- Thread starter taycat
- Start date
Wendelspanswick
Member
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- 6,486
I have the JEI mini beast 110v. Good bit of kit. Stated max hole is 30mm diameter but I have gone up to 63mm dia no bother through thicknesses up to 1" solid and regularly did 35mm dia through 50x50x5mm box no problems.
Good cutting fluid and letting the cutter do its job is key to preserving the cutting faces on the cutters.
The mini beast is around £340 I think new, but it's a more substantial bit of kit than evolutions products that are more serious diy than pro use.
Good cutting fluid and letting the cutter do its job is key to preserving the cutting faces on the cutters.
The mini beast is around £340 I think new, but it's a more substantial bit of kit than evolutions products that are more serious diy than pro use.
balmerchris
barnacle picker
- Messages
- 611
- Location
- Co. Armagh
How did you drill 63mm in a minibeast? Did the broach not foul on the magnetic Base?
I love my minibeast. But had to dismantle the coolant valve and debur the holes and replace the o rings as they were being nipped on assembly and the small piece of o ring was blocking the coolant from coming out.
It fits with some room to spare, just!
dan.taylor.1
General Tinkererer
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- 2,790
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- Kendal, Cumbria
Ive an alfra 35/50 which has cut 45mm with ease through 12mm, very good bit of kit.
AndyStobbs
Member
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- 2,475
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- North West England
Think I would be inclined to get a big slow pistol drill. It wont take that long once you are in the rhythm and probably faster than repositioning a mag drill for every hole accurately.
BuiltnotBought
Perfect will never be good enough
- Messages
- 159
- Location
- brstiol uk
Yo, dunno if you sorted this yet but the biggest hole cutting size Evolution mag drill is a jem (can't remember the model). I've had one for a few years and she just keeps ploughing through. Mortgage importantly though get some good quality coolant and you will be fine drilling holes for hours!!
CornishPete
Member
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- 711
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- Huddersfield
by my reckoning that's about 200 holes, 12mm dia in 12mm thick. Last week I drilled about 30 holes 12mm dia in the top flanges of some rsj's with a pistol drill and it took about 4 hours and I had raw hands from pushing so hard!! I agree too that positioning a mag drill would take a while. I think a pillar drill or drill press is the answer as the pieces are only 6" wide and could be positioned quickly and easily. Pick a cheap one up second hand and it'll pay for itself on this job alone, and you've got it for next time, result!
roofman
Purveyor of fine English buckets and mops
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- 12,425
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- North West with water on 3 sides
not at all...seceret is to centre dot the hole and the pin inside the broach cutters just fall into the hole then magnet on and go....seconds
CornishPete
Member
- Messages
- 711
- Location
- Huddersfield
I didn't realise mag drills had an arbor, makes sense on a big cutter but would a bit as small as 12 mm have one? I thought mag drills were were big heavy things designed for drilling rsjs and the like. I've thought about getting one as I'm a builder and have to bolt 4x2 timber to the top flange of rsjs every now and then and like I said using a pistol drill is a total pain and hiring is relatively expensive if you get one six times a year. Do they have an ordinary chuck for hss drill bits or use special cutters?not at all...seceret is to centre dot the hole and the pin inside the broach cutters just fall into the hole then magnet on and go....seconds
Bill Edwards
Member
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- 4,959
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- Scarborough, North Yorkshire
I borrowed a mag drill a few months ago to drill some 18mm holes. I didn't study the smaller sizes, but the cutters I was using had a spring loaded point in the centre. All you had to do was lower the head a little so the point was being gently pressed onto the surface to be drilled and position/slide the drill so the point fell into the centre punch mark. Flip the magnet on and off it went, a very quick process.
I'm pretty sure it had a chuck with it which would allow ordinary drill bits to be used, but I can't help with the make or anything, other than to say it would have been a high end piece of equipment.
Country Joe
Argoshield Dark
- Messages
- 1,743
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- Somerset - United Kingdom
The annular cutters (or the mini cutters) go down to 6mm, I think.
They're not far away, I can go look to see the smallest one I have, but I think it's 6mm.
When the spring-loaded centre pin is pushed in, the cutting fluid pours forth from around the inside of the cutter.
The one I've been using is a rotabroach element 40.
All the Best,
CJ
They're not far away, I can go look to see the smallest one I have, but I think it's 6mm.
When the spring-loaded centre pin is pushed in, the cutting fluid pours forth from around the inside of the cutter.
The one I've been using is a rotabroach element 40.
All the Best,
CJ
taycat
Member
- Messages
- 394
- Location
- yorks uk
dont think i can fit another pillar drill in shop.( got 5 of various sizes.)
was thinking jig to make all plates same, and still have mag drill for other jobs.
