Looking for a Mag drill

[Mith]

I'm looking to get a mag drill for holes up to about 35mm and don't want to go too wild price wise.

You can get a Jancy minibeast for about £400 all in. We had its bigger brother which was a good drill, just too big for what I need now (and too pricey).
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of the cheaper drills if they are any good. For example a Rotabroach panther for £50 less which appears also to be variable speed.
There are cheaper ones even that that, with a similar spec on ebay there is a Kobe one for £300 and an Evolution one for £260 but I have no idea if they are made of chocolate or are ok.

Any thoughts?

 

[Welderpaul]

Rotabroach Panther are good, we have 5 or 6. Variable speed is good as it saves the bigger cutters. The newer Panther is only 2 speed which isnt quite as good.
Minibor are good too.

Evolution are rubbish IMO.

 

[Jim Davey]

JEI Minibeast is popular.

 

[Welderpaul]

..and whatever you do, don't buy a Revo.....

 

[Mith]

Thanks guys.

Found a Rotabroach panther for £277+vat which seems like a fair deal.
https://www.magdrill.com/rotabroach...e-40mm-diameter-x-50mm-depth-only-277-00.html
Is this the one you have used Paul?

 

[Welderpaul]

Yes, thats the one.

 

[gav0994]

JEI Minibeast is popular.

Good bit of kit and can cope with bigger bits if you go easy with it. I've managed 63mm

 

[Tigman]

Have a look at Orbital Fasteners Watford Website they have JEI Minibeast £299 + Vat

Rotabroach for £299 + Vat

 

[Mith]

Hmm, orbital fasteners Roatabroach Commando with a set of (fairly random sized) cutters for £299+vat

Going off the minibeast a bit as it has a single speed, I like the sound of the variable speed on the rotabroach

Thanks for the replies so far

 

[Hitch]

I'll vouch for the Panther. good drill. Not too heavy, and a good magnet.

 

[Bill Edwards]

The Rotobroach Panther looks like a good thing to me - through cutter lubrication, 110 or 240v, variable speed, complete with chuck for small bits. Is there anything not to like, it seems to have good specs for the price?

 

[Mith]

Im thinking that too Bill. Not found anything bad on it. Probably order monday

 

[Bill Edwards]

Yes well I wish I had never seen that link, add in a £100 for a full set of cutters up to 30mm and you're pretty well covered for everything - I'm trying to think of ways to avoid buying it and parting with more hard earned which I shouldn't be doing.

 

[Tigman]

its Christmas !

 

[daleyd]

its Christmas !

Eh up Noddys in!

 

[Bill Edwards]

Wonder if the price will alter in the new year...
Christmas doesn't mean I'm not poor you know!

 

[Tigman]

Ive been looking at them all on display at Orbitals and drooling, my Rotabroach is knackered , still usable but very tired , I may treat myself next year

 

[Mith]

Yes well I wish I had never seen that link, add in a £100 for a full set of cutters up to 30mm and you're pretty well covered for everything - I'm trying to think of ways to avoid buying it and parting with more hard earned which I shouldn't be doing.

Well, ordered the Panther before Christmas and came the next day. Decent tool, and as you saw with all those cutters pretty much sorted for anything. Pleased with it for sure.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Have you used it yet? I'm interested in whether it has plenty of power, particularly with a large cutter on low speed.
It does look (and sound) like a good tool at a good price. I'm worried that I may have to get one as my Christmas present...

 

[Mith]

Well I've only done a couple of 35mm holes through 15mm plate so far. Slowest speed. Worked every bit as well as the much larger Magbeast I have used before. Really no gripes with it.
The plastic casing over the motor did seem a bit 'plasticy' and I looked and thought that will break immediately. Ironically I actually dropped it off the bench a moment later, and was surprised that it survived with not a scratch or crack, so I suppose it is strong enough!