Weldfabulous Blog

Hougen magnetic drills are great for the shop, but they’re more likely to go where other drills can’t – right to the job site and work piece.

A magnetic drill is a specialized portable power tool used for drilling holes in steel and similar metals. And it can be used in any position—vertical, horizontal, or overhead (upside down).

It can be time-consuming and cumbersome to try to maneuver large steel or pipe into position at a stationary drill press or work center. But a portable magnetic drill can be taken to the work piece, instead of trying to bring the work piece to the drill.

Where are mag drills used?

• Steel Fabrication
• Building and Construction
• Bridge Rebuilding
• Mining
• Ship Building
• Truck, RV and Special Vehicle Building
• Pipeline, Offshore and Oil Fields
• Welding Shops
• Power Utilities
• Railroad Industries
• Maintenance Facilities
• Mobile Repair Shops
• Machinery Riggers

Magnet Adhesion

Mag drills must magnetize to a solid surface. Magnetic strength is related to steel thickness. Minimum thickness is 3/8" because if the material is thinner, the magnet will not hold well. One solution is to clamp another piece of steel on top or below the thinner steel for stronger adhesion.

Material that is clean and free from coatings will offer the best surface for the magnet. For non-ferrous materials, use a Hougen Vac-pad™ (for use with HMD904 and HMD905 non-swivel drills only) or clamp a piece of steel on top of it.

A clean smooth surface will allow the magnet to ‘stick’ better. Situations where the magnet will have reduced holding power include:

• Material less than 3/8" thick
• Coatings or paint layers on material
• Chips, dirt, or grease between the magnet and the material
• Curved surface (Surface should be flat. For pipe applications, a pipe adapter should be used.)
• Magnet only partially on work surface

Safety Chain/Strap Use

A mag drill should always be used with a safety strap or chain especially in horizontal or upside down positions. A safety chain or strap helps to prevent injury if the drill shifts. While Hougen mag drills have a built-in safety circuit that stops the motor when the drill lifts from the material, only a safety chain/strap will keep a mag drill from falling if it accidentally becomes unplugged.