Looking for mag drill recommendations

[slodat]

Like the subject says.. I’m looking at mag drills. Originally I thought I wanted a Haugen. Then I realized only a couple models have reverse. I want to do drilling and some tapping with it. I’m leaning toward the Fein JMU 137-2QW https://www.zoro.com/fein-magnetic-drill-press-110vac-120a-9-l-jmu-137-2qw/i/G0993190/ It is two speed, has reverse and includes a 3 jaw chuck and coolant setup. It’s toward the upper end of what I’m able to spend at $1329.

Interested in feedback and recommendations. Thank you!

 

[rmack898]

I just bought a Fein short slugger. I know this model doesn't meet your needs because it does not have revers but the quality of the tool is very good and I'm quite happy with it.

 

[strength_and_power]

Does the model you are looking for accept the square shank annular cutters or is it strictly a 3 jaw chuck? I have a hougen and it came with a 3 jaw chuck. From using it, i am really impressed with the performance of the annular cutters. When I’ve had the 3 jaw swapped in, it works but definitely not as well as the annular cutters.


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[slodat]

It uses the 3/4 weldon annular cutters. I mentioned the chuck because I know I’d like to have one and it’s an additional cost option on most mag drills I’ve looked at.

 

[lis2323]

I have a Hougen two speed with the Jacob chuck attachment and coolant tank. No reverse though.




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[f150skidoo]

I have a Hougen two speed with the Jacob chuck attachment and coolant tank. No reverse though.




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I also have a Hougen HMD 904 and I absolutely love the drill.

 

[lis2323]

I also have a Hougen HMD 904 and I absolutely love the drill.

I sold the 904 and kept the 905.

I should have done it in reverse. The 905 is too heavy to lug around for piddly hobby work. I thought I would benefit from the two speed gearbox but I obviously didn’t think the situation through for my particular needs. [emoji15]


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[slodat]

What do you guys do for tapping?

 

[lis2323]

Saving up for a Tapmatic to use on the mill and drill press. Hard to find them used.


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[MJD1]

The drill chucks that go in the weldon adapter are pretty much useless. Between the play in the hex and extra length there is a lot of deflection and tons of runout.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have two mag drills, and they each serve a different purpose.

My Hougen 904 is an outstanding machine for drilling holes. That's about all it does, but it does it damn good.

I have an old as balls Milwaukee heavy duty heavy weight SOB. It was my grandpas. High and low range, forward and reverse, and the best part, a Morse Taper #3 spindle like a regular drill press. That means I can put pretty much anything that will fit under the spindle nose in that thing. I normally run a 1/2" Jacobs Superchuck in it, but I have put in taper shank drills, reamers, and a few other random odds and ends. It taps great with a decent size Jacob's chuck on it. I've tapped 3/4"-10 without much fuss in steel. Despite all it's horsepower, I don't use annular cutters with this tool. The Hougen is better at that.

If I could only keep one, it would be the Milwaukee. It truly is a magnetic base drill press and not just a hole maker.

 

[04chase]

I also have a 904s and it has its place in the shop.

I also have the cordless fuel milwaukee that I use pretty much all the time outside the shop. I prefer it. It does everything 2 speed and has a quick release chuck for the annual cutters square shank. Also has a separate 3 jaw chuck with a shank that fits the annular cutter chuck. So install is very quick and runs pretty tight for what it is. It also has a coolant setup with a magnetic attachment so you can run it on the drill at any angle or on the work piece.

No swivel base like the hougen is the only downside

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[Steve from Socal]

I have a big Milwaukee with reverse and two speed motor, it also has a variable speed control for the motor. As dr clyde mentioned it is HEAVY about 80 pounds with a chuck

For heavy work it is great, I use my crane to position it when able. For jobs where portability is important this is not the ideal tool. The small lighter mag drills are better suited for a lot of jobs. One thing on many of the smaller drills, the depth of cut is limited to 1 or 2".

The chuck on the big drill spindle in that picture is a Jacobs 20N.

Steve

 

[slodat]

I’ve had plenty of success tapping with a cordless drill. Maybe reverse isn’t as necessary as I’m thinking..

How does the Hougen 904 do with the drill chuck and twist drills?

 

[Caterpillar Cowboy]

I love my Hougen with the annular cutter setup for doing truck work.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I picked up this Milwaukee on eBay, it was gov't surplus, and unsurprisingly, not used very hard. I like the fairly compact nature of it, 2 speeds and nice handle. I paid $450. It was between that model of Milwaukee and the 904. This is what came up on a good deal. I've since jettisoned the enormous case.

I wouldn't hesitate to tap with it on low with the correct power tap, even if I had to back the tap out by hand on account of no reverse. The correct power tap all but eliminated the need to do anything but run it home.

 

[slodat]

It’s hard to find info or reviews on the Fein I linked to above. I found this video that shows more than their stock photo.

I think it does what I need.

 

[f150skidoo]

I’ve had plenty of success tapping with a cordless drill. Maybe reverse isn’t as necessary as I’m thinking..

How does the Hougen 904 do with the drill chuck and twist drills?

The 904 works great with a drill chuck but its not a quick change like some of the other makes. To remove the 3/4" weldon shank chuck you have to remove the two bolts connecting to the mag base and back off a set screw on the motor. The drill chuck with its adapter connects directly to the motor. The few times I had to tap a hole with the mag drill I just put a tap guide in the chuck and used a T handle wrench to hand tap the whole.

 

[Monza Harry]

I have used numerous Milwaukee in both 2 speed and single speed versions at work, these are the industrial "gold standard" they will tap 3/4-10 x 2" dp NP! probably bottom tap 1" if you have a way to hold the tap. Yes very heavy but really these are "Heavy Duty" tools and they will require a 14Ga. cord for best performance/longevity, all of the failures I have seen with these have been motor related from what I wholeheartedly believe is from excessive use with long, small cords. I want a two speed one but they don't seem to come up for sale often around here and aren't for sale for long when they do! These do command a premium used as they aren't even near cheap new. I know this is pushing your budget numbers a little, but watch for bankruptcy auctions, CL, FBMP, etc. and be patient these drills do perform as mentioned above by the Doc and Steve. I recommend the 2 speed if available, but either way you should feel like a winner if you get one! Harry
https://www.mcmaster.com/milwaukee-magnetic-base-drills (That is $3000+ in Canada) I don't see the 2 speed one listed here and I have never seen the 20* tilt feature either.

 

[lis2323]

The good news is that the "brand name" units will always hold their value. [emoji106]


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[matt_i]

What do you guys do for tapping?

Haven't done it yet but close.

Put a tap into the Master Grind and surface grind 3 flats into the shank at 120 degrees apart.

https://www.subtool.com/st/mg5cvs1_master-grind_spin_index_fixture.html

 

[slodat]

Matt- I mean tapping with a mag drill or tapping in thick steel.

 

[Monza Harry]

Haven't done it yet but close.

Put a tap into the Master Grind and surface grind 3 flats into the shank at 120 degrees apart.

https://www.subtool.com/st/mg5cvs1_master-grind_spin_index_fixture.html

Matt- I mean tapping with a mag drill or tapping in thick steel.

What Matt said, the chuck will turn smaller ones but it will usually start slipping around ~1/2 up, 3/4 will definitely need help, or a proper drive system. I use my collet blocks but I have regularly done what Matt said before I had the blocks. Harry

 

[slodat]

I doubt I’ll tap bigger than 1/2-13.

I appreciate the info guys. I think I’m going with the Fein I linked in the first post.

 

[lis2323]

This isn’t in answer to the OPs question but while we are on the subject of mag drills this is what I like to use ..



A magnetic wand placed nearby to catch most of the swarf




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[slodat]

There's so little info to be found online like you posted, I'd love to see more!

 

[ttpete]

What Matt said, the chuck will turn smaller ones but it will usually start slipping around ~1/2 up, 3/4 will definitely need help, or a proper drive system. I use my collet blocks but I have regularly done what Matt said before I had the blocks. Harry

Some of the tappers use a Jacobs Rubberflex collet setup.

 

[slodat]

Despite there being very limited info, the Fein JMU 137-2QW is exactly what I was looking for. It came with a very nice 3/4 Weldon Rohm three jaw chuck. Two speed gear box and electronic variable speed in those two gear ranges. Reverse is a momentary pushbutton. Should work really well for tapping. It’s about 50 pounds lighter than the Milwaukees with similar features and it’s everything I’ll need in a mag drill. Excited to put it to use!

 

[lis2323]

Despite there being very limited info, the Fein JMU 137-2QW is exactly what I was looking for. It came with a very nice 3/4 Weldon Rohm three jaw chuck. Two speed gear box and electronic variable speed in those two gear ranges. Reverse is a momentary pushbutton. Should work really well for tapping. It’s about 50 pounds lighter than the Milwaukees with similar features and it’s everything I’ll need in a mag drill. Excited to put it to use!

Wow. Nice features.


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[lis2323]

Wow. Amazonca is $2300cdn.


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[slodat]

$1329 us.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

$1329 us.

Not bad money for the features you picked. IMO

 

[slodat]

Not bad money for the features you picked. IMO

There’s nothing else with similar features at or near the price point.

 

[Griff93]

I've looked a good bit at these:

https://www.ohiopowertool.com/m-331-cs-unitec-magnetic-drills.aspx

There's one video review of their largest one floating around but that's about all I really found other than their own videos.

I see the 'Slugger' logo on the fein. That used to be Jancy's logo. I'm guessing Fein bought or somehow accquired Jancy.

 

[slodat]

I've looked a good bit at these:

https://www.ohiopowertool.com/m-331-cs-unitec-magnetic-drills.aspx

There's one video review of their largest one floating around but that's about all I really found other than their own videos.

I see the 'Slugger' logo on the fein. That used to be Jancy's logo. I'm guessing Fein bought or somehow accquired Jancy.

I looked at those as well. Fein did purchase the Jancy stuff from what I’ve read.

 

[Griff93]

Weird. It double posted.