Mag Drill Comments

[lennyzx11]

"Can annular cutters be used for “half a hole” drilling?"

Lenny, I'm not sure about exactly half but I did "3/4 of a hole" for a mod to my flail mower's "float" linkage on the lower mounts - the bars are beefy enough I wasn't worried about weakening by effectively decreasing their width -

My thoughts on why I got away with it - the "more than half" that I cut kept the cutter from being able to easily jump to the side, so minimised any side loading (DEFINITELY a cutter killer)

I've not needed a "half or less" hole in anything yet, but I would think long and hard before trying it - anyway, "pics or it didn't happen" - plus, if you're gonna build a dedicated mag drill area I have a LOT more pics of the way I did mine, just ask if interested... Steve

Pics 4 and 5 show one of my methods for ensuring that duplicate parts REALLY ARE - the table is a 12" piece of 10" C channel, overlaid with 1'2
[ plate for more magnetic pull. After welding the plate on I surfaced the whole thing on the mill for maximum magnet contact. Oh, and that vise is a reversible Wilton - haven't needed the extra jaw opening yet but if I do...

Steve, I like your setup. Thanks for the details. This is a lot better than the “metal plate with a hole in it that I was envisioning.

Can I get a picture of the back part of your stand?
I think you rest the front on top of the vise jaw and built legs on the back to hold it level but I’m guessing.

You mentioned milling. I confess that I’ve kinda watched for a mill used but have had no exposure to them and not sure I’d get the use out of one as it should be used with no training or exposure in my life. I see some amazing things created with them though.

 

[BukitCase]

Lenny, you can have any and all pics I took during and after, this may take awhile And yeah, the back legs are 1/2" allthread into coupler nuts welded to the channel - they just rest on the 1/2" steel top of my smaller bench, and have standard nuts under the allthread legs to lock the settings. Lots more to come...

From the beginning -

 

[BukitCase]

Page 2 - The little Wixey angle cubes are great; the newer flip screen is even better, just standard batteries and BOTH absolute and relative angles.
The piece of receiver tube is being used as a template, the piece of FB and vise grips make a constant depth stop so I can insert 2" tubing til it hits the stop, drill a 21/32" hole, and do it a dozen more times. Several reasons, one of which is my "tinker toy" projects for the hoe and tractors -

 

[BukitCase]

Page 3 - The NEXT phase... and some results - more later, better start cuttin' parts

BTW, all these pics were shot between February and December of 2016 - the XY table is Grizzly

6" x 18-1/2" Compound Slide Table - Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

<h1>G8750 6" x 18-1/2" Compound Slide Table</h1><p>This compound slide table has 7-1/2" cross travel and 12" longitudinal travel and features adjustable gibs, dovetailed ways, Acme screws, and vernier scales. Weighs 63 lbs.</p> <ul> <li>Table dimensions: 6" x 18-1/2"</li> <li>Table...

www.grizzly.com

The two DP vises are just HF ones I grabbed on a sale (about $12 each IIRC)

Both axes of the table have 10 TPI lead screws, so (for example) if you want holes on 1" centers, you just (while pushing the table in direction of travel to minimize backlash) drill hole, rotate crank 10 turns, drill hole, etc - an example of this on Page 4... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Page 4 - XY uses -

 

[BukitCase]

Page 5 - All the above so I could fab adjustable legs for my modular/re-usable container roof - ... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Page 6 - wanted the option of splaying the legs to allow pouring a slab WITHOUT the legs being in the way -
I use allthread/nuts as a spreader to keep welds from pulling in the ears, may even slip a scrap of 16 ga. as a spacer before welding - don't want weld spatter on the threads, so -8 shows a piece of scrap over the exposed threads AND a scrap of EMT on the excess threads. -9 and -10 welds, -11 painted.

I keep finding new and crazier ways to use my "brain farts" - occasionally I'm NOT lying when I tell people "I planned that"

Questions ALWAYS welcome; for specifics, please refer to the pic name/number... Steve

Oh, Lenny - here's my version of your "plate with a hole in it" - used my 1-1/2" cutter on a piece of 1/2" FB, shown clamped to a piece of thin wall (>095" IIRC) tubing. It comes in handy often enough to be worth doing, I wouldn't use anything LESS than 1/2" bar and 3/4" would be better...

 

[Smokeydog]

Drilling some plug welds. Mag drill would clamp the tubing to the weld bench. Also drilled a couple of thru holes on the other end. Much easier than bringing long heavy stock to the drill press. Cutting bits too expensive to attempt free hand.

Not all mag drills have the slide capability to use long twist drills.

 

[BukitCase]

"Not all mag drills have the slide capability to use long twist drills"

Yeah, that's one of the things I DON'T like about the Hougen drill - mine came with a 3 jaw, but to actually USE it you need to disassemble the whole quill area then put it back together MINUS a couple pieces -

I bought a set of mechanics length twist drills, helped some but not enough - I bought these

Metabo - Grd. CHK. 3/32"-1/2" 799-2/13 (635035000), Woodworking & Other Accessories - Power Lathe Chucks - Amazon.com

Metabo - Grd. CHK. 3/32"-1/2" 799-2/13 (635035000), Woodworking & Other Accessories - Power Lathe Chucks - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

G&J Hall Tools 18Y170 Powerbor Weldon Chuck Adaptor, 1/2"-20 UN Thread Fitting, 3/4" Arbor, for All Electromagnetic Drilling Systems: Drill Press Accessories: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

G&J Hall Tools 18Y170 Powerbor Weldon Chuck Adaptor, 1/2"-20 UN Thread Fitting, 3/4" Arbor, for All Electromagnetic Drilling Systems: Drill Press Accessories: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

They let me change chucks as quick as using a different annular cutter, but the stroke range is STILL not there.

My "mad scientist" persona is still working on some kind of "standoff" to be used with the above, but too many "gators" in my swamp for a full-time focus on a gator that's NOT currently chomping on my ass.

My pipe drilling jig has enough standoff for things it'll fit, but it's not "universal" enough for everything... Steve

 

[Smokeydog]

Milwaukee mag drill has 8” travel and two positions out from base. Love the variable speed and reverse. It is bulky and heavy. Always a compromise.