Winch-to-drill fitting as budget electic winch

[Lightwave395]

Almost certainly a better bet for most people. The power button is in the right place for a start.

I messed around for while with adaptors and Dewalt cordless drills, gave up in the end and bought a hardly used Winchrite on ebay for £220. Bloody marvellous thing, my OH has got me up to the top of a 14M mast a few times without drama for her or me and it raises the main in a heartbeat

 

[Chiara’s slave]

The one in the link went for £280.

 

[Bi111ion]

I I have this drill. It has as much torque as I can hold but in reverse, on a two speed winch to get low gear, it unscrews the chuck. Any ideas?

 

[DownWest]

Loctight. (sp)

I have a reversing Bosch. The F/R switch on top can lock the chuck. Says to torque it to 30-35 Nm to avoid unscrewing in reverse.

 

[Zing]

Get a powerful cordless drill. From memory you need 140nm or better. Very few drills can do this, so read the spec carefully.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Get a powerful cordless drill. From memory you need 140nm or better. Very few drills can do this, so read the spec carefully.

Jeez, man, mine is 98nm and will rip your arm off at the shoulder.

 

[Zing]

Jeez, man, mine is 98nm and will rip your arm off at the shoulder.

I checked and your figure is fine. (115nm for my old one) - Makita, but the latest is now at 142nm. So I was close. Great to have a senility check and pass.

If you fear you might be in danger of ripping your arm off best keep away from angle grinders or chain saws.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I checked and your figure is fine. (92nm for my old one) - Makita, but the latest is now at 142nm. So I was close. Great to have a senility check and pass.

If you fear you might be in danger of ripping your arm off best keep away from angle grinders or chain saws.

You use both of those in more controlled circumstances. It is very difficult to control a drill of any sort on a winch with high loads. You’ll break at least one of the boat, yourself or the drill with the slightest accident. We have tried this quite extensively, and have now bought a Wincher. That puts the trigger in the right place, and is much easier to hold in a controlled manner, given that it’s made for the job.

 

[wonkywinch]

You use both of those in more controlled circumstances. It is very difficult to control a drill of any sort on a winch with high loads. You’ll break at least one of the boat, yourself or the drill with the slightest accident. We have tried this quite extensively, and have now bought a Wincher. That puts the trigger in the right place, and is much easier to hold in a controlled manner, given that it’s made for the job.

Too true. I have a lifting keel that uses a winch handle in the saloon. I tried using a drill with attachment. Lowering is fine because the thread just comes loose when the keel has reached full extension.

Lifting it is a different matter. It's 100+ turns and if I set the ratchet clutch on the drill it can't turn the drive. With it locked out I have badly sprained my wrist twice now so forgo the speed for my safety and wind it by hand as it comes to an abrupt stop when the keel is fully raised.

 

[Zing]

You use both of those in more controlled circumstances. It is very difficult to control a drill of any sort on a winch with high loads. You’ll break at least one of the boat, yourself or the drill with the slightest accident. We have tried this quite extensively, and have now bought a Wincher. That puts the trigger in the right place, and is much easier to hold in a controlled manner, given that it’s made for the job.

Well I use it regularly at full torque. Hoisting very heavy sails, dinghys and men too. No problems after many years. Note the torque comes on slowly. It does not snatch unless you jam the trigger on fast, which might cause a problem. It comes with a second long handle if you find the power too much. I don’t use it.

 

[Bi111ion]

What about something like this Pardon our interruption... it is for nuts and has a high torque. I wonder if the cl
utch in reverse can be disabled?

 

[Zing]

What about something like this Pardon our interruption... it is for nuts and has a high torque. I wonder if the cl
utch in reverse can be disabled?

You mean it has nuts high torque? 240 nm.

The Milwaukee right angle drill this is a Chinese copy of is an excellent solution. Quite expensive if you get the proper brand though and not as versatile as a drill driver, which has lots of other uses.

 

[Bi111ion]

I will try the cheap Chinese copy. Its not likely to last log on a boat either way and I dont want to kill an expensive one. 240nm sounds a lot or torque ... I hope the control feeds it on gradually.

You mean it has nuts high torque? 240 nm.

The Milwaukee right angle drill this is a Chinese copy of is an excellent solution. Quite expensive if you get the proper brand though and not as versatile as a drill driver, which has pilots of other uses.

 

[KevinV]

What about something like this Pardon our interruption... it is for nuts and has a high torque. I wonder if the cl
utch in reverse can be disabled?

That weighs 5 pounds - without the battery. I can't help thinking that a winch handle is starting to look easier to manage.

 

[seeSimon]

That weighs 5 pounds - without the battery. I can't help thinking that a winch handle is starting to look easier to manage.

Something like that , that weighs > 5lbs and can produce 240Nm T is likely to be a "challenge" for the apparently somewhat petite Mrs OP...imho...

Gonna need a reaction bar, at least... and possibly help to lift the driver on/off the winch?

Personally, my 18v cordless brushless Hitachi at 130 Nm is at about my comfort limit, and as an Engineer, I sense a need to "beware" twisting/pinching injuries.
You can also feel the frame of the drill itself twisting. Can't imagine it would last very long under such duties, especially at sea?
OK for occasionally sheeting/hoisting sails maybe, but proved unable to hoist a man aloft on my single speed winch. Which was why i bought the damn iwincher bit! £40ish?

On the other hand (unfortunate turn of phrase?)...I did have some involvement with a very nasty accident with a built on Harken electric deck winch that pulled a guys leg off just below the knee, via a spinnaker halyard. Such winches don't just stop/jam up. Be careful!

 

[seeSimon]

You use both of those in more controlled circumstances. It is very difficult to control a drill of any sort on a winch with high loads. You’ll break at least one of the boat, yourself or the drill with the slightest accident. We have tried this quite extensively, and have now bought a Wincher. That puts the trigger in the right place, and is much easier to hold in a controlled manner, given that it’s made for the job.

Surely neither a chain saw, nor an angle grinder are about low speeds/high torques?

As I age, I'm finding greater respect for both tools!

 

[Zing]

…, but proved unable to hoist a man aloft on my single speed winch…

That may be the issue. All mine are 2 speed and I only use the low gear. In high gear it doesn’t have the torque except for very light loads.

 

[Bi111ion]

That weighs 5 pounds - without the battery. I can't help thinking that a winch handle is starting to look easier to manage.

The WinchRite, a purpose made electric winch handle, is 2.9 kg, over 6lbs in 'Mericun, or two bunches of bananas. It is probably the balance and ergonomics that matter more, once you have it on the winch.