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Milwaukee Magnetic drill

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firworks

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Jun 29, 2015
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Oh great, another Milwaukee tool that I don't need....but want.

Yeah it would take an incredible stretch of the imagination to fathom a reason I should buy one. But that doesn't stop me from thinking about it... :lol:
 
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Cue

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Im thinking about setting it up as a drill press by making a table out of some 1/2" steel, that can be removed if needed to be used elsewhere:)
 

rice rocket

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Mar 24, 2011
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I briefly looked at these for some fantasy projects, the one thing that I didn't like about the Milwaukee mag drills is they're electromagnetic. i.e. if it catches/overloads or trips a fuse, it will fall off/eject from whatever surface you have it on. :shocking:

Other brands (Metabo but maybe others as well) use a permanent rare earth magnet, which seems like a much better way to solve the problem.
 

Spn1025

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I briefly looked at these for some fantasy projects, the one thing that I didn't like about the Milwaukee mag drills is they're electromagnetic. i.e. if it catches/overloads or trips a fuse, it will fall off/eject from whatever surface you have it on. :shocking:

Other brands (Metabo but maybe others as well) use a permanent rare earth magnet, which seems like a much better way to solve the problem.

ouch.. that would ****. these things aren't exactly light either.
 

LXCam

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Apr 23, 2013
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My mechanical contractor was using one of these recently and I got a chance to really check it out. As much of a fan boy I am if millwaukee tools, I was none too impressed with it. They were having chattering issues and I adjusted the gibs for them, everything seemed real cheap and sub par for what it's intended use is. Your results may vary :)
 

GortonsFisherman

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Oct 31, 2012
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Somewhere nice
I briefly looked at these for some fantasy projects, the one thing that I didn't like about the Milwaukee mag drills is they're electromagnetic. i.e. if it catches/overloads or trips a fuse, it will fall off/eject from whatever surface you have it on. :shocking:

They're not all electromagnet. I have a corded one with a permanent magnet headed my way, and at least one of the M18 Fuel models has one also. All of them are intended to be strapped when using on a vertical surface or overhead, just in case.
 
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mike13u

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Mar 1, 2008
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S.Florida
I dont own this one but I own Hougen and Jancy versions. A mag drill quickly pays for itself for anyone that works with metal. If this model is decent... $500 is a good value
 

Spudland_Dave

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Mar 12, 2010
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Location
Maine
I briefly looked at these for some fantasy projects, the one thing that I didn't like about the Milwaukee mag drills is they're electromagnetic. i.e. if it catches/overloads or trips a fuse, it will fall off/eject from whatever surface you have it on. :shocking:

Other brands (Metabo but maybe others as well) use a permanent rare earth magnet, which seems like a much better way to solve the problem.

ouch.. that would ****. these things aren't exactly light either.

It does ****...its why they include the strap. My dad could tell you of MANY stories of them falling down and busting into 4 pieces...BUT he'd also tell you that of all of them a person could buy, the Milwaukee is the only way to fly.

IMHO The Rare Earth ones are OK but don't equal the holding power of a good electromagnet..

Great deal...I got one of these on the way :bounce:
 

B_Bimmer

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May 7, 2015
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Eastern Iowa
I know I am going to wish I did this about a week after the sale ends when it's the perfect tool for some unforeseen project, but I already have so many drills, and it's still a lot of money, and it requires/thrives off of many expensive accessories. I am torn.
 

icecactus

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May 17, 2011
Messages
302
I am interested in getting a mag drill but I don't know much about them. How does this compare to a Hougen or Jancy?
 

Tinner

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That's the bottom end Milwaukee mag drill. Single speed, wimpy motor, lightly built. We have an older one similar to that at work, and 2 big ones. The little one collects dust, unless the other ones are being used.

If you need light weight for out of position work and most of your holes are 5/16 or smaller, it may be useful. If you occasionally use bigger drills you can get by if you flood them with oil. It doesn't take much use with bigger drills to burn the little motor up.
 
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Cue

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Got a chance to try mine out today, works great with some cheap annular cutters I got off Ebay. I had to put some holes in a rail on my trailer and it held fine on the 1/8" thick steel to drill them, then I had to make a spacer out of 1/2" steel for another project and it drilled a 3/4" hole thru it like butter and smooth as can be. Im going to find lots more uses for it now that I have one I am sure.

These are the cutters I bought on Ebay, dont know how I lived all these years without annular cutters :lol_hitti

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171796660436?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
 

Spudland_Dave

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That's the bottom end Milwaukee mag drill. Single speed, wimpy motor, lightly built. We have an older one similar to that at work, and 2 big ones. The little one collects dust, unless the other ones are being used.

If you need light weight for out of position work and most of your holes are 5/16 or smaller, it may be useful. If you occasionally use bigger drills you can get by if you flood them with oil. It doesn't take much use with bigger drills to burn the little motor up.


Uhh, this drill was not designed for "Drill Bits" its for annular cutters..which is a totally different ballgame then using drill bits.

Single Speed - yes, but I wouldn't go around saying its the bottom of the line Milwaukee...its the Compact version.
Having owned/used the 4206 "Big One" as you said, I'd MUCH rather have the Compact one...

This 4270 Mag Drill cuts nice clean 1.5" Holes all day long. I do have the chuck option on mine, and can drill 1/2" steel with ease...so I don't know where you get your "5/16 or smaller"
 

ishiboo

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Oct 27, 2010
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Oshkosh, WI
Got a chance to try mine out today, works great with some cheap annular cutters I got off Ebay. I had to put some holes in a rail on my trailer and it held fine on the 1/8" thick steel to drill them, then I had to make a spacer out of 1/2" steel for another project and it drilled a 3/4" hole thru it like butter and smooth as can be. Im going to find lots more uses for it now that I have one I am sure.

These are the cutters I bought on Ebay, dont know how I lived all these years without annular cutters :lol_hitti

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171796660436?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Thanks for the feedback. I drill a decent amount of 1/4"-5/8" thick and this would come in very handy, but the ratings for all mag drills is for serious plate. Knowing it should work ok on 3/16-1/4" is great!
 

Tinner

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Uhh, this drill was not designed for "Drill Bits" its for annular cutters..which is a totally different ballgame then using drill bits.

Single Speed - yes, but I wouldn't go around saying its the bottom of the line Milwaukee...its the Compact version.
Having owned/used the 4206 "Big One" as you said, I'd MUCH rather have the Compact one...

This 4270 Mag Drill cuts nice clean 1.5" Holes all day long. I do have the chuck option on mine, and can drill 1/2" steel with ease...so I don't know where you get your "5/16 or smaller"

It's the cheapest mag drill they make, that's why it's the bottom of the line. It will sure work better with annular cutters than drills, but saying that's what it's designed for is a bit ridiculous. Do you think most of the guys here are going to spring $30-$50 a pop for annular cutters when they cry about dropping $80-$100 on a good 29pc drill set?

I made it quite clear that 5/16 was hole size, not plate thickness. Not that plate thickness has anything to do with the equation. Is two holes in 1/2" plate different than one hole in 1"?

I'm not saying its a piece of junk, it's just a cheap light duty drill, I want the guys here to have reasonable expectations. Hell, I've punched 1" holes in 1" plate with a Milwaukee Magnum, run 4" hole saws in them, too. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

I've done metal fabrication professionally for 40 years. I probably drill more holes in a year or two than a lot of the guys here do in a lifetime. At home I work within the limitations of my equipment. You don't seem to see the difference.

So guys, annular cutters will dramatically increase the capacity of any drill press. At a healthy price. Running big drills with a small single speed device will smoke the motor, sooner than later, not to mention dull drills at a rapid pace. Buy a ticket, take the ride.
 

Spudland_Dave

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It will sure work better with annular cutters than drills, but saying that's what it's designed for is a bit ridiculous.

So tell me...where do you buy your 5/16 bits with 3/4" Weldon shanks?

Cause after all, the Milwaukee Compact Mag Drills are equipped with only the 3/4" Weldon shank "Chuck"... So to me, in my book, that means this drill is designed & meant to be used with Annular cutters. (Documentation also states so)...I thought you had one of these? Someone who actually had one would know this simple bit of info.

If you want to use small bits from time to time, you'll need to whip out your wallet and buy the 48-66-2125 Jacobs Chuck kit...
 

Tinner

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Aug 31, 2013
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N.E. Wisconsin
So tell me...where do you buy your 5/16 bits with 3/4" Weldon shanks?

Cause after all, the Milwaukee Compact Mag Drills are equipped with only the 3/4" Weldon shank "Chuck"... So to me, in my book, that means this drill is designed & meant to be used with Annular cutters. (Documentation also states so)...I thought you had one of these? Someone who actually had one would know this simple bit of info.

If you want to use small bits from time to time, you'll need to whip out your wallet and buy the 48-66-2125 Jacobs Chuck kit...

Dave, you seem to have a real problem with reading comprehension. I never said I have one. I said we have an older, one similar to that at work. Single speed, small motor, it has a Jacobs chuck. If it came with a Weldon chuck, I've never seen it.

I've said all I have to say about this drill and wasted all the time I'm going to arguing with you.
 

Cynical

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Jul 11, 2014
Messages
82
The only thing I want to add to this discussion is that if you intend to use twist drill bits for smaller holes (which I'm sure this drill is fine for doing), you will want to get the screw machine length twist bits. If you use jobber length bits the extended length of the Jacobs chuck adaptor means you'll almost certainly have to "shim" the drill base up higher than your work piece. Some people build/fabricate stands for just this reason.

Just wanted to give a heads up. And a full disclaimer, I do not own this drill but I own the Fein mini slugger in the same approximate class.
 
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