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A mag drill serves as a good option for every sort of heavy-duty drilling application into steel or metal generally. These machines have a strong magnetic base that helps to guarantee very accurate and stable drilling. This is achieved by ensuring that the machine sits directly onto the metal that you wish to cut through. Experts will require powerful magnetic drill press machines for those heavy-duty projects. For intermittent users, not as much power will be needed while smaller models are meant for light-duty projects (thin sheet metal).
That process of selecting the best mag drill press machines for home drilling activities or workplaces can be somehow challenging. Part of ha is because of the bombardment that you come across as well as the exaggerated adverts all over the internet. As such, most buyers end up making the mistake of buying the wrong magnetic drill press machines. The good news is that all this comes to an end here! In this piece, we lay everything bare pertaining to mag drill presses. By the end of it, you will be in a better position as a buyer!
What is a Magnetic Drill Press Used For?
A magnetic drill press machine is a portable drill press that makes use of a magnet to drill holes into steel or similar material. The magnet is situated at the bottom of this tool for that purpose. Magnetic drill press machines are used when conventional drill press machines are not an option. These machines are used whenever the material is just large to fit in a given area. They also come in handy when it makes more sense to have your materials drilled ‘on-site’ for some reason. For instance, if you would like to drill holes on a large piece of an I-beam material weighing so many pounds, magnetic drill press machines would be fit. This one eliminates the need to take the material to a shop for the same purpose.
How To Choose The Best Magnetic Drill Press
Drill Size: This is a very important consideration to make when you are picking a new magnetic drill press either for home or your workshop. You need to figure out the kind of work you will be subjecting your machine to. This will include the optimal size of the cuts that you wish to make as well as the materials that you will be working with. With that in mind, you will have a better foundation to determine the overall drill size. We agree that the large magnetic drill press is powerful but bigger won’t always be the way to go. Some smaller models would be good for lightweight jobs. If you will however be working with thick steel daily, settle for durable machines that can handle that.
Motor Speed: This is normally measured in rotations per minute denoted as RPM. This refers to the maximum speed that which a drill rotates a drill bit. It is very important to take note of this when choosing a drill press machine. The higher the RPM, the higher the ability of the machine to easily cut through the material. Averagely, a good magnetic drill press should have a motor speed ranging between 450 and 750 RPM. You will even get drill press machines with variable speed settings. These ones allow you to choose the rpm output based on the project.
Power Source: Power is measured in units called amperes (amps) and it is a determinant of the amount of power that your machine needs to operate smoothly. On average, a drill press machine should have a power rating ranging from 6 to 12 amps. If you get a model with a high RPM and higher amperes will mean that you will be able to easily cut through the tough materials. You need to choose these ratings based on the application type.
Adjustment: Most of us prefer easy-to-use tools as opposed to those that are a bit complicated. That specifically happens when you are looking to move from one project to another with few but important adjustments. For example, if you are drilling the same material with a similar bit regularly, simple adjustments allow you to drill different materials at different depths and sizes. For that reason, a drill machine with simple adjustments will be a good fit for your job.
Ease of Use: Magnetic drill press machines are not complicated tools to use. However, it is vital to know the differences between the individual products in order to know what is best for you. There are some models that have been made for lightweight drilling applications through thin metal materials. For that specific reason, the drills are light and relatively smaller than the heavy-duty options. On the other hand, heavy-duty drills might not be easy to take around but they work so well on applications that the lightweight options cannot.
Safety and Comfort: Whenever you are using a tool, you need to pay close attention to its cutting blades, and grinding wheels. Generally, take note of any hazardous parts to keep yourself completely safe. This is the same case that applies to magnetic drill press machines. Having this in mind, manufacturers have incorporated safety features. You will realize that some drills have a safety guard sitting around the drill to prevent metal pieces from flying off. Others have anti-slip rubber sleeves on their levers to control keep the machine in control while the drill is in use.
How Does a Magnetic Drill Press Work?
The operation of a magnetic drill press is rather obvious. This machine comes with a very mighty magnetic base which sits on the metal surface. That is usually the material that you need to cut where the magnet holds the tool in place while in use. What this does is that it prevents the magnetic drill from shifting or moving in any way while it is in use. The mag drill press makes use of a lever that is responsible for lowering the machine’s rotating drill bit downwards into the metal. That bit could either cut completely through your material or can be used to make a hole to a given depth.
How To Use a Magnetic Drill Press?
Using a magnetic drill generally entails three main steps. The user has to follow these steps if they are looking to efficiently use these machines. First, you need to make sure that the machine’s pilot pin has been centered accurately over the particular region that you want to be drilled. It is through this that you guarantee that your hole won’t be drilled at the wrong place. Similarly, this helps to ascertain that the needed measurements are well-achieved. Having done that, you can rest assured of the best results in the workshop and give the best quality of services to your clients.
The second process is where you do the actual drilling. This is where the pilot pin will retract to allow the lubrication in the interior to get to the drilling bits. Through that, the cutting teeth will get well-lubricated for efficient functioning.
Once you are there, you will realize that you have already drilled very smooth holes like you desired to do. After completely drilling the hole, the core (also known as the slug) is then removed from the cutter. This leaves behind a complete hole.
Is The Magnetic Drill Press Safe?
Magnetic drill press machines are mostly safe for the simple reason that they are equipped with safety features. For instance, most of them have a coolmag system that prevents the machine from overheating. You however need to exercise caution when necessary. For instance, you will need to wear safety glasses and avoid loosely fitting clothes or long hair tied back.
Magnetic Drill Press Maintenance Tips
Drill press machines are relatively maintenance-free. This does not however mean that you shouldn’t perform regular check-ups. This is a simple machine with a chuck on the spindle’s end to hold the drill bit. There are a few things that might get out of hand and limit the accuracy and performance of your machine. These include problems with the drive belt and pulleys, the chuck, and the spindle. The good thing is that only limited time and effort are required for the maintenance tasks. When performing these maintenances, make sure that the machine is unplugged from electrical power. Below are some maintenance tips:
- Regularly tighten all the fasteners as you replace the worn parts
- You must check the motor brushes and replace them if worn out
- Have a look at the power cord from the panel to the motor. In case it is frayed or cracked, get it to an authorized repair center for a replacement
- Make sure to apply grease or lubricants to the moving parts for the best results
- Check for binding or misalignment of moving parts
- Never force the tool. Use the right tool depending on the application
- Disconnect it from the power source when making any adjustment
- Keep the cutting tools clean and sharp
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