Mag Drill Comments

[lennyzx11]

After wanting a magnetic drill for years and years, I just ordered an Evolution Mag42 Magnetic drill and a set of annular cutters.

For the price, I sure hope to not have buyers remorse!

Any comments, tips, etc are appreciated.

I have some projects in mind that I think it will help me a lot.

Lenny

 

[oldnslo]

If being used vertical I would suggest a chain or strap tied to something to keep it from falling if you lose power or magnet is accidentally shut off. Maybe even two people or a lift to help hold the weight and position on vertical application since those drills get heavy and in my experience are awkward weight to handle.

Also look at thickness of material the magnet is sitting on. I have put additional plate on back to increase magnetic clamp capacity. I.e. sitting on 3/8" plate added addition 1/2" plate made a world of difference in magnetic holding power.

 

[mrmikey]

Make sure it's solid, any shaking at all and the cutters will shatter.
As OS said above, a backup catcher in case the magnet lets go either thru loss of power or pushing too hard and thickness helps.
Keep the coolant to it, not lots, just steady, I've had good luck with anything sulpherized, the cutting oil for the Rigid pipe cutters works well although messy.
If you're cutting thru something double, a double frame for instance, make sure you get the cutters sharpened the correct way so the inner lip cuts first. Regular grind will cut but the slug breaks free from the main body first and starts spinning with the cutter overheating if you don't realize it's thru. It leaves a thin lip attached to the slug, looks like a top hat and the teeth with catch the thin lip and it'll spin. If you can tell when the slug breaks free you can use a regular grind but you have to be aware.
Be sure to keep feed pressure on it, if you let it bear without cutting, it'll dull the cutter in no time .....Mike

 

[lennyzx11]

Make sure it's solid, any shaking at all and the cutters will shatter.
As OS said above, a backup catcher in case the magnet lets go either thru loss of power or pushing too hard and thickness helps.
Keep the coolant to it, not lots, just steady, I've had good luck with anything sulpherized, the cutting oil for the Rigid pipe cutters works well although messy.
If you're cutting thru something double, a double frame for instance, make sure you get the cutters sharpened the correct way so the inner lip cuts first. Regular grind will cut but the slug breaks free from the main body first and starts spinning with the cutter overheating if you don't realize it's thru. It leaves a thin lip attached to the slug, looks like a top hat and the teeth with catch the thin lip and it'll spin. If you can tell when the slug breaks free you can use a regular grind but you have to be aware.
Be sure to keep feed pressure on it, if you let it bear without cutting, it'll dull the cutter in no time .....Mike

I haven’t ordered or went out for cutting fluid yet. I have a partial bottle of TapMagic cutting fluid left by my drill press.
Recommend something different?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

For me, TapMagic has been best! I REALLY like that as a fluid for drilling.

SR

 

[mrmikey]

I've used TapMagic but I can't remember what it was like LOL. I'm thinking it was the dark, thick oil similar to the Rigid oil, had a bad odour to it, not that it matters much................Mike

 

[Root Cause]

TapMagic will work great but that is extremely expensive and intended to tap threads.
Soluble oil is brown and smells bad and used for years in machine shops.

There are options out there and whatever you pick, I would put a bucket to reclaim it whenever I could and keep a magnet close by to get the chips.
Good luck.

 

[JimRB]

I use Slugger cutting fluid. I have some Evolution steel cutting bits, not the carbide. I have a borrowed Mag42. I do not have the dispenser bottle from Evolution, I just squirt from a 20 ounce pop bottle. I am sure the bottle that came with the drill would be a better setup. The Slugger cutting fluid is not messy and it does seem to keep my plain cutter from having issues so far cutting over a hundred holes in 1/8 and 3/16" steel.

 

[bcp]

I passed up a good buy on one. Thinking back over the years when I've had to drill steel away from the drill press, there have been few or no situations in which there was anything suitable to stick a mag drill to.

Bruce

 

[lennyzx11]

I passed up a good buy on one. Thinking back over the years when I've had to drill steel away from the drill press, there have been few or no situations in which there was anything suitable to stick a mag drill to.

Bruce

I agonized over buying it. I also caught this one new on a sale.
I have a floor mount Jet drill press that’s done everything for me for 25 years. But I wanted to use annular cutters and looking at the costs of getting a Weldon adaptor or rotabroach bits for it plus using it also for wood working occasionally and messing it up with lube, I was looking at a lot of the purchase price of getting another press.
I have some mods to do to existing implements and wood splitter that I can’t get into the press easily also.
I used one in the past to repair my truck frame and add a dump bed setup and was impressed with its capabilities.