WEN drill press table: Worth $50?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ม.ค. 2019
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Available here: amzn.to/2MAUzpc
The WEN DPA2412T drill press table is an economical option if you are looking for a table for your WEN or any other brand drill press. But will it be worth your $50 investment? - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Husband is having one delivered tomorrow! We are excited adding to his shop
Awesome! Enjoy your new tool. Cheers
I would also miter the corners of the stop block. It'll allow the dust and debris to have a spot to collect and not interfere with the peice you are drilling.
That's a good idea, Cyrus. A chamfer on that lower right corner would be a nice tweak. Thanks for the suggestion!
Simplicity = elegance. That table has the right stuff.
But what I'd really like to see is a feature to zero it to the center of the drill press chuck.
I like that idea a lot.
i like that replaceable "throat" block you showed. I'd be inclined to start off with 3 or 4, and label them (maybe pre-drill them?) for "up to 3/8-inch" and "up to 3/4" inch and "up to 1.5 inch" etc.... For anything bigger than the throat block....using a waste/backing-board, and saying short prayer.... thanks for the effort. When I buy, I'll use your link(s).
Thanks! I like your idea. If I was more organized I’d actually do it. 🤣
Nice review - thanks. I own a virtually (maybe exactly?) identical table that I bought at HF about 3 years ago, it’s just in black melamine but same blue anodized aluminum clamps even. I don’t recall paying $50 for it - I only paid about $60 for the drill press so I seem to recall picking the table up for around $30. Same annoyances - fence interferes w chuck so I don’t get full depth on some work pieces. It’s held up reasonably well so would I say I’ve gotten my money’s worth and it probably would still be worthwhile at Wen’s price even if just to save the time building one. The clamps and T track are worth $15-$20, so all in all I’d say go for it. Your 4214 review was really great and convinced me that will be my next upgrade.
Thanks Nolan. Great to know about the HF option. Also thanks for sharing your feedback with me about the drill press video. Cheers, Paul
Thanks for the info. You might use a 1x2" board/stick against the fence for close encounters of the chuck with the fence.
Thanks 🙏
Just bought this drill press and watched your review. Lots of good info.
Wen has put out a new table for the same price with a lower fence, t-track for the stop block, and the clamps to attach to the table look better. And its the same price as the old table.
Great information. Thanks!
I have the same table on a Delta drill. Two other problems I have run into. The top knob on the right that holds the fence down hits the drill arms when my table is cranked up, the other is the screws in the T-track are short and pull out of the press board if you use too much tension on the hold down clamps. Just OK for $50 and teaching me what not to do when I build my own.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Michael. Cheers, Paul
I'd turn the fence upside down, then cut a notch for the chuck, the hand nut on stop block should still be easy to twist snug.
Thanks for the suggestion!
The best I have seen is Fulton on amazon at least for 12 inch. It has metal fence to mount backstop to and two clamps plus best feature is the bottom adjustable mounting that goes on and off quickly for use a vice on steel table. It also has black robber banded edge to prevent edge damage. Its 89 but worth the extra price; IMO.
Thanks for the tip, David. Assuming that you are talking about this one amzn.to/2Jf8CAa. That does look like a nice unit. Nearly double the price, but construction looks solid.
I was considering this same/similar one from mlcs woodworking for $60. My guess is they are the same. Thanks for reviewing this!
My concern also was what hardware entailed the "universal mounting" and the T-slot in a MDF fence. While it may be functional and good to save time vs build one myself, a somewhat still simple thicker, more durable table made from a mdf/plywood base and plywood or hardwood "scrap" 1x3 with carriage bolt "cauls" as for mounting or even inexpensive toggle clamps will be the way to go and can be made within a couple hours.
Thanks for watching, Andrew. Cheers
I think I would cut that fence down ... maybe to 1-1/2" or 2" high. You are right ... it will interfere with the chuck.
Yep, that seems about right. I think 1.5” would be plenty tall and should give clearance for the chuck.
You show the underside as having two clamps like you mentioned but I think I also noticed two half inch positioning rods that slide into brackets incorporated into the drill press table. I don’t know that most drill presses have those half inch brackets built into them so the table might not be so easily adaptable to other models like you mentioned. Maybe I’m wrong but just saying!!! Looks like a well built table though!!!
Thanks Brad. You could be right. I’ve only tried it on this drill press. Thanks for sharing.
So I recently (September 2021) purchased the combo package with the 4214 12 inch press and the table. And they both went back.
I think the table has some decent design ideas. They also miss the target on some. The main one is that (per the instructions) if you wan to use the laser cross hairs to line up your entry point, the work surface needs to be about an inch from the drill bit tip in the full up position. (Any more than that, the crosshairs are basically useless.) Unfortunately, if you have the table at that height on thinner stock (even 3/4") the quill handle won't clear the fence. I found that the only way around that and still keep the fence engaged is to move the table itself back. This creates two possible issues. One is your fence may not be appropriate to your needs. The second and (to me) more troubling is that you're drilling toward the front of your sacrifice throat plate. If you're using a decent size forstner bit, you're going to run into the actual table surface rather than just the sacrifice board. For me, this was a deal breaker.
I suppose there is a work around. Inverting the fence and cutting a relief notch on the top will probably get you there. But when I have to start reengineering a company's product to make it function, I'm more inclined to simply build my own. Due to some issues with the press itself, I wasn't inclined to keep it and make adjustments, so they both went back.
I've heard a lot of people who have great success with WEN products and really enjoy them. And I was hopeful when I ordered it, especially because I think the speed control is a great design. At this price, if you get one that works well, you're gold. If not, well, getting a deal on manure doesn't mean it's no longer manure. Bottom line is, if you enjoy it and it works for you, don't let anyone talk you out of it. But you will have to try it out to see which group you fit into. I guess I'm in the "unlucky" batch.
Sorry that you've had a bad experience.
@@ToolMetrix No worries. If that's the worst thing that happens to me all day, I'll call it a win!
Ha! Roger that 👍
Could you recommend the proper hold down clamp size that would fit in this table? thx
I haven't used hold-down clamps with it, so I'm not sure.
I have problems with the handles to lower the drill press hit the knobs for the backstop if it's pulled close to the arbor. Any suggestions?
I just checked mine and there's a lot of clearance; probably a different sized drill press. All I can suggest is to cheat the auxiliary table forward a bit on the stock drill press table, and see if the additional inch or so gives you adequate clearance. Another thought: If you are using the table on the same size drill press as mine, could you possible have the table installed so that it is rotated 180 degrees? If you did that, the table would definitely interfere with the rotation of that handle.
Looking good..did you replace the chuck on the drill press..
No, I haven't. It's working well.
Love the table! Thanks for the review. Two questions. 1 does the table obstruct the height adjustment handle? And 2. Is there any reason why this wouldn’t work with the 10” wen?
It doesn’t obstruct the handle at all. I’m not sure but I think it would work fine with the 10” drill press.
@@ToolMetrix Thanks mate. Curious as to how that would happen without a cut out on the back. I'm making a table right now and I have to lift it 2" to clear the Wen handle.
The table sits about 1.5” forward of the handle’s travel. Height wise it would not clear it if it wasn’t for the forward positioning of the table.
@@ToolMetrix That makes perfect sense! Thanks. I'm trying to push the table back as I'm losing about 2.5" from the fence.
Could you treat the melamine with a hard epoxy coating or some sort to decrease the chipping?
I haven’t heard of anyone doing this. I haven’t had any chipping so far.
NICE TABLE HOW ABOUT THE LEVER TO ADJUST THE TABLE UP AND DOWN ??
It’s part of the drill press and works fine with the table.
It looks like a great deal. I could deal with the weaknesses you mention which all seem well thought out, btw. I like your review. The one thing that makes me think I'll just make one is that the sacrificial piece is square. If it were round then you could spin it and get a LOT more mileage out of it. Man, it is pretty dang nice otherwise for the price. Hmmm.
Thanks for the feedback, Pedro. Cheers, Paul
What wood did you use for to throat plate?
It comes with an MDF throat plate. I've made them before on my old table out of any wood that I have in the scrap pile.
Worth making your own from marine plywood!
Yep, that’s a good option too. 👍
Thanks, you convinced me to make my own. This table is over $100cnd, so it's not worth it for a chunk of MDF and plastic.
Awesome!!! Way to go.
turn the fence over and cut to desired height
Yep.
Based on your comment with the fence potentially interfering with the chuck (thanks for posting this review). I will just build my own out of 3/4" MDF and use aluminum t-track. In Canada, this thing is $113.03, whereas 3/4" MDF 24x48 is $17 and t-track (2x24") is $41, and I'd bolt it to the table vs clamp.
That’s a good approach.
I have this table....clamping system is inadequate , fence height is a problem and the build is flimsy. Worst of all since my drill press is A wen i assumed that the fence and the press would be highly compatible... they are not. This table is OK i guess for DIY guys but its definitely not a pro set up.
Good feedback. Thanks for sharing!
after using this drill press for a year, would you buy it again
Hi Scott, I would say yes. It's served me well. I'm not a very demanding user of a drill press table, so my expectations are pretty modest, but for $50 this has done everything that I need and it has held up well.
@@ToolMetrix Hope I am not overwhelming you with questions. I really enjoy your presentations and do not wan to overstep your bounds.
Totally my pleasure ! 👍
Is it made by wood or steel?
MDF
Replace the plastic hold down with the aluminum hold down clamps. Problem solved. Trim the fence down to two inches or whatever will work. Problem solved.
Yep
Then swap out the table clamps.....Problem solved.
Sure, you can always do that.