BTE Mid-Western Rock Drills
The American-made S83 pneumatic rock drill platform — jackleg and sinker drills built to the original Gardner-Denver specs, plus the Demon Drill: the same S83 on a pneumatic feed that drills hole after hole with no operator fatigue. Hand-held and air leg rock drills for sale for underground mining, quarry, geotechnical, and construction crews.
The short version
All three drills are the same 72 lb, 3 in. piston S83 drifter underneath — what changes is how it is held. The jackleg drives horizontal blast holes off an air leg, the sinker drills straight down hand-held, and the Demon Drill mounts the S83 on a pneumatic feed for multi-hole production work. Every one runs on a single 185 CFM compressor and takes the same 7/8 in. or 1 in. hex drill steel.
The S83 Family: Three Ways to Drill Rock
Mid-Western acquired the S83 tooling and intellectual property from Gardner Denver and still builds the drill to those specs today — a pneumatic rock drill design proven underground for decades, machined in-house in Missouri.
S83 Jackleg Drill
The classic underground production drill — an S83 drifter on a pusher leg that feeds the drill into the face. Horizontal and angled blast holes for tunnel development, drifting, and mine production, with your choice of telescopic or power-retractable feed leg.
Built for: Underground miners and tunneling crews drilling horizontal blast holes all shift — the drill most crews mean when they say jackleg, jack leg, or air leg drill.
Full specifications
S83 Sinker Drill
The power of the S83 jackleg in a hand-held sinking hammer for drilling straight down — shaft sinking, quarry plug and feather holes, construction and utility drilling. Heavy-duty neoprene grips, in dry (air flush) or wet (water flush) versions for dust suppression.
Built for: Vertical and downhole drilling anywhere a compressor can reach — the pneumatic rock drill for quarry, geotech, and jobsite crews who drill down, not in.
Full specifications
S83 Demon Drill
The S83 mounted to a fully pneumatic feed system — stroke, rotation, and hammering all run on air — so nobody has to hold the drill. It tilts and locks up to 30 degrees left or right, mounts to a 2 in. receiver hitch or a plate mount for a mini skid steer or other equipment, and drills hole after hole with no operator fatigue.
Built for: Multi-hole production work — surface and underground mines, quarries, geotechnical and jacking-and-grouting outfits, utilities, road crews, and fencing contractors. Far more capacity than a hand-held rock drill, at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated drill rig.
Full specifications
One Drill, Eight Configurations
Every S83 leaves the factory as the same drifter — pick the drill type, steel size, and leg. Air first: the platform wants 90 psi at the tool, which normally takes a 185 CFM compressor.
| Item no. | Drill type | Steel size | Feed leg | Flushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MWS83FA | Jackleg | 7/8 x 4-1/4 in. (22 x 108 mm) | FL7 power retract | — |
| MWS83FB | Jackleg | 1 x 4-1/4 in. (25 x 108 mm) | FL7 power retract | — |
| MWS83FC | Jackleg | 7/8 x 4-1/4 in. (22 x 108 mm) | TUL2B telescopic | — |
| MWS83FD | Jackleg | 1 x 4-1/4 in. (25 x 108 mm) | TUL2B telescopic | — |
| MWS83DA | Sinker | 7/8 x 4-1/4 in. (22 x 108 mm) | — | Dry |
| MWS83DB | Sinker | 1 x 4-1/4 in. (25 x 108 mm) | — | Dry |
| MWS83WA | Sinker | 7/8 x 4-1/4 in. (22 x 108 mm) | — | Wet |
| MWS83WB | Sinker | 1 x 4-1/4 in. (25 x 108 mm) | — | Wet |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Percussion by air pressure
| Pressure | Impacts per minute | Energy per blow |
|---|---|---|
| 80 psi | 2,256 BPM | 59.6 ft-lb |
| 90 psi | 2,302 BPM | 69.2 ft-lb |
| 100 psi | 2,418 BPM | 84.8 ft-lb |
Need the air to run one? See air compressors and the air compressor buyer’s guide.
Drill Steel & Bits for the S83
Every S83 takes standard 7/8 x 4-1/4 in. or 1 x 4-1/4 in. hex shank steel — match the shank to your chuck, then pick bits for the hole. With the right steel and bits the platform covers everything from a 5/8 in. anchor pilot to 3 in.+ blast and production holes.
Browse the full drill steel & bits catalog, or the complete rock drills category.
Feed Legs & Swivels
Legs and connection hardware are stocked in Denver and ordered with the drill, so the package arrives ready to run.
Which Drill Do I Need?
Pick by the direction of the hole and how many of them you drill in a day.
Drilling into the face
Horizontal and angled blast holes underground — drifting, tunnel development, production headings.
S83 Jackleg DrillDrilling straight down
Shaft sinking, quarry plug-and-feather work, footings, anchors, and utility holes.
S83 Sinker DrillDrilling all day
Multi-hole production — rock anchors, grout curtains, solar and fence lines in rock, close-in blasting.
S83 Demon DrillDrilling overhead
Roof bolting and back holes. BTE no longer builds the S83 stoper, but the Canun 260B stoper drill sells online and ships from our Denver shelf.
See the Canun 260B StoperWhere the Demon Drill fits
Three rungs on the production ladder — the Demon is the middle one most crews skip past without knowing it exists.
Hand-held S83 — from $4,250
One operator, one compressor, total flexibility. But the operator holds 72 lb of drill all shift, and fatigue sets the pace on multi-hole days.
Demon Drill — $25,000
The same proven S83 on a pneumatic feed: hitch- or plate-mounted, tilting to 30 degrees, drilling 5/8 to 3 in.+ holes hour after hour with nobody holding the drill.
Dedicated drill rig
Rig-mounted drills from the likes of TEI, Epiroc, or Sandvik out-produce the Demon on big-bore, deep-hole work — and cost several times as much to buy and run. If your holes fit inside 3 in. and a mini skid can reach them, the Demon does the work for a fraction of the money.
Rock Drill Questions
What is a jackleg drill?
A jackleg drill (also written jack leg, and called an air leg or pusher leg drill) is a hand-guided pneumatic rock drill mounted on a telescoping air-powered leg. The leg carries the weight and feeds the drill into the rock, so one miner can drill horizontal and angled blast holes underground all shift. The BTE Mid-Western S83 jackleg runs 2,302 BPM at 90 psi with 7/8 or 1 in. hex steel.
What is the difference between a jackleg, a sinker, and a stoper drill?
Direction. A jackleg drills horizontally off its feed leg, a sinker is held by hand and drills straight down, and a stoper points up for overhead work like roof bolting. BTE Mid-Western builds the S83 as a jackleg and a sinker today — the stoper is no longer manufactured, though the Canun 260B stoper covers overhead work — and both share the same drifter, so parts, steel, and service overlap across the family.
What size air compressor does an S83 rock drill need?
The optimal pressure is 90 psi at the drill, and holding that normally takes a compressor of at least 185 CFM. Altitude, hose length, and lubrication all affect performance, so size with headroom — see our air compressors and the air compressor buyer’s guide.
What drill steel and bits fit these drills?
Standard hex shank steel in 7/8 x 4-1/4 in. or 1 x 4-1/4 in., matched to the chuck you order. Crowder Supply stocks drill steel and extension rods, button, cross, and reaming bits, and adaptors alongside the drills.
Who makes BTE Mid-Western rock drills, and where?
BTE Mid-Western, LLC — formed in 2020 when BTE West (founded 1989) merged with Mid-Western, whose rock-drill history in Missouri goes back to the 1920s in Joplin. The drills are machined in-house in Wentzville, Missouri on CNC equipment, with the company running locations in Missouri, Nevada, and Arizona.
Is the S83 the same drill as the old Gardner-Denver S83?
Yes — Mid-Western acquired the S83 technology from Gardner Denver in the 1980s and is the OEM of the S83 line today, still building the drill to the original Gardner-Denver specifications. If your crew ran GD S83s, this is the same drill, and parts support comes from the manufacturer that machines it.
What is the Demon Drill?
The MWS83 Demon Drill is the S83 drifter mounted to a fully pneumatic feed system — stroke, rotation, and hammering all run on compressed air. It mounts to a 2 in. receiver hitch or a plate mount on a mini skid steer or other equipment, tilts and locks up to 30 degrees either way, and drills 5/8 in. to 3 in.+ holes with no operator fatigue. The mini skid carrier is sold separately.
How does the Demon Drill compare with a full rock drill rig?
Honestly: a dedicated rig from TEI, Epiroc, or Sandvik drills bigger holes, deeper, faster — and costs several times the Demon’s $25,000, before transport and upkeep. The Demon is not a rig replacement; it is the step between a hand-held drill and a rig. For anchors, grout holes, fence and solar lines in rock, and production work inside its 3 in.+ envelope, it does rig-style duty on hand-tool money. Call us and we will tell you straight which side of that line your job sits on.
What hole sizes can these drills make?
From about 5/8 in. up to 3 in. and beyond with the right bit, at depths set by your steel and extension lengths. That covers anchor pilots, plug-and-feather holes, blast rounds, grout curtains, and post holes in solid rock.
Should I get the wet or dry sinker drill?
Wet (MWS83WA/WB) flushes the hole with water through a 1/2 in. hose — the choice for silica dust control and deeper holes. Dry (MWS83DA/DB) air-flushes and keeps setup simpler where water is impractical. Same drill and same price class either way.
Do you sell stoper drills?
Yes. BTE Mid-Western no longer manufactures the S83 stoper, but Crowder Supply carries the Canun 260B stoper drill for roof bolting and overhead drilling — it sells online and ships from Denver. Call the number at the top of the page and we will spec the right setup for your heading.
What is the warranty, and can I get parts?
BTE Mid-Western covers its products with a 90-day warranty against manufacturer defects, and because the drills are machined in-house, wear parts and rebuild support are available for the long haul. Call the number at the top of the page with your model and we will get parts moving same day.
Tell us the rock and the holes
Hole diameter, depth, direction, and what compressor you run. We will spec the right S83 — or tell you if the Demon or a different drill entirely is the better buy — and match the steel and bits to it.