Hougen Manufacturing, known for being a world leader in producing the highest quality portable magnetic drills, recently upgraded their HMD917 mag drill to the new and improved HMD920 model, delivering more power and control for all of your toughest hole making applications. They also released a smaller mag drill model, the HMD900 which is a more compact and portable option. Hougen has been highly recognized for their portable magnetic drills and annular cutters for over 60 years, producing the highest performing and most reliable tools for their customers. For any larger scale steel and metal drilling projects, Hougen Mag Drills are definitely the way to go.   

What is a Mag Drill?

If you aren’t familiar, magnetic drill presses, or mag drills, are portable power tools used for drilling holes in steel and similar metals. These are beneficial for larger cutting applications because you can bring the drill to your workpiece instead of having to maneuver a large piece of metal to a stationary drill. There is a large magnet at the base of the drill to magnetize it to the piece of steel or other metal you are cutting into, so the drill can be used on overhead and vertical surfaces as well. These drills are often used in steel fabrication, building and construction, mining, welding shops, power utility companies, railroad industries, and more because of their versatility and convenience. For more information or to see other methods for metal drilling, check out our more in-depth blog post: How to Drill Holes in Metal & What Tools to Use.

The Heavy-Duty HMD920 Mag Drill

The HMD920 Mag Drill is a larger model than the HMD900 to tackle the toughest drilling applications. The 3-speed gear box maximizes torque, tool life, and productivity. This feature allows you to use both the 12,000-series and the Copperhead Carbide cutters in this drill. You can change the RPM with different accessories to get the best performance and tool life for whatever your application may be.

The magnet on the HMD920 is a two-stage magnet that only engages full power when the motor is turned on to increase the magnet life. This mag drill can be purchased with a swivel base (HOU0920104) or without the swivel base (HOU0920102). The swivel base allows you to center the hole precisely without having to move the entire machine, which is especially helpful in overhead and horizontal drilling applications.

This model of mag drill features a built-in pilot light so you don’t have to worry about not being able to see the hole in low-light conditions. It also has a lift-detector safety system and a hidden motor cord for convenience, and Hougen offers a 2-year manufacturer warranty for the HMD920 Mag Drill.

The HMD900 Mag Drill

The new Hougen HMD900 Mag Drill has unmatched power and torque to cut through the toughest metals. The HMD900 is a smaller model of portable mag drill mainly made to be used for fabrication applications. It has a 2″ depth and a 1-1/2″ to 2″ diameter, making it super lightweight and versatile.

It’s no-load RPM is 450, which isn’t quite as powerful as the HMD920, but will still work great for smaller applications. This is a more cost-effective option if you aren’t in the market for a large, high intensity mag drill.

The Hougen HMD920 and HMD900 Mag Drills are available now at Ohio Power Tool! If you have any questions about this new product or any of the other mag drill options from Hougen, give us a call at 800-242-4424, email us at sales@ohiopowertool.com, or leave a comment below for assistance. We’re always happy to help! To be the first to know about new products and deals, subscribe to our e-newsletter and follow us on social media!