WEN 12in Drill Press - The Best Value Bench Top Drill Press? (For me... Yes.) Pros, Cons, Tips.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- Drill Press RPM/Speed Chart - www.raygirling.com/dpspeed.htm
WEN 12in is an 8/10 for me, would buy again tool, at $230.
This is a relatively in-depth review of all of my thoughts about my WEN 12in Drill Press. I try to make the case for why you should/shouldn't buy it, by presenting what I consider the pros, cons, and then should you choose to buy it, a few tips for how to get the best from it.
Any questions, comments, or concerns are appreciated in the comments. If you want me to test something, and it is something I can do, I would be glad to help, so ask away.
The WEN 12in Drill Press is a value drill press that is really good at what it is meant to be, and for what you pay... about $230 as of 2023. This drill press excels at basic to intermediate woodworking, and is ok, but not particularly great with basic metal work.
This is NOT a machinists drill press. This is not for hyper-precise work, where a few thousandths is a make or break moment.
I am thrilled with my purchase, and would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend. $230 is a lot of money, but also relatively low down the 12in drill press list, so I hope you can take in what I have presented before making your final choice.
Thank You,
Miles - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Time Stamps...
- Overview/Intro - 0:00-1:26
- Size/Footprint/Cut Depth - 1:27-3:57
- Pros - 3:58-7:05
- Cons - 7:06-13:07
- Tips for better results - 13:08-24:38
- Ideas for a custom table - 24:39 - 30:07
- Test Cuts - 30:08 - End
Drill Press Speed Chart - www.raygirling.com/dpspeed.htm
A suggestion if I may. Laminate your Drill Speed Table so it will last a long time plus before printing it off highlight every second line to make it easier to follow the settings across the page. Saves inadvertently going up or down the line and getting the speed setting wrong for the bit you are using.
Good review. Thx!
Really nice review that covered a lot of my questions about the unit and offered some excellent suggestions that would work for this or other models. Liked and subscribed. Thanks!
Thank you. I always hope to try and get across all of the things I would have liked to have known before I purchased. I am glad I could offer something helpful. Cheers.
Good stuff!
Nice review, Thanks
You got me curious so I took a look at my drill press. The raising lowering bar alongside the column shouldn't rattle obviously, but it should be loose enough that the table can be spun to the side for drilling larger stock.
Yup. Once tightened I was able to get full swing, no rattle, and smooth operation. I think it was just someone at the factory not tightening the set screw. It's a sub $300 tool, so I am not shocked that the quality control wasn't on par with a super expensive tool. Easy fix, but something I wanted to make people aware of, because I was confused at first, as you sort of assume things are assembled as intended. Cheers.
Have the same drill press and overall pretty happy with it. Sold an old delta floor model from the 40's because I wanted a smaller footprint and variable speed. Do miss how how smooth, quiet and depth it could drill though. Gotta say I though maybe something was wrong with it on first start up due to weird noises but it has become quieter or may I'm used to it. On mine the laser is way off buy I have never bothered to adjust it. Biggest disappoint is the table lift crank set up, hard to get at and inherently awkward and clunky. I too had to shim my custom table to level. As far as chuck goes quality exceeded my exceptions. Overall a good drill press for the price.
Vibration comes from what you have it on. Your top is probably not thick enough what make a floor standing drill press solid is bolting them to the ground
Great review. How do I stop the table from swiveling?
For left-right horizontal - If you are facing the front of the press, on the left side of the pole, behind the table, there is a lever that cranks it loose/tight. It is a small handle, maybe 3in long, and moving it up will tighten, and back down and away to loosen. It's the same handle to lock the table at a certain height.
To stop table angle tilt, right under the table, in the middle, there is a bolt, iirc, and that is tightened/loosened to adjust and stop the angle tilt.
Hopefully that is what you are looking for.
Locktite on handle may help
Beware, a good chuck keyed or keyless is expensive. A good keyless chuck will cost about $150. There are a lot of cheap keyless chucks in the $30+ range but if you get one don’t throw your keyed chuck away. You may need it. Buy jobber drill bits from an industrial tool store not the big box or hardware store. I’ve never used one of those fancy drill press tables, I just use a drill press vise.
What was the maximum object height you were able to drill? I heard you mention 7-9 in was your goal but what is the actual maximum distance from chuck to bed at its lowest setting on this drill press?
From my table to the chuck when the jaws are fully tightened (out), its 12"... add 3/4" for my MDF table, and the jaws fully retracted adds another 5/8" or so.
Basically, with no bit and the jaws fully out, about 12 3/4", and with the jaws full retracted it is about 13 3/8".
Just account for your chosen drill bit from there. You will also want to leave at least 1/8" to actually get the object under the drill bit, and account for any point on a brad point as well.
I hope that helps. This is all +/- 1/16th or so.
Lookslike The Drill Press Is Going In Reverce.
The rust come when you ship on the Ocean. As an Engineer the rust is surface only and won't bother the drill press
That makes sense. It definitely crossed the Pacific. Thank you so much for that info, because it certainly makes me feel better about whether it is structural or not. Cheers!
I cannot take you seriously with that hood on.
Fair enough. I have to turn the heaters off to film, as they are loud, so it can get quite cold if I have been filming for a while. Hence the hood up.