magnets can do funny things to arcs. I doubt the drill would be hurt but your welding might be a bit frustrating.Last edited by wirehead; 09-15-2013 at 01:27 AM.XMT304 (school)SP125+ (home)HF 4x6 BandsawGood judgement comes from experience and much of that comes from bad judgement.
Reply:I don't know about that brand, but I do know that I will own a magnetic drill in the near future. I never knew I needed one until I saw it on Lanse/Peter's videos...but I immediately saw the potential and versatility of one.Hobart Stickmate LX235AC/160DCRanger 305GVictor 315 O/A rigHope to acquire in the next couple of years: Hypertherm PM45 and Dynasty 200DX
Reply:Brand wise I think we have a lot of different companies being on opposite sides of the pond, I only started looking into them last night and found that in England somewhere. I understand it's not top notch brand but this is hobby/fun for me at the moment so I don't really have crazy money to be spending, but on the side of it being possible to use this as an alternative drill press with more freedom to move it around, do you think a mag drill would be suitable for the task?
Reply:I have a couple and use them a lot.  One is a big Milwaukee with #3 taper, variable speed and adjustable base.  Heavy as hell but is a work horse.  I use the Steel Hawg cutters most of the time.  My other is an older Black & Decker.  Weighs half a much and will chuck a 5/8" shank.  I have just stuck them to the top of a work bench and used a vice like a normal drill press.  Works pretty good when away from the shop drill press.We had a contractor come in to drill out some bad studs in a valve.  They had a big hydraulic drive machine that would turn a 3" drill bit.  Took a crane to set it in place. Dan
Reply:You might wanna check this thread out:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ses&highlight=
Reply:i dont have enough use to justify the high bucks for a milwaukee so i bought one of the ebay cheapies. i'm impressed so far.can't complain about anything on it. if that evolution had been available here,i'd have bought it.miller thunderbolt 250vlincoln square wave tig 175 prolincoln idealarc mig sp250everlast tig 210EXTeverlast power plasma 50chicago electric (hf) 130 tig/90 arcchicago electric 90 amp flux wire3 sets oxy/acet
Reply:Originally Posted by tackitIf you buy a used one make sure you get a safety chain with it or buy one for it incase you're using it in the horizontal or overhead opposition and the power goes out.  It would be a good idea to buy twist lock ends for your extension cords too incase someone or even yourself accidently pulls on the wire and unplugs it while it's hanging.
Reply:"If you buy a used one make sure you get a safety chain with it or buy one for it incase you're using it in the horizontal or overhead opposition and the power goes out. It would be a good idea to buy twist lock ends for your extension cords too incase someone or even yourself accidently pulls on the wire and unplugs it while it's hanging."Mag drills are the cats meow.  I can tell you first hand that the advice listed above is as good advice as it gets.  I bought a 35,000 GVW cab and chassis to swap a oil tank body over to.  I got a wicked deal on the truck but the wheel base was like 7 feet to long.  I unbolted everything from the frame and rubbed out a paper template for each side.  I can't remember. It was 70 holes per side or 70 total but it was two days of drilling (frame stock).  About half way through the first day a friend stopped by my shop and tripped over the power cord while I was drilling.  Needless to say the magnet de-energized, the drill fell, snapping a brand new 3/4 inch bit off in the frame.  After that, I would set up for a hole, energize the magnet then cargo strap the drill to the frame.
Reply:I have a Hougen Rotabroach and love it. It is a rarity for me to use it in the shop though, as I have a large DP and a milling machine. I bought it to drill large holes in the field. It is heavy and the annular cutter are expensive. It pus me in a foul mood when they shatter. I don't have the regular chuck adapter for mine, as the small holes I just drill with a regular hand held drill (most of the time with a battery drill). Mine paid for itself on the first job I bought it for.Here is a link to a VID where the guy made a drill press  table for his mag drill. Looks interesting, but I have not followed suit, yet.
Reply:I have a basic one made by SteelMax. It's the D1 model and it cost me a fortune.  I use it often and its one priceless tool that I've learned to not live without.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I don't own one, but my contractors use them in the field all the time on bridge work.
Reply:I never knew I required one until I saw it on some videos...but I promptly saw the potential and adaptability of one. as an afterthought of it being conceivable to utilize this as an elective penetrate press with additional opportunity to move it around
Reply:One thing to keep in mind is that the magnet that clamps the mag drill down needs a thick piece of steel in order to develop max holding power.  If you set a mag drill on thin material, they are easy to lever up by applying too much pressure to the feed handle.  If you're drilling large holes with twist bits, holesaws, or rotobroaches, it's easy to pop the drill loose from the base steel.  The advice regarding twist lock plugs and cords is worth heeding.  Many years ago I was using a mag drill overhead.  My partner and I were cleaning up and my partner pulled the power cord before I was ready to take the weight of the drill.  I was holding the handle when it dropped away from the die we were drilling.  It swung like a pendulum, and only dumb luck kept me from smashing my own kneecaps with the drill.If you're shopping for a mag drill, make sure the one you're buying has a safety cut off that kills power to the drill if the magnet loses power or breaks free from the surface it's attached to.  I think most mag drills are rated for working on 1/2" thick steel or more.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:We us Hougen mag drills.....have 2-3  and use them everywhere....they are light in weight....there might be some others on the market, but we use our local welding supply house, and what they recommend, AND they carry the cutters, and fluid in stock.  I might add we use the Hougen cutting fluid as it is water soluable and comes in a handy bottle.  Good luck on your search!Miller Big Blue Air PakMiller 350P, Python GunHyperthermsSpool gunsMetabo GrindersWe "dooit" as a family...."a family that sleds together stays together"......from sleddin to campin to 4 wheelin to workin.....gotta enjoy life somewhere!