Which drill press is the best?

kathy01

New User
Hi folks,
My friend Jon want to start a workshop. He needs the best drill press for the woodworking shop. But right now he is confused cause he doesn't have enough idea about the drill press. He chose
https://drillly.com/wen-4214-drill-press-review/
And
https://drillly.com/skil-3320-01-review/
But he can't find out which is the best. According to the review, Wen is a great tool for a woodworking shop. Its 3+ inch drill travel adjustable speed and laser cross makes it easy to drill precise every
time.
On the other hand, Skil also good drill press for woodworking. Its Price less than about $100 from Wen brand. Somebody say Its rough, but not bad for the price. Expect cosmoline, vibration, and at times a
crunchy operation of the feed.

Can anyone have experience with the drill press?
Advance thanks for your suggestion.
 
I have the WEN benchtop model that has infinite variable speed. It's about the best bang for the buck, in my opinion. Very impressive little machine. They also have a floor model. I thought about the floor model, but thought the benchtop model might afford me more options for my needs.
 
How about this one made just after the 19th century. Used it yesterday. Change speeds by moving the flat belt on the pulleys.
Richard in NW SC
 
forgot the pic.
a264222.jpg
 
Not sure what his needs are, but the drill presses in the links are far from "the best".

They may be good enough for what he is doing. We have some similar at the shop that get a lot of hours, mostly sitting and running. The biggest problems are failed belts. Common failures are the handles breaking (too light), depth setting bracket breaking (pot metal), chuck failure (cheap). They are not capable of precision work, we use them mostly for deburing metal parts. All around, they are what they are, disposable Chinese drill presses, cheap to buy, run till they die, get another one.

If he is serious about setting up a production type shop, he'll want to get something along the industrial type equipment. Industrial drill presses will be much heavier, all cast iron and steel, wide drive belt, or gear driven spindle, heavy duty feed handles and feed stops. He can find something used, Ebay, or get with some local equipment dealers that can supply new or used, and best match his needs.
 
The way I see it, if someone is considering a Skil tool as "[i:951effaf6a]The Best[/i:951effaf6a]", then they're not looking for an industrial machine, and likely have a price limit.

If looking for something for a professional shop, I would look for ANY drill press that isn't made in China!! USA, Germany...., but not China. Delta used to be a top tool maker years ago, but seems they have dropped badly over the past 15 or 20 years. I'm not a huge fan of Jet or Powermatic, but both brands have very good drill presses....or at least "had" good ones.

If the budget is limited and if they are considering Skil as an option, then I would recommend the WEN with infinite variable speed and digital readout. Of course, could always rig up a Milwaukee hand drill to a vertical lift. :shock: *lol*

One other idea. There are usually lots of auctions here and there. I would suspect there are likely tool/equipment auctions in NY also. Might not be a bad idea to check out some of the sales. However, I'd also urge you to know what you're bidding on -- LEARN how to spot a tool that has been taken care of and is accurate, rather than one that has been abused/neglected. Also know the value. I've seen used (but newer) tools sell at auction for more than you could buy them brand new, for the SAME MODEL!! :roll:
 
Friend of mine was a woodworker, built all kinds of furniture. He never bought anything but the best. Had a 5 horsepower table saw with a table 5 ft wide plus an extension Powermatic. He had 2 drill presses. Used the radial a lot because it would reach to the center of his projects and drill holes at an angle. Both of them were DELTA. I've bought at least 5 in the last 5 years all brands all old ones at auctions. All the males in my family have one except 1 grandson. He was at breakfast this morning and wants a drill press. I told him make sure the bearings are tight and the spindle isn't bent. Auctions are just starting up around here.
Bench Top Radial Drill Press

12 Speed Heavy Duty Bench Top Drill Press
 
(quoted from post at 01:45:56 04/07/18) I have the WEN benchtop model that has infinite variable speed. It's about the best bang for the buck, in my opinion. Very impressive little machine. They also have a floor model. I thought about the floor model, but thought the benchtop model might afford me more options for my needs.

Hi KCM,
Thanks for sharing your experience.
 
(quoted from post at 17:18:21 04/07/18) Friend of mine was a woodworker, built all kinds of furniture. He never bought anything but the best. Had a 5 horsepower table saw with a table 5 ft wide plus an extension Powermatic. He had 2 drill presses. Used the radial a lot because it would reach to the center of his projects and drill holes at an angle. Both of them were DELTA. I've bought at least 5 in the last 5 years all brands all old ones at auctions. All the males in my family have one except 1 grandson. He was at breakfast this morning and wants a drill press. I told him make sure the bearings are tight and the spindle isn't bent. Auctions are just starting up around here.

Hello Dave Sherburne,
I see the Amazon reviews of Grizzly G7943 12 Speed Heavy-Duty Bench-Top Drill Press. This drill press has some spindle wobble issues and problems hogging through wood with Forstner bits no matter whether it's cabinet grade plywood or solid maple. the bots get bogged down and take a long time (sometimes 5+ minutes per hole depending on material composition and thickness).

the bed is difficult if not impossible to attach drill press vices too, even if they are made by the same manufacturer.
 
I learned 40+ years ago to walk/run away from any tool made by Wen. Skil makes some good tools but nobody makes a "Good" motorized bench top drill press. I've got a cheap imported 3-speed that won't even start the empty chuck in it's highest speed. So I run the 3-4 inch wire brush in middle speed for cleaning parts.

To drill holes, SPEND THE MONEY for a Delta 17-200 12 spd floor standing drillpress. I bought a brand new Delta 17-965 16 speed 3/4 hp about 15 yrs ago for SON. He brought it home when he moved back here, I put it in MY shop and would NOT give it back to him, managed to find his own 17-965 about a year ago. It's all cast iron, capacitor start motor, 4-5 inch spindle travel. Great drillpress. IT is NOT a mill, don't think you can put a half inch end mill in the chuck and cut steel. But you can drill large holes in wood, steel, plastic. Even run big 3-4 inch hole saws with a light hand on the feed. You will burn the belts long before the motor bogs down.

I've had all types of drill presses from post drills that belonged in a museum, cheap potmetal fixtures that a electric hand drill clamped into, to cheap Harbor Freight junk. BUY A GOOD FLOOR STANDING DRILL PRESS FIRST. Son bought his Delta from a used power tool sales guy, buys at auctions, yard sales, Craigslist, cleans them up and resells them. Yes, you could maybe buy a cheaper drillpress if you beat him to the yard sale, or he dpesn't go to an auction some day, but hard telling how much time you will waste and money you will spend driving all over.
 

Kathy, I suggest he start watching Craigs List for a local floor model drill press, a Delta, Craftsman, Atlas, whatever brand, in good shape at a reasonable price. Bench top drill presses, especially new ones from Skill or Wen aren't going to even begin to compare to older models.
 
I remember buying a sharpening system back in the....80's, I think. Was the most horrible excuse for a tool I'd ever seen in my life! Swore up & down I'd never buy anything associated with WEN ever again!!

Well, where we live now is very high water table and wild temperature swings. Have a building that was "supposed" to be my shop up here, but moisture comes up through the concrete with such pressure that sealing the floor just won't work. So, every tool I have has gotten ruined.

Anyway, I ended up "looking" at the WEN tools again as I didn't want high-priced tools to be destroyed by simply sitting there. When I read the reviews, I was a bit shocked, but in a good way. So I ordered a cheap hand planer as a throw-away tool for a Franken-project. Dang if this isn't one of the best little electric planers I've ever used!

Had been wanting to get a new drill press for many years, but again, the moisture problems kept the $$$ in my pocket. Finally bought the WEN drill press and, as I stated before, it has surpassed my wildest expectations!

At some point, I remember reading something about there being two different WEN companies; one junk, and this one. It also explained how this company was working very hard to get out from under the bad reputation they've received due to the other company. Can't find that write-up now, but I'm convinced this isn't the same company that sold me that POS sharpening system many years ago. They may not be a top-quality brand, but SO FAR, I haven't been able to beat the value!

If this is the same company, then someone is trying real hard to turn things around.
 

I bought a nice floor model drill press at a lumber yard close out many years ago.
I added a light and foot switch. I wired it so when the master switch is on the light is on also and the master switch has to be on in order for the foot switch to start the motor.
Always turn the master switch off to change the drill bit.
 
(quoted from post at 16:27:30 04/08/18) Spam.
Possibly. I noticed that both links in the OP were from a site I'd never heard of. If it [i:4d8121c537]is[/i:4d8121c537] spam, at least it was tastefully done. *lol*
 

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