Mag drills

[The flasher]

hi everyone this is my first post. iam after a mag drill and was wondering if anyone has got one or has used one. in particular the evolution ones. ive got other evolution tools and they are ok in my opinion. im only hobby level so it wont be abused or anything. thanks.

 

[blenkie1]

I have a Unibor35 like it and its made in the UK. Drilling large holes then it needs gears. Evolution is not bad stuff for the price. I have one of the compound saws. More than likely be ok

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I have a alfra rotabest one, 35mm max but it easily ran a 45mm recently just needed plenty of coolant.

Dan

 

[The flasher]

thanks for your replies. what are they like with normal twist drills?

 

[balmerchris]

I got a second hand jancy mini beast for £50. It seems very well made and has drilled about 300 or 400 holes since I got it with no problems. Very noisy motor though.

 

[fizzy]

I have a Rotobroach Panther - it is British and the same price as the Evo drills. Seemed better built to me.
They will all be fine with normal drill bits but are very limited - will never replace a pillar drill. They have limited travel and throat depth.

 

[Rig Pig]

We have Rotobroach mag drills at work, they are a good workhorse. Hall powerbore bits are very good too.

 

[brewdexta]

I've got an evolution mag drill, I think its good value. Only issue I have had is the coolant fitting is very weak, I broke it off first time I fitted it but they sent me another the next day. It's ok as long as you don't use a spanner to tighten it up, now I know I will be careful with it however I don't use the supplied coolant tank, I just dribble a bit of Rocol on the job although it might be useful in some cases.

I did consider getting a second hand rotobroach but they were always tired and baggy, the evolution isn't as good as a new rotobroach but for the money for occasional hobby use its fine and it beats the huge Wolf beast that my neighbour has.

 

[Maker]

I've got an evolution mag drill, I think its good value. Only issue I have had is the coolant fitting is very weak, I broke it off first time I fitted it but they sent me another the next day. It's ok as long as you don't use a spanner to tighten it up, now I know I will be careful with it however I don't use the supplied coolant tank, I just dribble a bit of Rocol on the job although it might be useful in some cases.

I did consider getting a second hand rotobroach but they were always tired and baggy, the evolution isn't as good as a new rotobroach but for the money for occasional hobby use its fine and it beats the huge Wolf beast that my neighbour has.

Speaking of coolant, don't the more expensive ones have a hollow spindle so coolant can flow to the inside of the cutter?

 

[brewdexta]

I would have to check but I think that's what the Evolution has, the bottle fits to a bracket on the drill and the tube from it goes into a small brass ferule and the coolant then disappears into the body of the drill.

 

[The flasher]

thanks for taking the time to reply everyone. its good to hear what people think of the various makes.

 

[roofman]

Mines a Jancy and a great bit of kit including a normal chuck for it so can drill using my normal bits..Another addition i recently bought was an R8 tool holder that accepts the broaching cutters for my mill/drill and that gives me pin point accuracy drilling thick stuff up on the bench.

 

[fizzy]

Talking of mag drills what do people use for cutting fluid? I have used various cutting and tapping sprays but there is still way too much heat for my liking. I prefer soluble cutting oil mixed with water. I just use a plant sprayer for it. Much cheaper as well although a bit messy if you are working on steel columns I imagine.

 

[brewdexta]

Rocol is my lubricant of choice, for machining that is

 

[roofman]

Talking of mag drills what do people use for cutting fluid? I have used various cutting and tapping sprays but there is still way too much heat for my liking. I prefer soluble cutting oil mixed with water. I just use a plant sprayer for it. Much cheaper as well although a bit messy if you are working on steel columns I imagine.

iff ime doing upsidedown work on RSJ i use a tin of spray WD40 with the straw,vertical stuff going through the fixed bottle i use old engine oil with white spirit and just have a very slow fluid feed flow

 

[The flasher]

Thanks for all your input. I've ordered a rotabroach panther from orbital fasteners got a good deal. £358 all in, that includes 5 free rotabroach TCT cutters as well. They were £20-£40 each alone.thanks again for everyone's advice.