Milwaukee sent over an early announcement that they will be coming out with two new magnetic drills this summer (2015).
There aren’t many details available yet, but this is what they were able to share for a sneak peek:
There will be two models – an M18 FUEL 1-1/2″ Magnetic Drill, and an M18 FUEL 1-1/2″ Lineman Magnetic Drill.
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They also say that:
- The new Mag Drills will be faster than corded
- Strongest magnetic hold on 1/4″ steel
- Can drill (40) 13/16″ holes per charge
Presumably, the regular and lineman versions of the magnetic drill will be built with different chucks. Maybe the lineman version will also have a built-in pole strap. Is that a thing?
We’ve heard the “faster than corded” claim a couple of times recently, such as with Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL Hole Hawgs and their M18 FUEL band saw. Many of Milwaukee’s other FUEL brushless tools are described as delivering “corded-like” performance. This is all thanks to Milwaukee’s brushless motor innovations.
Milwaukee’s competitors have been catching up at least a little bit, with more brushless tool offerings of their own, but I don’t think that any other brand is anywhere close to coming out with brushless mag drills. Most of Milwaukee’s competitors don’t even have magnetic drills in their latest generation cordless Li-ion platforms.
For those of you that use corded or cordless mag drills, are you excited?
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Boyd
Can you explain the magnetic part? Is it a new style motor based off magnets or do the drills literally stick to metal?
Carmelo
It’s a cordless mini drill press (that uses special drill bits) with a magnetic base.
On the project i’m working now. A mag drill was used to drill through the I beams and some plate to bolt together the shoring.
Stuart
As Carmelo said, it’s basically a small super-duty portable drill press with heavy duty electromagnetic base. Fire up the magnet and it can attach to steel surfaces or side surfaces to drill larger-bore holes.
Jay k.
Think of a drill trying to bore through a delicate part of a vault/safe where precision is key.
Boyd
Cool. Got it. Thanks.
Carmelo
Metabo released cordless mag drill a while ago. Everytime I go to tanner nut and bolt, it’s behind the counter.
Stuart
Yep – this one: https://toolguyd.com/metabo-cordless-magnetic-drill-press/
Carmelo
That’s it. I never saw one on any of my jobsites. I think the Metabo cost $2000+, while a regular mag drill cost around $700.
A cordless tc bolt gun looks like a better (limited market though) option. You can always drill what you need on the ground, but everything needs to be bolted up high.
Chris
Don’t think I ever seen one before other then in a movie lol very special market for this thing…
Mike
I can see this being added to the companies tool budget in the next year or so. Our corded model sees a decent amount of work. We always seem to be using it while up high in a lift of some sort of lift. Even sometimes used with the rope access guys. We looked into the Metabo, forget why we didn’t buy it.
Tator
Hey milwaukee how about a cordless belt sander.
JMG
Glad I am not the only person who wants a cordless belt sander.
Belt sanders in general, for me, are a limited use item these days, and a cordless unit would fit perfectly into my tool kit. When I first started into cabinetry and carpentry, the belt sander was a go to tool, but as I learned new techniques and requirements for precision became paramount over speed, it was relegated more to the installation tool kit, and today is one of the few tools that require I carry around several heavy gauge extension cords when visiting new construction sites. A cordless version of this tool would go a long way to eliminating some of the extra mass in my current kit.
skfarmer
specialised tool? maybe? i bought an evolution mag drill a couple years back. not a top end model but not hf quality either. one of the best investments i ever made. the annular cutters are not cheap but they work so much better than drill bits and a drill press on a lot of jobs. if i can get the mag drill stuck to the item or get the item clamped down to my welding bench and get my mag drill up to it the choice is pretty easy……..mag drill.
fred
Amen
Rotabroach style bits are the way to drill Wide Flanges and plate steel – and we had several (not a niche tool for us) magnetic drill presses from older Bux and Hougen units to newer Milwaukee’s. For aligning holes for bolting-up 2 plates or beams – using a bridge reamer is an essential follow-up. Having a machine where you can fine-tune its position after the magnet is applied is essential for accuracy IMO. I also would opt for a machine that has a morse-taper chuck – unless you only plan on using smaller twist drills.