Drilling out bolts -need a better drill?

[bagsanthony]

As much as I like the cordless 18v drills, when faced with drilling out bolts or other fasteners in mechanic work, there's more to be desired.... What do you guys use, corded or air drills as mechanics? Recommend me a drill: pimpflash

 

[JJThrasher]

Air drill. Odds are I already have an air line out so its easier for me than electric. Kobalt makes a decent cheap one.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[AlexNGreen]

Not to side step your question but what do you have for a 18v drill? I've used my makita and nordsman drill bits to drill out even hardened fasteners. Is it a space issue, power, or ... ?

 

[bagsanthony]

Well I know cordless can do it, my makita will drill through it.... but I dont want to deal with batteries all the time, I just want something more powerful and access to electric/air is not a problem

 

[signcrafter]

I like using an air drill with low RPMs. Seems to cut better in most situations.

 

[mayday0017]

Agree, for drilling through fasteners slow and steady is the way to go. Going fast will do nothing but screw up the bit making it take even longer....

 

[bagsanthony]

Yeah no I get the slow speed and low rpm.... but what I want to know is what are you guys using specifically , i.e snap on, mac, milwaukee magnum, 3/8 vs 1/2, etc.... fill me in

 

[signcrafter]

I have a handful of air drills I bought used. I was on a used air tool kick for a while and was buying them off craigslist and ebay for pennies on the dollar of new ones. I have some tool truck brands and some others. I would bet almost any brand will do for the occasional bolt. If you were doing production work where it got used 8 hours a day 5 days a week I would look for the best but just for bolts almost any decent one should work fine. Also make sure that your airline going to it can supply enough CFM and air flow to give it the power it needs.

 

[purplezr2]

I have a snap on/ Souix air drill and really like it.

 

[redwrench60]

I use an older Snap On 1/2" chuck heavy duty air drill. For those long and difficult drilling jobs its perfect. Comfortable, powerfull, slow speed and zero chuck runout for clean holes. It's a torque beast, if the bit binds it'll judo slam you. I've had it for at least ten years, been used hard.

 

[djjsr]

Maybe you need better drill bits.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

As much as I like the cordless 18v drills, when faced with drilling out bolts or other fasteners in mechanic work, there's more to be desired.... What do you guys use, corded or air drills as mechanics? Recommend me a drill: pimpflash

#1 corded electric variable speed,,,,,,

quiet and good low speed control, but a poor choice for damp or
remote locations

#2 low speed air,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

most compact, but don't care for the noise and air blast.

#3 cordless,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

don't enjoy the battery ceremony, but can be used most anyplace.



Have all three
which one will it be
I use all three
to a different degree
which one you do ask
it depends on the task

left hand bits
work well with all three
but a drill lacking reverse
will be the pits

Keyed chuck or keyless
will be the next thought
I have them both
and like them allot

 

[ilovevocs]

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/0234-6

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Favorite is my time proven Makita: 1/2" 0-550 variable speed, reverse...., 6.5 amp, keyed chuck...

 

[Trucky]

El-Cheapo Dewalt 10A corded/keyed from Lowes, right about 100 if I remember. But boy.. that thing will rip your arms right off. But as a plus, it'll remove or install anything you want. Just use the handle and brace yourself properly.

 

[JJThrasher]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_77616-47120...ill&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=air+drill&facetInfo=

 

[woody 73]

Keep your drill bits sharp...I use an old cp air drill and as long as the bits are sharp you should have no problems.

 

[ckblum]

Pan American palm drill w/ keyless chuck, half the price of a Snap-On/Soiux. Use it everyday at work, drilling aluminum, SS, Ti, steel, no issues as long as you have a decent bit.

 

[Monte]

electric drill with speed dial so i can set the speed to the rpm which works the best (#9 in the pic)

 

[czgunner]

I bought one of the IR air drills.
Max rpm is about 500.
I love it.

 

[devoncoolman]

Mac 1/2 air drill slow and steady. The mac i have is just a rebranded IR. go with air its much easyer to use. Plenty of power and less bulky than a corded electric. U can pick up a descent 1/2 Ir for less than $100

 

[honcho]

One Tip: Left Hand Drill Bits. I never had any success with drilling until I started using left handed bits.

 

[crewchief888]

my "working" drills are SO3/8" & 1/2" air drills, also have a compact 1/4" dr astro with a whip hose. i also keep a ridgid 18v li-ion at the shop

in the garage, ai have B&D 3/8" & 1/2 corded, the 1/2" is a selectable hammer drill. and a ridgid 12v compact 3/8" cordless.

 

[neophyte]

electric drill with speed dial so i can set the speed to the rpm which works the best (#9 in the pic)

This is a great feature in a drill. Unfortunately very few drills sold in the USA are available with it. Bosch used to sell a drill in the USA that had this feature, it was made in Switzerland, I'm not sure if they still do. Metabo sells a number of models in the USA with the feature. Some other manufacturers may also but it's not that common.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I use a corded drill or air drill if Im going to do a bit of drilling in steel. I find my cordless just wont always get it done so why not just grab the one that keeps going. My air drill is an old IR 7803R and my corded one is an old makita 6013 BR D handle single speed drill. My cordless is the snap on cdr4850.

 

[sberry]

If it reaches/fits you already have the perfect tool. Why go out of the way to add expense and connect a cord or a hose?

 

[Monte]

This is a great feature in a drill. Unfortunately very few drills sold in the USA are available with it. Bosch used to sell a drill in the USA that had this feature, it was made in Switzerland, I'm not sure if they still do. Metabo sells a number of models in the USA with the feature. Some other manufacturers may also but it's not that common.

yeah that´s right, Bosch still sells it: http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=HD21-2
In Europe it´s a common feature and even companies like Milwaukee sells them over here.

 

[wafrederick]

There are bolts that can't be drilled out,hardened and stainless steel bolts.If part if the broken bolt sticks out,weld a nut on it and don't have to drill it out.

 

[GRX]

Air drill. Nice cool breeze instead of hot electronics Keep your bits sharp, and use slower speeds with larger diameter bits.

I have spent many years fixing other guys' screw ups. All bolts can be drilled out, with the right tooling. Grade-8 bolts can be drilled cobalt bits. Have a broken tap or drill bit? Use a TC (tungsten carbide) burr in your die grinder. You can even get TC rotary files with drill tips built in.