Robbie260
I fix things that others have broken
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Yes its a handy feature and the evolution came with one.
- Thread starter Benny
- Start date
James1979
Member
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- Orkney
What sort of money are they in Sweden? Sometimes you get stuff cheaper than us. Not often mind!
Benny, I did the same thing a couple of years ago and was pleasantly surprised at just how good a single speed mag drill can be as a substitute for a pillar drill. My choice was the evolution 42, which came at a good price and also has the benefit of a large range of height adjustment making is ideal for use on a stand.
When you make your drill stand you want the cantilever section as stiff as possible, yet not too thick as that limits how far you can drill below the base of the drill. I found 10mm plate was enough for the magnet to sit on an hold absolutely solid, however it still has some flex, so I made a U shaped cradle for the drill, with bars either side to stiffen it up.
With a few different heights of additional bar you can adjust the drill platform to give more clearance when needed. A straight allen key in a battery drill lets me change the platform height in less than a minute.
Rotabroach cutters are excellent, they make larger diameter holes so easy. If you can afford the extra for the longer 50mm length cutters, you will find them more versatile when used on a drill stand than the 25mm length.
When you make your drill stand you want the cantilever section as stiff as possible, yet not too thick as that limits how far you can drill below the base of the drill. I found 10mm plate was enough for the magnet to sit on an hold absolutely solid, however it still has some flex, so I made a U shaped cradle for the drill, with bars either side to stiffen it up.
With a few different heights of additional bar you can adjust the drill platform to give more clearance when needed. A straight allen key in a battery drill lets me change the platform height in less than a minute.
Rotabroach cutters are excellent, they make larger diameter holes so easy. If you can afford the extra for the longer 50mm length cutters, you will find them more versatile when used on a drill stand than the 25mm length.
James1979
Member
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- Orkney
That’s a good post
also worth buying as a nice to have is an extension to go in the arbour. Handy if you want to drill two sides of box from one place, for example
Adam Marshall
Member
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- Nottinghamshire England
Thanks for sharing that, great job.
Daveleonard
Member
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- 31
Just to chuck my opinion in we use the evolution to open 25mm holes on the side of chassis on our pushback tugs as part of a service bulletin it not the top of the range mag drill but after 35 units all over the uk no problems and a never let us down .
Robbie260
I fix things that others have broken
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- 2,474
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- Scotland highland
That's exactly what I need too get around too making for mine too make it more usable every day and the reason I got it as it be more general use too me than a pillar drill. I was hoping too make one with an xy table too allow for finer positioning and easier repossessioning of work pieces.
Agroshield
Member
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- 5,366
Thanks for showing that. It is a really nice design and good on materials: a large piece of 10mm plate for base and drill base and some rectangular bar.
A couple of features that you did not mention or maybe have not yet seen: slide the drill forwards or backwards or add a suitable packer mole-gripped to the front lower support to act as a fence for spacing holes from an edge. Similarly, a tapped hole and a bar fixed 90 degrees to the support can act as an end stop for spacing holes from an end.
Make the 10mm plate a little wider so the height-adjustment blocks can go above or below it, then you can use the same length cap heads every time and the blocks stay attached to it so they are not lost or forgotten. Cross-drill the height adjusters so they can be used on their side as well as on their edge so you get two heights for the price of one (would need shorter cap heads though).
Agroshiled, thanks, I can tell you put some thought into these things too. Lots of good suggestions.
I keep adding additional tapped holes into the baseplate in random places when I don't have another convenient point to clamp a piece down. That's the best thing about home made bits and pieces, you don't feel as precious about keeping them pristine as with something you have bought.
The baseplate is mounted on rectangular bar to help with keeping it flat. Leaving a lip around the outside gives lots of opportunities for clamping with simple old fashioned G clamps
Benny
Member
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- 131
Thank you very much for that post its really informative and really useful. Thanks everyone for the replies. I had originally thought on a jei minibeast but it dosnt seem to have the travel I would need to run standard twist bits so I've been looking at the evolution. It seems to be great value. I won't be using it every day so hopefully as an occasional use tool it should be more than ample. I've seen it at £249+
oilcooled :)
Pipe Welder, Mechanical engineer
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- 970
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- Ireland
I had one of them evolution 42s and there was a card in it and it went wrong and it was to expensive to repair, the more basic mag drills are basic electrics it’s another thing to consider, you don’t really buy a mag drill to use twist drills there a last resort. The mag cutters are a better job. Small holes just use a hand drill
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
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I've had a Rotabroach Commando 40 for a few years now. We have a few Rotabroaches at work too - from the tiny Adder, up to the large MT3 Scorpion, and a couple of sizes in between.
By far and away the most versatile size is the Panther/Element 40/Commando 40. They're big and rigid enough to do everything up to 40mm, yet light enough to use on site, upside down, sideways etc, by one person.
I'd like to see one person handling an MT3 magdrill!
The one that get the most use at work is the Commando 40, just because it's slightly more compact than the Panther, and has a better speed range than the Element 40. It also happens be be quite cheap to buy!
They also come with a keyed chuck and a few decent accessories... the Raptor cutters are worth getting, they're great quality and last forever.
By far and away the most versatile size is the Panther/Element 40/Commando 40. They're big and rigid enough to do everything up to 40mm, yet light enough to use on site, upside down, sideways etc, by one person.
I'd like to see one person handling an MT3 magdrill!
The one that get the most use at work is the Commando 40, just because it's slightly more compact than the Panther, and has a better speed range than the Element 40. It also happens be be quite cheap to buy!
They also come with a keyed chuck and a few decent accessories... the Raptor cutters are worth getting, they're great quality and last forever.
Benny
Member
- Messages
- 131
Does the commando have enough of a stroke to use standard twist drill bits? I'm between it and the evomag40 after your suggestion. I can get the commando for £329 with a free set of 3 different size bits or i can get the evolution one for £249.
