A poor mans mill

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Please stop laughing will yaI got the mag drill on ebay for 300.00 and then it just kind of went on its ownThe baseToo bad it doesn't work...lolI tried to mill some scrap and the motor moved when it made contact.I thought the magnet would be stronger.Maybe if I weld some dogs down.Its not like I have anything that needs milling just playing around in my shop.
Reply:Not that it would fix all the problems but I often put a clamp on the front part of the magnet to keep it down for tough jobs.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Hey, if it works go for it.Ditto what irish said re the clamp.You got a good deal. That drill/magnet combo is great, we've got one at work. Other than being heavy as he77 it's a damn good working unit. Variable speed, reversable?...Mike
Reply:It will hold better if you have a thicker piece of steel for it to pull on, the 3/16" OR 1/4" of the channel won't allow enough breakaway strength. A single section of 3/4" or 1" plate will work better. Move the vise out of the way and put a bathroom scale in it's place, test the breakaway point, then try a thicker plate.But your problem still be there to some extent, your "side loading" the cutter, the tool is not designed to have great strength in a side load. I would put a thicker steel plate welded to the channel, then mount some jack bolt type locators at two locations on both sides of the mag base.I like this idea and think I might work this into a pipe coping tool with a bit of modification, hmmmmm.....Just my  opinion, not from a book, just from the road.Howes Welding Inc.www.howesweldinginc.com
Reply:I think the break away is fairly strong.When I drilled the holes for the clamp I was pushing pretty hard.The other day I was drilling with it on just the fold up table that its sitting on and it did come loose easy,I think that top is 3/16.It slide's side ways as it is,so some angle to stop that.All in all I'm not expecting much out of it but who knows it might be just the tool I need some day.
Reply:IamVince  - I hate to give you the bad news, but you'll quickly ruin a very nice and expensive drill by putting heavy side-thrust on the chuck. I suppose you probably could whip-up a quill or chuck that rides in its own bearings but is powered by the drill motor.Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 06-05-2010 at 10:24 PM.
Reply:Slick setup i have one i use for a lot of different milling operations on site there is a pic of it on a another post "a few pics from this week" if you want to have a look. I can remove the magnet and bolt the base of the drill directly down. It doesn't work the best for side milling but i have used it many times to cut keys and mill adjustment slots in the field. Is yours a mt3 spindle taper? Is so you can buy endmill holders for it and change them. Mine has a locking nut on the spindle and a 1-1/4 dia hole so I made adapters for the most common size endmills.
Reply:Nope just a 3/4" chuck....I'm going to look for that thread.Denrep that sounds about right...I'll be easy with it.My little x/y vice shouldn't put too much force on it.
Reply:Originally Posted by tessdadIt will hold better if you have a thicker piece of steel for it to pull on, the 3/16" OR 1/4" of the channel won't allow enough breakaway strength. A single section of 3/4" or 1" plate will work better. Move the vise out of the way and put a bathroom scale in it's place, test the breakaway point, then try a thicker plate.But your problem still be there to some extent, your "side loading" the cutter, the tool is not designed to have great strength in a side load. I would put a thicker steel plate welded to the channel, then mount some jack bolt type locators at two locations on both sides of the mag base.I like this idea and think I might work this into a pipe coping tool with a bit of modification, hmmmmm.....
Reply:When I was shopping for mine I watched 2 others go for around 300.00This morning I welded another 3/8 plate to it.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepIamVince  - I hate to give you the bad news, but you'll quickly ruin a very nice and expensive drill by putting heavy side-thrust on the chuck. I suppose you probably could whip-up a quill or chuck that rides in its own bearings but is powered by the drill motor.Good Luck