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Best Drill Press For Woodworking

Woodworking is all about precision, especially when you want to bore holes in hardwood, including oak and walnut. While traditional drills work great on wood, using them can get a little difficult, as you need to control the drill and the piece of wood. Press drills have solved this problem, and you can easily drill holes in soft and hardwood. 

Yes, the purpose of a press drill is straightforward, but every model varies in size and drill compatibility, impacting the performance of the press. 

To help you choose the right model, I have selected and reviewed the best drill press for woodworking. Also, there’s a quick buying guide to help you compare different models.

Top 5 Drill Presses for Woodworking: Reviewed by Wood Experts 

I’ve been using drill presses for quite some time now and have used that experience to select these models. Whether you want to work in your in-house workshop or garage, these drill presses for woodworking will make your job convenient.

WEN 4212T 5-Amp 10-Inch Variable Speed Cast Iron Benchtop Drill Press: Best Overall 

https://www.amazon.com/WEN-4212T-10-Inch-Variable-Benchtop/dp/B09252SPKJ 

Specifications

The WEN 4212T scores full marks when it comes to feature-loaded drill press on a budget. Setting up this drill is easy, and even a beginner can do it without any help. The 10-inch swing lets you use this drill for a wide range of tasks, and the 2-inch thick spindle easily drills through thick wooden planks.

You get complete control over the speed, and the drill shows you the exact RPM on the digital display. WEN offers this drill with a beveling work table, and you can balance the wooden object on it for boring holes easily. 

Furthermore, the cast iron base bolts to a table and remains secure while you drill holes. Finally, the built-in laser pinpoints the exact spot that the bit will travel through, reducing the chances of any mistakes.

I found that the motor gets slightly noisy at 3,1000 RPM. Also, this drill press has a key chuck mechanism, so you’ll need tools to change the drill bit. Lastly, the WEN 4212T is extremely sturdy and ready for any lightweight woodworking application.

Pros 

Cons 

Delta 18-900L 18-Inch Laser Drill Press:  Best for Heavy-duty Applications 

https://www.amazon.com/Delta-18-900L-18-Inch-Laser-Drill/dp/B003YCEEQC

Specifications 

With Delta 18-900L, you can drill holes in thicker wooden benchtops, thanks to the heavy-duty motor that powers this drill. Moreover, it features a bigger and fully adjustable work table that tilts and has T-slots for clamping purposes.

Compared to other drill presses with a smaller spindle travel, this one from Delta lets you bore holes as much as 6 inches deep. Another thing I liked in this drill press is the 18-inch swing, making it perfect for heavy-duty applications such as drilling on benchtops.

Under the hood, a fully adjustable twin laser projects a bright crosshair on the object for maximum convenience. The motor may look small, but it runs at a high RPM, and the metal casing helps keep it cool.

Unlike WEN 4212T, there are no fancy features such as the digital display, but this drill press does its job perfectly. You can easily mount its metal base on any surface to secure the drill press while woodworking. 

Lastly, it comes backed with a five-year warranty, making the Delta 18-900L worth every dollar.

Pros 

Cons 

 DEWALT DWE1622K Drill Press:  Best Portable Press 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N3HSVXK

Specifications

The DEWALT DWE1622K doesn’t have a mounting base or a table, instead, the drill press features a strong electromagnet, and you can quickly mount it on a metal surface. Whether for lightweight or heavy-duty applications, you can use this drill press to bore holes in wood and metal.

Using the built-in 2-speed settings, you can control the bit’s speed while drilling holes up to 4-3/8 inch deep. DeWalt has equipped this drill press with multiple safety features, such as overload protection, and the machine turns off automatically in such events.

Another impressive feature of DEWALT DWE1622K is the versatile chuck size, and you can install drill bits of different sizes. A few things that you may miss include a digital display and a work table. Also, this drill press doesn’t have a laser, but you can get one separately and mount it with this drill press.

Pros 

Cons 

Powermatic PM2800B 18-Inch Drill Press:   Best Versatile Drill Press 

https://www.amazon.com/Powermatic-PM2800B-1792800B-Drill-Press/dp/B00EONQF1M

Specifications

Usually, drill presses for woodworking have a belt that changes its tension as you adjust the speed. However, the Powermatic PM2800B doesn’t feature a belt, so the machine requires less maintenance, and the speed adjusts quickly for better drilling capabilities. 

When you adjust the speed, the digital display shows the exact RPM. In addition, this drill press has an 18-inch swing and a quill travel of up to 6 inches for boring deeper holes. Another thing that sets this drill press apart from other machines in this price range is the rapidly adjust fence. 

The table rotates and tilts so you can comfortably keep the work piece over it for drilling holes. There’s a built-in laser to guide you while providing accurate indications. Lastly, the oversized metal base prevents this drill press from wobbling, and you can use it for heavy daily use.

Pros 

Cons 

Shop Fox W1667 1/2 HP 8-1/2-Inch Bench-Top Oscillating Drill Press:   Best Benchtop Press Drill

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DD1BD

Specifications

Besides offering you the convenience of drilling holes in wood, the Shop Fox W1667 lets you use it as a bench-mounted sander. Some key features of this drill include a 1/2-horsepower motor that powers the 1/2-inch drill chuck to drill holes in almost any material.

The safety key prevents unwanted starts, thus offering maximum safety. With Shop Fox W1667, you can drill holes of various thicknesses as the spindle travel is around 1-5/8 inches. The next impressive feature is the adjustable work table, and you can tilt it to keep the workpiece for drilling or sanding purposes.

There’s a guard around the chuck, and the wood chips or debris don’t fly in the air. You can mount the drill press on a table or surface by using bolts. Lastly, the drill is super durable, and that motor comes housed in a metal casing for added robustness. Make sure to use the right bit to drill holes with minimal effort. 

Pros 

Cons 

Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Drill Press for Woodworking 

There are several things that affect the performance of a drill press. Also, the choice of press impacts the output and how easily you can use it to drill holes. Here are a few things to consider when you are choosing a drill press for woodworking.

Swing 

The swing is the distance between the chuck and the column (the thick metal pole that supports the drill head). If a drill has a 5-inch distance between the chuck and the column, the drill press has a 10-inch swing. The bigger the swing is, the bigger wood or metal piece you can place on the press. 

If you need a drill press for commercial woodworking purposes, you should choose one with a higher swing. However, presses with smaller swings are suitable for DIY uses.

Spindle Travel 

The spindle travel or stroke distance defines the thickness of the hole you can make with the drill press. Generally, drill presses for woodworking have a spindle travel of around 4 inches. Always choose a drill with bigger spindle travel than you need so that you can use it for various purposes.

RPM 

The RPM (revolutions per minute) of a motor is how fast it can work. If you need a drill press for faster drilling, choose a machine with a higher RPM capability. Also, drill presses with larger RPM offer various speed settings.

Table Size and Adjustability 

Make sure the table is big and offers ultimate adjustability to place the workpiece. There are some machines that let you install an external table.

Dimensions 

The dimensions of the drill press affect its portability. In this article, I have reviewed both portable and heavy-duty drill presses for woodworking.

Extra Features 

The extra features you should check in a drill press include a digital display that tells you about the RPM, overload protection, and a removable safety key.

Time to Make a Choice!

I hope this article has helped you learn everything about the best drill presses for woodworking. Make sure to note down the factors listed in the buying guide to choose a machine depending on your needs.

If you ask me for a recommendation, I’d suggest WEN 4212T 5-Amp 10-Inch Variable Speed Cast Iron Benchtop Drill Press  https://www.amazon.com/WEN-4212T-10-Inch-Variable-Benchtop/dp/B09252SPKJ  . It has everything you need to work on different types of wood.