5 Best Drill Press Review and Buyer’s Guide

It does not matter if you are a hobbyist or an expert craftsman. A drill press is a must-have for anyone who loves woodwork. This tool will definitely give you an easy time when drilling through different materials, translating to precise works in each piece.

The wide variety of drill presses in the market has made it difficult for shoppers to identify the right type. Most people waste their energy and money on a drill press that is not suited for the project.

So, if you are interested in knowing more about the best drill presses in the market, together with important factors to consider when shopping for one, have a look at this review. This will significantly help you narrow down the best options according to your standards and preferences. Lastly, don’t forget to click on the buttons below to see their best deals on Amazon.

Table of Contents

Best Drill Presses Comparison & Rating

Drill Presses	Features
1. Skil 3320-01 10-Inch Benchtop Drill Press	45-degree tilting table laser beam guide five-speed setting
2. Wen 4208 5-Speed 8-Inch Benchtop Drill Press	five-speed system 1/3 HP motor depth adjustment system
3. Dremel 220-01 Drill Press WorkStation Kit	15-degree tilt up to 90-degrees capable of a 15 to 90-degree tilt onboard storage
4. Wen 4227 12-Speed 17-Inch Standing Drill Press	can bevel up to 45-degree 12-speed option precision laser
5. Wen 4214 14-Inch Benchtop Drill Press	mechanical variable system LED display 580 to 3200 RPM

1. Skil 3320-01 10-Inch Benchtop Drill Press

SKIL 3320-01 3.2 Amp 10-Inch Drill Press

Specifications:

94% Overall

Brand	Chevron - SKIL
Dimensions	21.75 x 15.25 x 9.75 inches
Weight	50.8 pounds
Power Source	Battery

95%

durability

94%

Performance

94%

value for money

93%

Ergonomic

Pros:

Comes in compact size, making it a reliable drill press for your shop.
Made using cast iron and uses 1/2-inch keyed chuck that makes it possible to take several drill bits.
Allows a 45-degree tilting table that will ensure you can drill precisely at an angle of your choosing.
Comes with a laser beam guide to help improve your drilling precision further.
Made using durable and high-quality materials that make it last longer.
Has a five-speed setting that allows one to choose a perfect speed of between 750 to 3,050 RPM.
The included depth stop helps one to drill to the right depth every time.
Provides a a bump off switch for extra safety, a three year warranty period, and a 10-inch swing that combines all ensuring it ranks top among the drill presses in the market.

Cons:

Its laser uses different batteries.
Quite difficult to maintain since it requires frequent maintenance practices, but a good investment.

Final Take:

Skil 3320-01 Benchtop Drill Press ranks top among the different types of a drill press in the market. It has a very powerful motor and uses a five-speed system, which makes it possible to select the right speed. This is a drill press that you need to try out in case you are looking for a drill press in the market.

Check Price

2. Wen 4208 5-Speed 8-Inch Benchtop Drill Press

Specifications:

92% Overall

Brand	WEN
Dimensions	7.5 x 22.88 x 11 inches
Weight	31 pounds
Power Source	Corded Electric

94%

durability

93%

Performance

91%

value for money

90%

Ergonomic

Pros:

Reasonable price for all its features, setting it apart from other drill presses in the market.
Comes with an effective and interesting depth adjustment system.
Very powerful and comes with everything you might need to help ensure a successful drilling process, especially if you are a beginner.
Comes with a ½-inch chuck, swings measuring 8-inch, 2-inch spindle travel, and a five-speed system that ensures the speeds of between 740 and 3140 RPM are achieved.
Offers 1/3 HP motor that makes the job done faster.

Cons:

Does not have a laser guide.
Has less power compared to other models on this list.

Final Take:

Wen 4208 Benchtop Drill Press is well known for its small size and attractive price despite the great features it comprises. However, Wen 4208 lacks a laser guide, although it has a beveling work table measuring 6.5 by 6.5 inches and capable of beveling up to 45-degrees. Its attractive price makes it a perfect option for people who do not have huge budgets.

Check Price

3. Dremel 220-01 Drill Press WorkStation Kit

Dremel Drill Press Rotary Tool Workstation Stand with Wrench- 220-01- Mini Portable Drill Press- Tool Holder- 2 inch Drill Depth- Ideal for Drilling Perpendicular and Angled Holes- Table Top Drill

Specifications:

90% Overall

Brand	Dremel
Dimensions	6 x 6 x 12 inches
Weight	5.32 pounds
Power Source	Corded Electric

92%

durability

91%

Performance

89%

value for money

88%

Ergonomic

Pros:

Its workstation also works as a tool holder helping hold the rotary tool at 90-degrees for sanding, polishing, and grinding jobs.
The holder is capable of making a 15-degree tilt up to 90-degree, thereby offering you much flexibility.
Provides onboard storage of drill bits together with wrenches and clips to help in managing the cord of the rotary tool.

Cons:

Does not come with a motor.
A bit expensive.

Final Take:

This Dremel 220-01 Drill Press performs beyond any other ordinary drill press. It can accept all bits right from 1/32 to 1/8-inch and can work well with different Dremel rotary tools models despite its high cost. However, Dremel 220-01 Drill Press is suitable for use in a workstation. It is made using high quality and durable materials that make it last for a longer time.

Check Price

4. Wen 4227 12-Speed 17-Inch Standing Drill Press

WEN 4227 13 Amp 12-Speed Floor Standing Drill Press, 17"

Specifications:

88% Overall

Brand	WEN
Dimensions	14 x 30 x 67 inches
Weight	214 pounds
Power Source	Corded Electric

90%

durability

89%

Performance

87%

value for money

86%

Ergonomic

Pros:

Package comes with everything right from the working light to a precision laser, a 14 by 14-inch work table made of cast iron, and coolant runoff channels that help in preventing overheating whenever you are drilling.
Offers a 12-speed option and a 4.75-inch stroke choice to offer the operator with best conditions regardless of if you are working on plastic, metal, hardwood, softwood, or other types of materials.
The worktable of Wen 4227 can bevel up to 45 degrees, while its locking depth gauge will assist you to drill equal lengths every time.

Cons:

Extremely heavy, but offers great stability.
A bit expensive and often unavailable due to high demand.

Final Take:

Wen 4227 is a top-quality drill press that comes with everything you might need from a drill press. This drill press is for the 17-inch swing version, although there is also a 15-inch version in the market. It uses a 13 amp motor that produces enough power for all your drilling needs and comes with a laser guide, onboard work light, and a key storage

Check Price

5. Wen 4214 14-Inch Benchtop Drill Press

WEN 4214 12-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press,Orange

Specifications:

86% Overall

Brand	WEN
Dimensions	13.5 x 36.63 x 16.75 inches
Weight	89 pounds
Power Source	Corded Electric

88%

durability

87%

Performance

85%

value for money

84%

Ergonomic

Pros:

Uses a mechanical variable system. You can always choose any speed you want, ranging from 580 to 3200 RPM while maintaining equal torque.
LED display helps in displaying the speed for you.
Has a 9.5 by 9.5 work table made of cast iron that has a beveling angle of 45-degrees.
Also comes with spindle travel of 3.1-inches and includes a table roller extension and a depth adjustment system.
Offers an onboard laser guide, and a 5/8-inch keyed chuck to help improve your drilling accuracy.

Cons:

Maintaining it is quite difficult and costly.
A bit expensive for the features it offers.

Final Take:

Wen 4214 14-Inch Benchtop Drill Press is of best interest for you. It comes with a 5 amp motor and a variable speed system. Wen 4214 14-Inch Benchtop Drill Press can pack lots of power thanks to its 5 amp motor. It has a great digital display and a precision laser. However, maintaining this Wen 4214 is very difficult, making it not suitable for a first time user.

Check Price

Best Drill Presses - Product Buyer's Guide

power

Power is the most important factor you need to consider when in the market for the best drill press. Power is usually given in motors’ amperage usage or horsepower. When you have high horsepower, it means a more powerful machine that ensures more work is done with lots of ease.

The majority of the drill presses in the market are electrically powered and do have an electric motor that connects to the spindle through the belt system.

When shopping for a drill press, always go for one with a power rating that is slightly above what you require. This will give you the freedom to do more jobs whenever they come up.

Speed

Drill presses do come with a system that enables you to choose different operating speeds. Ability to choose different speeds is of great benefit since different materials are best worked on at different speeds.

With a powerful and multi-speed drill press, it is possible to use the high speeds to bore through the wood quickly, while the lower speeds can be used for boring through the metal. The spin rate is measured in Rotations per Minute and ranges from a few hundred RPMs to over 3,000 RPM.

Throat depth

Throat depth refers to the distance between the spindle center and the column. The measure is important since it helps one to know the press size. Drill press size is what is referred to as the swing, and it is usually twice the throat depth. It is measured in inches. For example, a drill press has a throat depth of 5-inches, is said to have a swing of 10-inches, and is simply 10-inches wide.

features

With the advancement in technology, modern tools do come with lots of extra features. Some of the features to look out for include a depth stop that helps set how deep you want to drill material and the inclination angle for drilling.

Drill presses today come with features such as a laser guide that helps in ensuring precision drilling, flexible tool holders for arranging all your tools, and a dust collection vacuum system that helps in ensuring your work table is always neat.

accessories

Drill presses do have a wide range of accessories, and some of the manufactures will always add some to their packages. The accessories can range from lighting systems clamps and jigs. However, this is a personal decision since what most of the manufacturers include in their package might not be of interest to you depending on your needs or the type of work you want to do.

warranty

Any competent manufacturer will offer a warranty to the tool they make, which in most cases will be one year or more. When shopping for the best drip press, always go for the ones having a longer warranty period since it is a sign that the product has been made using high-quality materials.

Best Drill Presses - FAQs

What is a drill press?

It is a simple machine that is used for both woodworking and metalworking. You can use the drill press to drill holes, press things together, and perform other workshop duties such as sanding and mortising.

Is it possible for all the drill presses to work on harder materials?

Although the drill press enables you to work with both kinds of wood and some of the metals, there are times when you need to research if that particular drill press can be used in drilling through very tough metals or a stone.

When can I use the drill press at slower speeds?

When using a larger bit to bore through metals such as cast iron, you can always dial the speed back to approximately 200 RPM to ensure you get the best results.

When can I use the drill press at higher speeds?

You can always speed things up to 4000 RPM whenever you are using smaller bits and handling softer materials. However, you need to be cautious when using a drill press at higher speeds.