Woodworking at times needs some precision when drilling holes. Trying to fit pieces together when holes are out of line is nigh on impossible.
On other occasions, you may be wood carving and need that delicate touch.
When you are searching for a drill press for sale, you may see options, which are not suitable for your projects.
Anyone who has a decent workshop will need a drill press at the top of their woodworking essentials list.
These reviews look to see which drill press meets your needs and has a multitude of uses while delivering value for money.
Contents
Why a Good Drill Press is Important
No matter what kind of projects you have around the home, there will be a chance you find many drill press uses.
There are many people who use a hand-held drill press, yet when you need precision, these just don’t offer it. These also lack features compared to an industrial drill press can offer.
Depending on your project, you find a drill press can drill holes with more accuracy; you can drill faster because the drill is already in position.
With this, all your holes will be consistent in depth and width.
If you choose a metal drill press, you find these are more powerful than hand drills by far. A heavy-duty drill press in most options comes as a floor-mounted option, so these take up valuable space in a small woodworking shop.
Bench mounted options are more compact and come without the expense. Therefore, for drilling, deburring, or tilting your drill press at an angle to deliver more usage scenarios, these reviews pick the best to find the best drill press for woodworking.
Best Drill Press Reviews
1. Dremel Drill Press Rotary Tool Workstation Stand with Wrench- 220-01- Mini Portable Drill Press- Tool Holder- 2-inch Drill Depth
One company changed the meaning of drilling tools, and that was Dremel. Their small, handheld tools come with thousands of Dremel drill bits.
This makes them adaptable for thousands of uses, now you can use your Dremel tool by hand or in the Dremel drill press.
The Dremel tool drill press takes this to another level. You can drill vertical, perpendicular, or any other increment of 15 degrees in between.
You can even use any of the drill bits they make to widen the use of this small drill press.
The bench-top drill press stand comes with a built-in crow’s nest tool holder, and the shaft can be adjusted to a variety of heights.
Add to this, the depth markings and stops, and you have a precise boring tool, which takes up minimal space.
Pros
- Small, steady metal base with 4 clamping points
- Bevels to 90 degrees for horizontal tasks
- Compatible with a wide range of rotary tool models
- Cord management and flex shaft clips for safety
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Not suitable for large depth drilling – 2-inch max
- Some users find wobble when in a 90-degree angle
- Drilling hard materials can be difficult
Technical Specifications
- Drilling depth: 2 inches
- Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 12 inches
- Materials: Metal and plastic
- Power: N/A
- Warranty: Limited 12 months
- Weight: 4.85 lbs.
- Site position: Workbench
- Drill bit size: 1/8 inch
With a guide price of a little over $40, this is one of the most versatile and best bench-top drill press models you can find.
It may not be the best for larger projects and harder materials. However, with the Dremel drill press, DIY projects for detailed woodworking and crafters have never been easier.
2. WEN 4208 8 in. 5-Speed Drill Press
The Wen 8 inch drill press is a small and simple tool for occasional drilling. While compiling this Wen drill press review, we saw it offered lots of drilling specific components.
It uses a 1/2 chuck, so it can take larger drill bits, and can the worktable can be angled to 45 degrees to the left or right.
This isn’t as flexible as other 8-inch drill press options but is enough for many weekend woodworkers.
There are flexible speeds to match different materials, which comprise 740, 1100, 1530, 2100, and 3140 RPM. These are delivered by the 1/3 HP durable motor.
Pros
- Multi-speed drilling
- Suitable for metal, plastic or wood
- Affordable
- Cast iron construction
Cons
- Motor can stall if drilling over 1/2 inch of metal
- No built-in bit storage
- Limitations on warranty
Technical Specifications
- Drilling depth: 2 inches
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 6.5 x 12 inches
- Materials: Cast iron, plastic
- Power: Corded electric 1/3 HP
- Warranty: 2-year consumer – 90-day professional use
- Weight: 35 lbs.
- Site position: Workbench
- Drill bit size: 1/2 inch
Wen Power Tools may not be everyone’s first choice, but they do offer decent equipment that offers value for the money. With a guide price of just under $80, it can be a bargain for occasional drilling.
However, in testing, the Wen 4208 8 in. 5-speed drill press uses a belt and pulley system you need to change manually, and it does lack versatility because the 8” drill press is fixed in a vertical position.
It is well built, and a good performer for what it is designed for, and is far cheaper than their 12-inch drill press while delivering the same performance.
3. Powermatic PM2800B 1792800B Drill Press
This drill press is for those who have the space and need some serious power. While others sit nicely on the workbench, the Powermatic drill press is a floor standing option.
This means you may need to bolt it to the floor for stability.
For a professional tool, there are plenty of advanced features. You have laser guides and LED lighting along with a digital readout for the RPM’s.
Like other models, you can tilt the table to 90 degrees, and it makes drilling of precise holes easy because it soaks up vibrations.
Pros
- First-rate build quality
- Constructed for heavy-duty drilling projects
- Variable speed up to 3,000 RPM with readout
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Very heavy
- Very expensive
- Noisy when operated
Technical Specifications
- Drilling depth: 2 inches
- Dimensions: 26 x 15 x 58 inches
- Materials: Cast iron, Aluminum, and plastic
- Power: Corded electric 15.0 AMP/ 115 volts
- Warranty: 5 years
- Weight: 246 lbs.
- Site position: Floor
- Drill bit size: 5/8 inch keyless chuck
The Powermatic is very expensive, and with a guide price of just under $1,600, it is not for everyone.
For serious users, the 6 inches of quill travel can be achieved with just one turn of the handle.
On the drill, table is an adjustable material stop, so repetitive actions are easy. There is more than enough power from the 1 HP motor to bore through the hardest of materials.
With a 5-year warranty, you can see this was built to last and as the best drill press for metal.
4. Shop Fox W1848 Oscillating Floor Drill Press
Shop Fox drill press reviews are always favorable for equipment, which comes from Woodstock International. This floor drill press is no different.
One unique feature of this drill press is the ability to turn it into an oscillating sander.
While it is floor standing, it does take up space compared to other models, so a woodworking shop will need an area dedicated for this.
The 3/4 HP motor allows it to tackle most materials, and the bed can be tilted in either direction to 90 degrees.
The table is easily adjusted to accommodate your workpiece be it wood or metal. You can also move the table out of the way when sanding.
It also comes with a couple of easy-clean dust ports when in this operation.
Pros
- Heavy-duty construction
- Adjustable table for angled drilling
- 12-speed settings 250 – 3,050 RPM
- Oscillating sanding mode
Cons
- No laser guides
- Instructions are vague
- Speeds need to be changed by a belt and pulley
- Heavy needs floor mounting
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 15 x 24 x 63 inches
- Materials: Cast iron, Aluminum, and plastic
- Power: Corded electric 110 volts 3/4 HP
- Warranty: 2 years
- Weight: 122 lbs.
- Site position: Floor
- Drill bit size: 1/64 to 5/8 inch
With the variable speed, it can tackle most jobs, but unfortunately, these need setting by hand. This makes swapping materials and speed a lengthier process.
Coming in with a guide price around $495, it can be seen as a cheap drill press for the floor, but it does offer more capability than just a drill press.
Being durable and versatile, it delivers a lot for the money if you are seriously into woodworking.
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5. SKIL 3320-01 3.2 Amp 10-Inch Drill Press
The 10 drill press from Skill is a heavy-duty workhorse for the workbench. It is capable of drilling through many materials as long as they are not too demanding.
It delivers no-frills drilling, yet still manages a laser guide, though this is battery operated.
The table you can tilt and the bump off switch for safety, which is a nice touch. There are 5-speed settings, albeit these require manually changing.
The construction is solid with the cast-iron base, and you have the In-depth adjustment system so you can drill the same repeatedly.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Tilting table for angled drilling
- 5-speed settings 570 – 3,050 RPM
- Bump off switch
Cons
- Laser guide needs batteries
- Speeds need to be manually
- Not ideal for heavy-duty jobs
- Can be noisy
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 15.2 x 21.8 x 9.8 inches
- Materials: Cast iron, Aluminum, and plastic
- Power: Corded electric 120 volts 3.2 AMP
- Warranty: 3 years
- Weight: 50.8 lbs.
- Site position: Workbench
- Drill bit size: 1/2 inch
The Skil drill press has a guide price of around $110, and for this, you do get decent performance for the money.
It is rugged, delivers some decent features, and always does well in bench-top drill press reviews.
Drill Press Buying Guide
When looking for a power tool that can help drill holes, there is nothing that you can get which offers the preciseness of a purpose-built piece of equipment for doing so.
This can make buying more difficult as there are many options available from attachments you fix a regular power drill or handheld option.
You can even go as far as magnetic drill presses, yet these are meant for fastening to steel while drilling.
With this, we will look at what you need, but first, the most important question needs to be answered.
What is a Drill Press?
A drill press in the purest form is a drill, which is set on a fixed stand for drilling holes. However, there have been many advancements in cutting tools, and these can now be used for all manner of purposes.
With the right bits, a drill press can be used for routing, countersinking, reaming and sanding among others, they are more precise when doing these jobs than a hand drill with the same drill bits.
Now, you need to look at the important factors to find the best woodworking drill presses to meet your needs.
What to Look for When Buying Drill Presses
Bench or floor mounted. For use around the home, a drill press, which sits on a workbench, is generally advisable. These tabletop drill press models are lighter and don’t waste floor space.
Depth stops: These guides will stop you from drilling past a certain depth.
Speed and power: For larger timber or metal drilling, you need plenty of both, yet for smaller tasks, these are not as much of a priority. Speed, however, will cut cleaner holes or finer edges when used with the right bits. A variable speed drill is vital, as is how easy it is to change the speed.
Press worktable: The drill press table is vital, as it needs to hold your materials. Rather than being fixed, they should also be adjustable at different angles so you can drill off-center when needed.
Drill Press Accessories
Manufacturers are looking at ways to improve their tools. A press drill is no different, and you can find models with lots of features.
Work lights – LED work light is used to light the work area, so you can see where you are drilling
Laser guides – these can help when it comes to precise drilling
Radial drill – these can be tilted to 90 degrees to drill horizontally, or they can be used for polishing, deburring or sanding. A small drill press is better for this as larger models only have tilting tables.
Portability – not all the time do you need your mini drill press in the workshop? Many models are heavy and would require two people to carry.
A portable drill press solves this, and you can carry them to the project rather than the other way around. This means you would need to fix it to many types of work surfaces by clamps or screws.
Final Verdict
In most cases, a drill press is a specialist piece of equipment, so finding the right one for your projects can be a struggle. In these reviews, we took woodworking for beginners as one of the main criteria.
This led us to see which the clear winner for a number of reasons was. This was the 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.
While not as powerful as many drills, this drill press fits a wide range of Dremel tools. This means you have the option of a power cord or rechargeable rotary tools to use, it is portable due to its lightweight.
Couple this with the vast number of bits and attachments, and this little drill press is more versatile than any other on the list is.
With built-in tool storage, you can use it as your Dremel and Flexi-shaft holder, so possibilities are endless.
Because there is no extent of what this press can do with a Dremel tool, it is by far the best drill press for the money.
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