Mag Drill - Hole Cutters vs. Annular Cutters?

[bulletpruf]

Fellas -

I picked up a used Hougen 10904 mag drill recently. Need to drill a few dozen holes in the 5/8" top of my fab table and this was a good enough excuse to buy one. I'm sure I'll find other uses for it, of course.

Here's what I'm trying to figure out -- it came with several annular cutters - 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", and 13/16". Looks like 1" depth of cut is possible with these but you can get them with 2" DOC as well, but they're not cheap -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LY4E7M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also see the rotacut type bits that will do up to 1/2" DOC - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KKO6VKS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Again, these are fairly spendy but seems like they would be great for cutting holes in thinner metal (I do realize you can potentially cut from both sides to double depth).

Before I drop some $ on the rotacut type bits in addition to the annular cutter bits I already have, I figured I would check here to see if I was on the right track.

I did find the recent thread by a member here that reviewed the rotacut type bits, but didn't see any comparison to annular cutter bits.

Thanks

Scott

 

[dr_clyde]

I’m pretty sure rotacut bits are designed for sheet metal with a cordless drill. They don’t have the same chip evacuation as an annular cutter.

I only run annular cutters in my Hougen mag drill, fwiw.

 

[lis2323]

^^^what dr_clyde said.

I have Hougens also. I only run annular cutters or twist drills with the adapter and Jacobs chuck in the mag drill.



I use Rotacuts in the drill press.

 

[dutchgray]

Annular cutters are what you want, you will be spending a lot of money on cutters its just the way it is.

 

[lis2323]

And just when you think you have a half decent collection you realize you need tap drill sizes....[emoji23]

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Why not mix both?

I have a full set of the smaller rotabroaches to cover all the sizes up to 1 1/2", and just buy singles for the one piece annular cutters I use in the mag drill. I rarely am surprised by a mag drill job, so I just order a single of what I want. I think I have about 6 now, and it wasn't as financially painful to do it that way.

 

[Slackerzinc]

I have found you can’t have enough annular cutters!!! LoL
There’s 66 right now, from 1/2” x 2” right up to 1” 1/4” and 1 big 1”15/16x2”


View media item 99559

 

[Flail]

I bought “Steel Dragon” annular cutter set off amazon. Drilled 120 1” holes through 1” plate and the cutter is still going strong.

 

[Jason280]

I have Milwaukee and Hougen mag drills, and primarily use annular cutters...but do occasionally use hole saws. I have a set of the sheet metal cutters, but have yet to actually use them.