milwaukee mag drill ? value
- Thread starter sweetk30
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Fluxion
Well-known member
That drill motor is about $800 new and the base is another $750, His asking price doesn't seem out of line to me.
Steve from Socal
Well-known member
That is a nice drill at a good price. There are two things about these drills that are issues, the variable speed panels are fragile and, they weigh 80 pounds.
Steve
Steve
matt_i
Well-known member
That's the "big" motor with a MT3 spindle. There's a smaller motor that can go on the same base, but it does not have the torque. The big motor will power right thru 3/4-10 taps in A36 steel. Its a load but could do thousands of them as far as my opinion goes.
It also has the "fine adjust base". If you are trying to drill a hole into a sidewall, getting an 80lb tool precisely aligned and then applying the magnet is an exercise in sweat. With that system, one gets "close" which is probably within 3/8" of center. Apply the magnet. Now loosen the crank in the back and the two parts of the base "float" relative to each other slightly. Little taps and checks to get it exactly where you want it. (Theoretically one could put a dial test indicator and sweep out a bore) Then tighten the crank and start drilling.
I have been involved with them to make "machine tool accuracy" mods to big stationary pieces of equipment. Essentially a guide plate is made in an actual shop with hardened drill bushings and bolted to the piece of equipment, usually keying on existing features. Then the magnet drill gets setup, sweep the drill bushings if one really cares but usually the tool will let you know. Once the center location is established, pilot holes, taps, and reams for dowels can all be accomplished in the field. There is a gib to take up play in the dovetailed slide.
Imo sounds good on price. I would worry like hell about shipping though. That thing needs a plywood crate surrounded by a thin layer of cardboard. Heavy boxes get abused (meaning tossed) in ground ship.
Also make sure to remove the handles (they screw into the center hub).
I used it recently to make some mods to a press brake frame for a crossbar that made rigging/moving the machine a snap with a relatively low ceiling.
Previous uses were tapping holes in this ~400 lb bench from a radial drill...the frame is solid 1"x3" steel bars.
Drill & tap holes into a 1" thick A36 weld bench...
A few holes in a structural I-beam for the shop expansion....
If you have "big and heavy" stuff it will eventually come in very handy!
It also has the "fine adjust base". If you are trying to drill a hole into a sidewall, getting an 80lb tool precisely aligned and then applying the magnet is an exercise in sweat. With that system, one gets "close" which is probably within 3/8" of center. Apply the magnet. Now loosen the crank in the back and the two parts of the base "float" relative to each other slightly. Little taps and checks to get it exactly where you want it. (Theoretically one could put a dial test indicator and sweep out a bore) Then tighten the crank and start drilling.
I have been involved with them to make "machine tool accuracy" mods to big stationary pieces of equipment. Essentially a guide plate is made in an actual shop with hardened drill bushings and bolted to the piece of equipment, usually keying on existing features. Then the magnet drill gets setup, sweep the drill bushings if one really cares but usually the tool will let you know. Once the center location is established, pilot holes, taps, and reams for dowels can all be accomplished in the field. There is a gib to take up play in the dovetailed slide.
Imo sounds good on price. I would worry like hell about shipping though. That thing needs a plywood crate surrounded by a thin layer of cardboard. Heavy boxes get abused (meaning tossed) in ground ship.
Also make sure to remove the handles (they screw into the center hub).
I used it recently to make some mods to a press brake frame for a crossbar that made rigging/moving the machine a snap with a relatively low ceiling.
Previous uses were tapping holes in this ~400 lb bench from a radial drill...the frame is solid 1"x3" steel bars.
Drill & tap holes into a 1" thick A36 weld bench...
A few holes in a structural I-beam for the shop expansion....
If you have "big and heavy" stuff it will eventually come in very handy!
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We have two of those at the shop that are almost identical, very high quality and very powerful magnet. They are made here in the states and come new with a five year warranty. We paid $1600 a piece but I can't remember if that included the chuck. A lot of mag drills don't come with a chuck, rather they are set up for core drilling. $850 shipped is a good deal in my opinion, you won't be disappointed with the power that's for sure.
Steve from Socal
Well-known member
The control on that base is the updated one, I have an older drill and the board on the older mag bases failed for no visible reason.
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The Milwaukee drills we bought were 30 pounds heavier than that Hougens that were a couple hundred less. Hougen does have a very good name in the tool set though.
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
I like the Milwaukee over the Hougen. I've used both . Ease of setting for precision. holes. Either one needs enough meat under it to hold. We've welded on heavy plate.
Busted_Knuckles
Well-known member
Ive got a part time gig fixing these " new " out of the box ( DOA ) for a local tool retailer ( guessing that is a model 4203 ? ).
Im a life long Milwaukee fan ( corded USA tools of past ), Im not a fan of the new Mag drills ( 4202/4203 ),
Very nice drills until they stop chooching.
The adjustable base, the wires get chaffed, due to piss poor design, the wires go into the magnet in a place where the middle piece slowly shears through the insulation of the magnet charging wires, the perceived fix for this when you see the problem, is just so simple its nearly unbelievable, but they just keep on making the same old way.
The factory did add a " sleeve " to alleviate the problem, but Im seeing them being returned, not warrantied, as they can fail that fast ( as it would appear someone kills it in just days of use, not months or years ).
The magnets are also poorly made, and a common replacement repair, as is the PCB..
Hope this helps, proceed educated !
Im a life long Milwaukee fan ( corded USA tools of past ), Im not a fan of the new Mag drills ( 4202/4203 ),
Very nice drills until they stop chooching.
The adjustable base, the wires get chaffed, due to piss poor design, the wires go into the magnet in a place where the middle piece slowly shears through the insulation of the magnet charging wires, the perceived fix for this when you see the problem, is just so simple its nearly unbelievable, but they just keep on making the same old way.
The factory did add a " sleeve " to alleviate the problem, but Im seeing them being returned, not warrantied, as they can fail that fast ( as it would appear someone kills it in just days of use, not months or years ).
The magnets are also poorly made, and a common replacement repair, as is the PCB..
Hope this helps, proceed educated !
DustynBeardface
Member
I'm an avid auction watcher and I just saw some well used Hougens go for 150-200 and a clean looking HMD918 go for 325.00. I recently saw a clean Milwaukee sell for 300.00.
All that being said, those drills were not nearly as good looking as this one. I bid on all those drills because I'm sure I could find a way to use it, but I don't have anything pressing so I let them go.
Depending on how much of a want vs. need you might wait on a better deal because they exist.
All that being said, those drills were not nearly as good looking as this one. I bid on all those drills because I'm sure I could find a way to use it, but I don't have anything pressing so I let them go.
Depending on how much of a want vs. need you might wait on a better deal because they exist.
Wow
Thats the kind of advice I usually pay for. Thanks for the thorough insight.
Milky mag drills have always struck me as the Dodge 3500, big, heavy, get the job done, but QC might be a issue...
I like my Hougen 904S, listing for $950ish new.
I have that exact Milwaukee, and I agree its a heavy *******. I haven't had any issues with mine, paid $400 for it a few years ago. I also have a Hougen that is considerably lighter, its set up with an arbor for annular cutters. I use the Milwaukee primarily for twist bits, hole saws, and tapping.