Hougen Mag Drill Presses

Each model in the HMD-series is configured with a specific motor capacity, gear system, and physical weight to balance portability with heavy-duty drilling capabilities:

• Hougen HMD904 (Standard Workhorse): Features a 115V, 8-amp (920W) motor operating at a single speed of 450 RPM. Weighs exactly 28 lbs. Rated for a maximum annular cutter capacity of 1-1/2 inches (38mm) diameter with a 2-inch (50mm) depth of cut.
• Hougen HMD905 (Two-Speed Powerhouse): Features a larger 115V, 9-amp (1035W) motor. Weighs 35 lbs. Utilizes a two-speed mechanical gearbox operating at 250 RPM (Low) / 450 RPM (High). Rated for a maximum cutting capacity of 2 inches (50mm) diameter with a 2-inch (50mm) depth of cut.

The newer HMD2X2 introduces several major mechanical upgrades to increase cutting capacity and operator convenience in tight clearances:

• Cutting Capacity: The HMD2X2 handles up to a 2-inch diameter by 2-inch depth of cut, while the legacy HMD130 is capped at a 1-3/8 inch diameter by 1-inch depth of cut.
• Speed Control: The HMD2X2 features a two-speed mechanical gearbox (300 & 450 RPM). The HMD130 runs at a single fixed speed of 450 RPM.
• Cutter Compatibility: The HMD2X2 uses a spline arbor compatible with standard 12,000-Series (two-flat shank) cutters. The HMD130 is restricted to proprietary RotaLoc Plus™ bayonet-style cutters.
• Clearance Heights: The HMD2X2 stands at 7-5/8 inches tall (weighing 29.2 lbs) compared to the subcompact HMD130's height of 6-15/32 inches (weighing 23.8 lbs).

Drilling precisely overhead or on vertical steel beams makes it difficult to manually position a heavy magnetic drill while holding it against gravity. Hougen’s swivel-base mechanism solves this alignment bottleneck:

• You position the drill approximately over your target and turn the magnet on to lock the machine safely to the steel.
• You then unlock the swivel handle, allowing you to slide, swing, and precisely micro-adjust the drill body (up to 1-1/8 inches front-to-back and 20 degrees left-to-right) until the pilot pin seats perfectly in your center-punch mark.
• Once aligned, you flip the locking handle to secure the carriage rigidly, ensuring zero tool movement during the cut.

Traditional magnetic drills feed full electrical current to the magnetic coils the instant the machine is plugged in, generating excessive heat that degrades the magnet over time. Hougen’s two-stage magnet operates smarter:

• Stage 1 (Motor Off): Applies approximately 70% of its holding power when the magnet switch is turned on, giving you plenty of force to hold the drill in place while aligning the bit.
• Stage 2 (Motor On): Automatically ramps up to 100% full magnetic clamp force (up to 3,300 lbs on the HMD905) the instant the motor trigger is pressed. This maximizes holding power during high-torque cutting passes while keeping the magnet coils significantly cooler when idling.

Choosing the correct annular cutter material directly affects your tool lifecycle and cutting speeds across different steel alloys:

• 12,000-Series HSS Cutters: Manufactured from premium M2 high-speed steel. Highly ductile and impact-resistant, making them the industry standard for drilling standard structural A36 steel, medium carbon steel, and softer materials.
• Copperhead™ Carbide-Tipped (TCT) Cutters: Feature ultra-hard tungsten carbide teeth brazed to an alloy body. They are designed explicitly to slice through harder, more abrasive materials such as high-tensile structural steel, stainless steel plate, worn cast iron, and rail steel without dulling early.

Yes, but because Hougen drills feature an arbor designed for hollow annular cutters, running solid twist drills requires a chuck conversion:

• For drilling small-diameter holes (under 1/2-inch) where annular cutters are unavailable, you must install an approved 1/2-inch Drill Chuck Adapter (part number 05012 or similar, depending on your HMD model) into the slot-drive arbor.
• This adapter securely clamps standard straight-shank twist drills. Note: Because twist drills must physically cut all the metal out of the hole (rather than just the outer ring), they generate significantly higher load; do not exceed the drill's maximum rated twist-drill capacity.

The patented Hougen Lift Detector safety system is a spring-loaded sensor pin that passes through the bottom of the electromagnetic base, resting flat against the steel plate. If the drill carriage shifts, tilts, or begins to lift off the plate under heavy mechanical feed pressure—or if the metal plate is too thin or rusty to maintain full magnetic flux—the spring-loaded pin expands slightly. This instantly opens an internal safety circuit that shuts off power to the drill motor in less than a fraction of a second, preventing the machine from twisting out of control and causing serious operator injury.

As an authorized stocking commercial trade distributor and certified service partner, Ohio Power Tool stocks a comprehensive lineup of metal-cutting equipment. We maintain deep regional field stock on Hougen HMD904 and HMD905 drills, HMD2X2 right-angle low-profiles, standard 12,000-Series and Copperhead™ cutters, pilot pins, pressurized coolant bottles, and industrial cutting lubricants to keep your steel fabrication, field repair, and ironwork crews operating at peak capacity.