Best hole hawg out there?

[dblply2]

Who makes the best hole hawg out there for the money?

I have been looking at the Milwaukee 1676 and from what i read, it looks like a decent one.

on a side note: how worried should i be about torque/binding and being thrown off a wall while drilling for rebar?!

Thanks,
ross

[rreidnauer]

The best Hole Hawg is a real Hole Hawg, only made by Milwaukee. Don't even consider one of those cheap Chinese knockoffs. Drilling in high gear isn't bad. Should you find the need to ever drill in low gear, simply be sure to stay out of the arc of rotation should it bind up. Used ones are usually a worthwhile purchase. Just don't get the 1670. (single speed version) It just doesn't make sense to spend the same as a two speed, for a single speed with a rather annoying RPM.

[dblply2]

That confirms what I've been hearing elsewhere. Anyone break a wrist with one of these things?!

[Kola]

No broken wrists that I know of but LHBAer Johnny Coho got himself one hell of a black eye from the beast.

I have run a Milwakee hawg before and yes it could throw you into next Tuesday.

Maybe they should pass a "law" that you have to have a license to run one and pass a "law" to wear a helmet and kevlar gear while operating...and maybe another "law" to insure yourself and any others in the area. And if your didn't have a license and ran one, you would have to serve 100 days in jail....or just pay the man 300 dollars. Beware of The Hole-Hawg Police, coming to your town. eeeK!

Kola

[WNYcabinplannin]

I got mine for $100 on ebay used (guilty smile...)
and used it to build a small post and beam shed (10x10) with old barn beams. (100+ year red oak) Going through old oak was slow gear only. I hit a hidden nail once, and I'm glad I had the pipe handle on and braced against my body. If I was on a ladder it woulda knocked me hard on my arse.
Treat it with as much respect as a chain saw, period!

SO GLAD I'm taking the class at the end of the month!!!
-Fletcher

[hemlock77]

I got mine used on ebay as well $75. Like others have said high gear not too bad on the torque. low gear is what will bite, throw and kick ya. What I do is position drill so it pulls away from me, and feather the trigger as needed.?
Stu
<a href="http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/">http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/</a>?

[rocklock]

I bought a Chinese super drill (I think about 15 amps). It broke after drilling about 700 1/2 inch holes through big logs. The screw that makes the chuck not back (when your in reverse) out broke. OK, I went to HD and bought a Milwaukee Hole Hawg. We used that thing for another 700 holes. It took awhile but the fast gear got stripped. It now does not work. I works great on slow speed but not at all on high speed.

I used the Chinese drill to turn in my lag screws. I cut off a socket extension, and then made it six sided so it would fit into the drill. The chuck on the Chinese drill is much bigger (than the Milwaukee) and will accept a 1/2 inch cut down extension. The problem is that the Chinese drill has way too much torque. I weigh about 280 and several times I was abused by my drill. No black eyes but it turned me every way but loose. But I was able complete the task.

Bottom line, the Milwaukee is good but I have had trouble with both... It may be because its hard work but I have had problems.

[ragdump]

Ragdump

Here's an example of what Milwaukee power tools can do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV8yfpKUnmg

[hemlock77]

Here is another one ??<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOlnRVwHdW4&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOlnRVwHdW4&amp;feature=related</a>
?
Stu
<a href="http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/">http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/</a>?

[H2OFowlerandWife]

That confirms what I've been hearing elsewhere. Anyone break a wrist with one of these things?!

Had a hole hawg whack me in my check bone and knock me off an 8' ladder. Got a trip to the hospital with a few stitches on my cheek

[loghousenut]

With the real stout gear reduction. I've got two but my favorite is one that I bought at a yard sale 30 years ago for $5. The guy selling it said "be careful son, it'll rip yer arm off". The on/off switch was not variable speed and it was definately either ON or OFF. It also had that cute little button by the switch that locked the switch "on". That cute little button was in a place that made it almost impossible not to push it if you were standing next to the drill and triggering with your thumb. In fact it always seemed to me that, the higher you were on a ladder, the easier it was to lock the on switch in the on position.

I was only about 8' up the ladder the last time that button locked the trigger in the on position. Fortunately, as I fell to the ground my thumb accidentally slipped out of the trigger guard allowing the drill to wrap up 50' or so of cord without the resistance that my sizeable bulk would have imposed upon it. As I looked up at it winding up like an eel on a fishhook I swore a quick oath that that particular drill would receive an immediate buttonectomy. I've never regretted removing that stupid button.