Tools (new Mig welder and hopefully new drill)

[tunin]

Hi guys, setting up my garage as real work space... benn in and ouf for a while... just got a new (used, great deal) Mig welder, been playing weith it for a few days, love it... it is a Kemppi Kempact 253A. Been using the Telwin 210 synergic for a while, liked it but wanted something more substantial..

Anyhow, I need a desk drill or a stand drill, been looking at a bunch of used ones, not to many good options where I live... I found a really good deal on a Magnetic Drill made by Fein, model KBM50U. It has a interchangable head, Can use regular drill bits and the QuickIn chuck.

The reasoning behind something like this is space. I was wondeing what are the drawbacks on using a magnet drill as a shop drill. Any input would be geratly appreciated...

 

[tunin]

A few videos of it...
https://youtu.be/3rfT3hcnCZk

https://youtu.be/dhEgl1mOhgE

 

[SidecarFlip]

Magnetic base drills are really meant for situations where a conventional drill press cannot be used like drilling holes in a frame rail that is attached to a vehicle.

I have a Milwaukee and it was pretty expensive, way more than an import drill press.

 

[tunin]

Hi, thank you for your imput, I am considering it due to it***8217;ssize yet it has enough power, plus I can use the crown style bits to cut larger holes if need bee... I found a like new Fein kbm50U for the third of the price.
I think Fein is called Slugger in the USA, it is a well respectd German company for tools.

Specs

QuickIn chuck

Magnetic base drills are really meant for situations where a conventional drill press cannot be used like drilling holes in a frame rail that is attached to a vehicle.

I have a Milwaukee and it was pretty expensive, way more than an import drill press.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Here in the USA, we call the larger diameter cutters, annular cutters.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

A mag drill is nice, not what I would consider my choice for a shop drill press, just because they take a fair amount of energy to magnetize the base.

And yes Fein tools are very high quality!

I would say if your going to do it, I would make a 1/2" to 1" Plate steel table with guides for the base so the drill can stay in the same plane and cut into the same hole all the time, just like a normal drill press.
One major advantage to that kind of drill would be that if you needed it for field / on equipment work you have that option too!

 

[Lil Foot]

We had a Milwaukee mag drill at work, and they are awesome & unbeatable for certain types of work. But I would find it awkward at best as a substitute for a benchtop or floor model drill press. I suppose it depends on the type of work you plan on doing.

 

[Yooper]

I have seen it done what you are wanting to do. Wolfmans advice about building a dedicated table thick enough to get the maximum clamping force is right on. The other thing to consider is type of drill you use. The Fein is great for annular cutters and drill bits up to half inch, but you will be much much happier with a Milwaukee variable speed that is reversible for tapping. I say this from experience. I have two Hougens and two Milwaukee mag drills. The Hougens are great because they are light for doing portable work, but for a drill press situation the heavy duty Milwaukee can drill up to 1-1/4 in steel with your every day twist drill which is way cheaper than the annular cutters plus a lot easier to sharpen. For the larger holes you can use hole saws and the variable speed comes into play to dial in the rpms so you do not burn them up.

 

[tunin]

Hi guys, thank you so much for your input. As i mentioned abouve, it is quite hard to get things where I live, not to many options... so we do what we can to get by... one makes it and learns more using basics...

Fein and a few others are the only option as for parts awe well.

This particular Fein model has QuickIN receptor for bits and it can use up to 50mm (2in) cutters. It comes with a QuickIn chuck for regular bits and it can also take the Morse tapered drill bits.

I have a heavy duty L profile 40x40x80 12mm thick that I was going to mount on a wll to only use it for this drill. Space is a big problem where ai am ap... our place is against a hill sorrounded with houses and large rocks... no space to extend... think Old Italy style...

 

[tunin]

Hi guys, a follow up after some months using the mag drill, core drill as a workshop drill and I can tell you I was pleasantly surprised of it’s power, versatility and options. I would not change it for a shop stand drill.
I ended up with the KBM50 pictured below, used it hundreds of times already.

 

[skeets]

It seems you got it all figured out, like you say you do with what you have and make it work, good on you my friend

 

[chim]

Nice. We have a few drills like that at work. For lube we use something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Hougen-optim...ocphy=1025281&hvtargid=pla-570452871330&psc=1

 

[m.t.hands]

like some of the other posters, not sure i would want a Mag drill as my main option, they are extremely handy in certain situations, to the point of having to have one for some procedures, but in you case it appears necessity was the mother of invention and this unit will suit your needs and conditions with limited space, BTW, great looking unit, what is the weight???

all i have ever used is a couple of Milwaukee's and one Hilti, i thought both were pretty heavy, especially doing elevated/vertical work which was 90% of there uses

 

[tunin]

Hi guys, thanks a bunch for your comments, after doing much research I chose this model, it is a the U model. universal, it is basically loaded with torque, it has a manual fear select plus 5steps up and down with the buttons, in addition to that it can to both sides, say if you want to do taps (threads).

It can take rgular bits up to 18mm plus quick-in cutters up to 55mm. I bought a bunch made by Fein on classifieds quite cheap...

It is built like tank, heavy but not that heavy for what it does.

Fein is a really good brand, ny family was always a German tools family but like most other things most companies like Bosch, Festool... moved their production to China made them Chinesium...

The only two companies when it comes to power tools that are still top notch from Germany are Fein and Metabo, not an expert but they have been serving my family for ages... we have a drill made 1950 we still use it and it works like charm, all cast iron,