Electromagnetic Drill Presses

[bugsnbikes]

I spotted a fairly low use-used electromagnetic drill press for about what a nice floor stander would cost. Does anyone have familiarity with these electromagnetic style units? thumbs up/down? issues- etc?

ive been reading lots of bad issues with the popular JET/ Delta/ Craftsman (new units) and it sounds like the quality of all these has gone to ****.

 

[kulangot]

Handy for drilling a hole with a Rotabroach into some thick steel but it won't be of much use in your home garage.

Look for an old Rockwell drill press, I've found them for as little as $50 and as much as $500. Just make sure that you buy one that was used by a wood worker as a hobby tool and not in industry.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

I'd love to get my hands on a Milwaukee Mag Drill. They come in real handy when drilling frames and other stuff that you can't get to a regular floor standing machine. Much nicer than leaning into a 1/2" drill hoping you can get off the trigger fast enough when it breaks through, grabs then tries to break your wrist. I've also used one to drill broken head bolts out of an engine block. Lots easier to drill straight through a broken bolt with a mag drill than a hand-held drill IMHO.

Nick

 

[kulangot]

Nick,

Those would be good uses, but in reality I had one for years and never touched it. In my case, I could never find a flat place to set it. I can see how it would be great for drilling down into a broken head bolt or into a manifold but I never had the need. I'd still take a good old drill press over one any day.

I did use this a lot, works great with a rotabroach for dilling holes in frames.

Astro Pneumatic Adjustable Air Spot Drill with Deep Clamp Kit, Model# 1757 | Air Drills | Northern Tool + Equipment

Mine is not exactly what is pictured, but is similar. I got it from Arcet Welding in Manassas.

-Stumbaugh

 

[Waorani]

I've got a Milwaukee magnetic drill. Don't use it much but when I do its real handy. The Milwaukee's sell for $700-$800 new on ebay and a couple hundred less for used. Probably not worth it for most though unless you can pick one up super cheap.

 

[bugsnbikes]

many thanks for the info!

i have been also eyeballing some old Rockwells and one or two Vulcan and Sterling heavy duty machines. Cant find much info on the Vulcan or Sterling--but they look super beefy and are 3/4hp 5/8 units from the 1980s and more importantly - not Chinese. It seems like starting with an inexpensive unit would be the way to proceed to see how much use it actually gets....as well as how much it ends up getting used.

 

[haystax]

Electromags need a really thick piece of steel to attach to so you spend a lot of time clamping a piece of 1" plate to the work piece just to get the drill to stay on. And it isn't much fun watching your drill fall to the concrete when it comes loose and finally breaks the drill bit and crashes to the floor...

What you really need to do is get the machine that lifts your truck frames in the air and holds them horizontal so you can use any old drill press...

 

[3_puppies]

Electromags need a really thick piece of steel to attach to so you spend a lot of time clamping a piece of 1" plate to the work piece just to get the drill to stay on. And it isn't much fun watching your drill fall to the concrete when it comes loose and finally breaks the drill bit and crashes to the floor...

are you thinking of the old school ones? The ones that need 2 people to move and lift?

The new ones are nice and lite, use an annular cutter, not a regular drill bit. clamp on 3/8" no problem.

One we just picked up last year is a Haugen ,sp? super nice. another guy on the crew has a blue max and it's nice also. I think we paid $825 for the Haugen and that included 6 bits.

 

[haystax]

are you thinking of the old school ones? The ones that need 2 people to move and lift?

The new ones are nice and lite, use an annular cutter, not a regular drill bit. clamp on 3/8" no problem.

One we just picked up last year is a Haugen ,sp? super nice. another guy on the crew has a blue max and it's nice also. I think we paid $825 for the Haugen and that included 6 bits.

This is the one we have

 

[3_puppies]

This is the one we have

Yeh, those are the old school ones! That one has a 1/2" chuck and uses regular drill bits. They were good in their day, but technology has helped it along.

I'll get you pics of ours at the end of the week. leaving early AM and back at the end of the week.