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1/2" drill ideas?
- Thread starter Highpsi
- Start date
Corded drill, simply put highest amp rating is what I usually buy.
I have liked Milwaukee more than dewalt lately but thats mostly cause of my last cordless drill.
I tell ya what cordless drills are pretty close to replacing corded drills. They still have a bit to go but they are alot closer than they were even 5 years ago
I have liked Milwaukee more than dewalt lately but thats mostly cause of my last cordless drill.
I tell ya what cordless drills are pretty close to replacing corded drills. They still have a bit to go but they are alot closer than they were even 5 years ago
Milwaukee Magnum Hole Shooter
Have heard this is the best of the best.
But, my higher amp Craftsman with the side handle has worked flawlessly.
And really, unless i'm drilling a lot of large holes, the cordless gets used.
Can't remember the last time i broke out he corded....
This is what I have. I like the twist lock removable cord. I have a 6" & 25' cord for my Milwaukee. Almost any brand name 1/2 heavy duty drill motor will be a good drill motor, but yeah I feel the Milwaukee's are the best.
doonjumper
1/2 ton status
I have one like that and it drills through everything I need. I have the one that has a hammer feature but I don't use that feature though. It has awesome power and I like the quick change handle. Buy
corded....batteries go dead eventually.
Joe Blaze
1/2 ton status
If you go with the cordless Rigid brand at Home Depot, check it right away for wobble. The runout was ridiculous, and i had to return two brand new right out of the box, before i found one that was acceptable. They do have some amazing torque. If the bit grabs while drilling metal, you could easily break your wrist when the drill spins around. The side handle is a great idea. I think they all have a lifetime warranty on their batteries now. I have a drawer full of great drills, with batteries that are shot from years back.
63chevyll
1/2 ton status
I 2nd the Milwaukee 1/2.
It's what I have and accidentally left out side in the rain 2years ago for over a month.
Been using ever since and put it to work very hard this summer building a tie retaining wall with about 4, 1/2. Holes per each railroad tie
It's what I have and accidentally left out side in the rain 2years ago for over a month.
Been using ever since and put it to work very hard this summer building a tie retaining wall with about 4, 1/2. Holes per each railroad tie
The BEST 1/2" corded drill i've ever bought was my Milwaukee.
My 1/2" dewalt corded drill has done me great. I tried drilling some 3" holes with crappy hole saws and had smoke ROLLING out of it 
OOps! Left it set out side for a bit in case it spontaniously combusted and threw it on a shelf later. didnt touch it for a while thinking it dead then randomly tried it. It's like it never happened
Still strong as can be.
As for the cordless stuff.....
We have Both milwaukee and dewalts all over the plant where I work. the milwaukees sit and collect dust cause we've had nothing but problems with the batteries. even had NEW ones come out of the package get put in a NEW charger right out of the package and NOT take a charge
the mechanics (we have like 120 of them) have all stated they want dewalts or nothing when we order replacements.
I loved the milwaukee in school, but not the recent stuff.
OOps! Left it set out side for a bit in case it spontaniously combusted and threw it on a shelf later. didnt touch it for a while thinking it dead then randomly tried it. It's like it never happened Still strong as can be. As for the cordless stuff.....
We have Both milwaukee and dewalts all over the plant where I work. the milwaukees sit and collect dust cause we've had nothing but problems with the batteries. even had NEW ones come out of the package get put in a NEW charger right out of the package and NOT take a charge
the mechanics (we have like 120 of them) have all stated they want dewalts or nothing when we order replacements.I loved the milwaukee in school, but not the recent stuff.
The new model Milwaukee thats been out for quite a few years now won't pinch the web of your hand between the thumb and pointing finger like the old model thats been around for even does. Housing shape is different and the trigger has a better shape. I bought the new model for my last machine shop I worked at and loved it. I want one myself even though my old model works flawlessly. I've got my drill motor SUPER HOT a bunch of times and it hasn't killed it yet. Hole sawing with huge hole saws like 4" and 5" in diameter hole saws through steel plate will heat a drill motor up like crazy.
I have a milwaukee. Could swear the chuck was bigger than half.... Can't remember for sure.
Thing scares the hell out of me. Got to be very careful braking through when you drill into a frame or the like with a big diameter bit. Thing will twist you up quick.
Thing scares the hell out of me. Got to be very careful braking through when you drill into a frame or the like with a big diameter bit. Thing will twist you up quick.
Joe Blaze
1/2 ton status
My Milwaukee almost broke my fingers drilling through the 1/2 steel lug on my jeeps front bumper. It is custom made, and the hole had to be slightly enlarged so i could get the 3/4" d-ring shackle pin through the hole. Near the end, the bit caught, and the drill spun around, with massive torque, and slammed into the bumper, squashing my fingers between the grip and bumper.
The force held my finger on the trigger, maintaining the torque. It was scary for a moment there. Now, I always use the side handle.
For something as bulletproof as an old milwaukee, i wonder what deal you could find on CL or ebay.
Be warned, Milwaukee drills have different strengths. I had a Magnum Hole Shooter, that drilled everything I needed and then some.
But, I was doing some work and needed two drills, and my 3/8s B&D could not cut it.
So, I started looking at some Milwaukees. Found this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-030...e=UTF8&qid=1353031322&sr=8-1&keywords=0302-20
This is one scary drill. Its smaller than my Magnum, but way stronger. NEVER use it without the side handle!!
It will hurt you.
I think if you could hold it, and connect it right, it would spin start a big block.
Friend of mine has scissor style jacks on his big camper. He has a handle he gets out and puts in each jack and cranks them up.
I build an adapter for this drill, and if you get a good grip on it, it will spin them right up.
He brought the camper to my farm last year after hunting season. I was running late because I had to stop and help one of the other guys.
He went in my shop and grabbed that drill and adapter. I outweigh him by about 100 pounds.
When I got there, he was sitting on the ground holding his arm. The drill had thrown him about 10 feet.
He had a hold of the side handle, but it just overpowered him.
I love that drill.
BTW, the keyless chuck works great on it too.
But don't get the wrong idea. I don't think Milwaukee makes a bad corded drill. Some are just stronger than others.
But, I was doing some work and needed two drills, and my 3/8s B&D could not cut it.
So, I started looking at some Milwaukees. Found this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-030...e=UTF8&qid=1353031322&sr=8-1&keywords=0302-20
This is one scary drill. Its smaller than my Magnum, but way stronger. NEVER use it without the side handle!!
It will hurt you.
I think if you could hold it, and connect it right, it would spin start a big block.
Friend of mine has scissor style jacks on his big camper. He has a handle he gets out and puts in each jack and cranks them up.
I build an adapter for this drill, and if you get a good grip on it, it will spin them right up.
He brought the camper to my farm last year after hunting season. I was running late because I had to stop and help one of the other guys.
He went in my shop and grabbed that drill and adapter. I outweigh him by about 100 pounds.
When I got there, he was sitting on the ground holding his arm. The drill had thrown him about 10 feet.
He had a hold of the side handle, but it just overpowered him.
I love that drill.
BTW, the keyless chuck works great on it too.
But don't get the wrong idea. I don't think Milwaukee makes a bad corded drill. Some are just stronger than others.
I've had mine for 22 years. Loned it to a friend, he broke his wrist trying to drill a 1 in hole in some plate. The bit grabbed, and he couldn't stop it. Ultra powerfull and never had an issue.
Milwaukee's 1/2 capacity right angle drill is a wrist breaker too. i have one and have sprained my wrist with it before. snaps 1/2" drills like butta lol! Theres no provision for a side handle for it for extra support either. dangerous damn drill.
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I call it the wrist breaker. I warn my buddies when they borrow it, it will break your wrist if your not paying attention. I almost broke my wrist putting a 3" hole in 1/4" plate.
Another vote for Milwaukee here. I am supposed to sell DeWalt at work and still go down the road to buy Milwaukee, and tell customers the same.
Nothing is wrong with DeWalt, I just think I get more for my money in red than yellow. I joke with customers that yellow plastic is more expensive just like green paint (John Deere) on lawn mowers.
Nothing is wrong with DeWalt, I just think I get more for my money in red than yellow. I joke with customers that yellow plastic is more expensive just like green paint (John Deere) on lawn mowers.
