CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Got any cool tools lately?

Speaking of dro, anyone used the touchdro, that's run off android tablet?

I think there are pros and cons of having the interface on a touchscreen. I wouldn't want to need my phone every time I used the mill, so it would need a dedicated tablet. Plus the mill is a messy area when in use with metal chips and lubricant getting slung around. So a touchscreen might not be very reliable if it ends up with lubricant all over it, like when you get water on your phone screen.

I haven't used it, but I would hope the touchscreen would be more intuitive than a typical button one when you are doing circular bolt patterns and such, so that's the potential advantage, depends on the app I guess.
 
I cleaned, rebuilt, and repainted everything with 3M industrial paint. New oiling system parts...

View attachment 469348

View attachment 469349

I also added a 4 axis DRO, so it even has a DRO on the quill...that took some mill work just to mount it all with a custom switch panel to control the VFD.

View attachment 469350

Had to mill some flat stock and T channel after milling mounting counterbores and threads into the quill stop thingy...


View attachment 469351
View attachment 469352

View attachment 469353View attachment 469354

Was almost done, shortly after I sold that vice and bought a new Kurt vice....

I added power feeds on the knee (Z) and the table (X)...

View attachment 469355
Impressive rebuild!
 
I think the other one is the “comfort-grip” version that fits the palm of your hand nicely.

Gotta get those beams aligned for the rivets and bolt hardware and those are just the tools to do it with.
 
I picked this up last night for $350, I found a Milwaukee 1/2" chuck for it before I bought it used, it can currently use 3/4" weldon shank cutters, then it will do both. Another tool I wasn't looking for, but have always wanted, and it popped up for sale close by so I nabbed it....

20240313_193151.jpg

20240313_193122.jpg

20240313_193113.jpg

20240313_193139.jpg

20240313_193403.jpg

20240313_193437.jpg
 
Last edited:
If you ever have it mounted up on a beam sideways..... Be real careful which off switch you push :whistle:

A friend told me that,..... Yeah, that's the story I'm going with :rolleyes:


Seriously, standing there drilling a hole, BS'n with my buddy. Hole gets done, I reach up and bump the wrong switch trying to get to the right one, and BAM. A still running drill with an 11/16 annular cutter falls 6' , bounces off an angle brace and right into my leg. Luckily none of the spinny parts were pointed my direction.
 
Last edited:
What he said. Was using my Dewalt version on thr side of a trailer frame. One button turns the motor off. One button releases the magnet and turns the motor off. Only fell 4 feet and shut off before it hit the ground.
 
This Milwaukee if you just palm slap the big red drill off button it would be nearly impossible to hit the recessed magnet rocker switch.

I noticed new ones come with a "safety strap". I was thinking it would suck if it got unplugged while drilling sideways.
 
I have a chain with a carbiner type hook that goes through the handle and around the beam or hooked to a strap from above now.
It'd still fall if just wrapped around, but it would slow down and be contained.
 
I was thinking the same thing, a strap through the handle around the frame while in use so if it falls it doesn't hit the ground.
 
If I had learned from the past I would have had a chain on it when I dropped mine.
About 25 years ago the first time I used one. We were hanging it over a river on a pier. My boss made us chain it up so it didn't end up in the water.

About halfway through the hole, the guy behind me started up the portaband and tripped the breaker.

I should have remembered that since I was the one pushing on the handle drilling the hole when it just dropped and started swinging.

Wasn't even 5 minutes after the boss made us chain it.
 
They have new ones that don't require electricity for the magnet to work, but they are almost $2k! And the M18 version is ~$2600, crazy.
 
I was thinking the same thing, a strap through the handle around the frame while in use so if it falls it doesn't hit the ground.
In our plant it is mandatory that a safety catch strap be used on every mag-base drill - not just in case the operator hits the wrong switch but usually it’s some other idiot that has unplugged the power source. Those would be the folks that have no business working in an industrial environment but sadly they are there in increasingly higher numbers over the past few years…
 
They have new ones that don't require electricity for the magnet to work, but they are almost $2k! And the M18 version is ~$2600, crazy.
We have one at work and it is very good.
You twist a knob about one whole turn to engage the magnet. We use them quite often at work. Upside down 300’ in the air in an elevator shaft haha. We ALWAYS use the safety strap!
 

Latest Posts

Top Bottom