Watch the torque on Milwaukee drills

[Motorhead]

Two weeks ago, I bought a Milwaukee 1/2 inch chuck hand drill to use to put together a metal carport awning for my truck. Nice drill!!! I think that mine has an EZedge box on it as it don't stall on anything.

Yesterday late afternoon, I'm drilling through an angle iron base plate with a 1/2 inch drill bit. I pilot drilled the hole first then hit it with the 1/2 inch bit. Right at the end, that sucker grabbed and twisted the CRAP out of my left hand and forearm. It hurt like a Muther. WELL today, I'm in a cast! I cracked the smaller bone in my left arm just above the wrist. The bummer is that I am LEFT handed! I still like the drill!!!! Chris

 

[illflem]

Tell me about it! I was using a Milwaukee Hole Hog angle drill drilling holes for electrical wires in 16 high roof rafters when the bit caught on a nail. The drill pulled me up to the ceiling and jammed my hand against the trigger so I couldn't let go while at the same time I kicked the ladder over. Here I was hanging from the drill ten feet straight over a still opened ladder laying on the floor. The circuit breaker finally blew and the Hole Hog released me from the ceiling, my only option was to drop, landing on the ladder breaking it, bruised and shaken but otherwise ok. Had to buy a new ladder before I could retreive the drill. Could have been worse. Heal well Chris and remember never use the trigger lock!

 

[Motorhead]

I think that they are going to wonder about me at work. I just healed from a knee surgery!!! Chris

 

[nickleinonen]

i use to think that all the milwaukee tools were of good quality...



... until i used their iron cutoff saw/grinder at work. man was i disapointed. it had a fast cutting blade on it and i was cutting 1. 5x1. 5 . 25 angle iron. that thing would not cut at all. i thought it was the wheel so i grabbed another one and still nothing. . man was i disapointed. my maketa cutoff wheel cuts through . 5" 2. 5x2. 5 angle iron like nothing at all. i ended up using the bandsaw they have there after i hunted for a new blade. . i am sure that their drills are great, but their cut off wheel saw is useless i think

 

[Philip]

You think the 1/2" drill is bad. Try a 3/4" I used one where I used to work. Two people on it with a 16" pipe for a second handle. The 3/4" bit grabbed. It pulled out of both of our hands. It beat both on us pretty bad. The other guy had locked the trigger by accident. It never did stall. Had to unplug it while the handles were spinning.



I also had an old Siox air drill that you couldn't stall. It now has a new home.

 

[Papa Joe]

Remember the old POS drills that had a locking button for floor polishing or some other stupid thing. I had a 1-inch spade bit (years ago) up in a tight corner of a stud wall. It got away from we with the lock button depressed. U G L Y !!



A Milwaukee grinder is a handfull and a Skil 77 in the hands of a novice can be bloody as well.



That's why I don't loan the big boys to anyone.



Joe

 

[Papa Joe]

Sorry guys. I forgot the most important part. I'm left-handed. I'm not dumb enough to use the locking button, but a lefty can set the button easily by mistake. My solution (and recommendation for lefties) is to cut the button off flush.

 

[bigkid59]

A few months ago there was a thread involving something similar. I responded to that one with advice to do something I did.

I put a foot switch in series with the switch on my drill press so that I can immediately shut it down even with both hands busy. I also set up a foot switch with an input and an output cord so that I can use it with any portable tools, not just a drill. This switch has saved me more than once when in a bad position, like under a car or truck, while drilling a hole.

There will, of course, be some times where the use of such a switch may not be possible, but those instances will be few compared to the times that it could save some injuries.

Take care of all those valuable body parts!!!

 

[Evan A. Beck]

When I was an electrician, we used Black & Decker TimerWolf 1/2" drills. The good thing about them, is that they had a clutch on the lower speed (300 RPM). When the bit got snagged on a nail or something, the clutch would release, and the motor would freewheel. Great safety feature... Too bad there was no clutch on the hgih speed (1200 RPM) setting... Be careful!

 

[Philip]

but a lefty can set the button easily by mistake

I am left handed also. But I was on the second handle. The other guy was right handed.

 

[gitchesum]

I had a Milwaukee Rotary Hammer Drill whack me across the jaw a few years ago. I've been punched in the jaw before and it didn't hurt that bad. Strong tools though.

 

[Arcticat]

I was just going to say the same thing Evan. I use a DeWalt Joist and Stud drill, which is identical to the Timberwolf. There is no way you would catch me using a hole-hawg or similar drill without a clutch. Only reason I think all the electricians and plumbers around here use them is that Milwaukee seems to be the only brand of tools sold in electrical and plumbing supply houses, at least around here. Enough people have gotten injured with the things that I think Milwaukee finally wised up and is now offering a RA drill with a long handle for leverage and a clutch. Makita has one out now that looks pretty nice too.

 

[TxDieselKid]

When I worked in the tool department, I would much rather have sold a Milwaukee brand over the craftmen brand, even though I got paid more for the crapsmen! I think a better quility tool will make the customer more happy, and repeat business, too bad my boss didn't think so.



Andrew

 

[Motorhead]

Well today I got a nice PURPLE full arm cast that stays on for 2 weeks then I get a wrist cast for 4 more weeks. The good news is that I didn't tear up the cartilidge in the wrist. All I wear is 501 Levis with the button fly. I play up the sympathy with my wife Chris

 

[TxDieselKid]

Originally posted by Motorhead

Well today I got a nice PURPLE full arm cast that stays on for 2 weeks

Chris

Chris,

You must have an ATS transmission!!!



Andrew

 

[Motorhead]

no, i like purple. when i was a kid, we had these aluminum anodized colored drinking cups. i always pitched a ***** if i didn't get that purple cup. my little brother found one like it at a garage sale several years ago and bought it for me.

i don't remember the incident but i was only about 3 yrs old, had my purple cup and was watching sheriff john and eating a bottle of orange flavored baby aspirin. i got my stomach pumped on that occasion. Chris

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by Motorhead

Two weeks ago, I bought a Milwaukee 1/2 inch chuck hand drill to use to put together a metal carport awning for my truck. Nice drill!!! I think that mine has an EZedge box on it as it don't stall on anything.

Yesterday late afternoon, I'm drilling through an angle iron base plate with a 1/2 inch drill bit. I pilot drilled the hole first then hit it with the 1/2 inch bit. Right at the end, that sucker grabbed and twisted the CRAP out of my left hand and forearm. It hurt like a Muther. WELL today, I'm in a cast! I cracked the smaller bone in my left arm just above the wrist. The bummer is that I am LEFT handed! I still like the drill!!!! Chris

No kiddin', I can't belive I missed this thread, the same thing happend to me about 2 months ago. I needed to ONE 1/2" hole, I was at the neighbors, with HIS Milwaukee 1/2" drill, LESS the t-handle. I thought I should go back and get mine, which has the t-handle, but figure "Just one hole", so I use his armbreaker.



Two months later and my wrist still makes a wierd "crunchin' noise.



Later, Rob

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by nickleinonen

i use to think that all the milwaukee tools were of good quality...



... until i used their iron cutoff saw/grinder at work. man was i disapointed. it had a fast cutting blade on it and i was cutting 1. 5x1. 5 . 25 angle iron. that thing would not cut at all. i thought it was the wheel so i grabbed another one and still nothing. . man was i disapointed. my maketa cutoff wheel cuts through . 5" 2. 5x2. 5 angle iron like nothing at all. i ended up using the bandsaw they have there after i hunted for a new blade. . i am sure that their drills are great, but their cut off wheel saw is useless i think

well...



today i had a good dose of a milwaukee magnetic base drill press. i was using a 1" bit drilling 1" steel plate and the bit caught, it made the electromagnetic plate slide 90° before i could hit the shutoff switch. man that thing is torquy! it scares me now... i think i am going to torch the rest of the holes

 

[D808]

I was very proud when I bought a new Milwaukee drill last week. I was proud because it was 100 percent MADE IN THE USA!!!!!!!! We really need to support the companies that still manufacture in our great country!!!!!



Federalman

 

[Motorhead]

Yes, Me Too... even if the darn thing cracked the bone in my arm!!! Un-fortunately, It is becoming harder and harder to find "MADE IN USA" Chris