

In commercial shops, it’s not uncommon to find drill presses that feature 1 horsepower or even more power in larger motors. More powerful motors will withstand frequent use without overheating, but in most home workshops, a drill press with a 1/4 horsepower to 3/4 horsepower motor is usually sufficient.

The power of the motor-horsepower-determines how long the drill press will run without undue stress on the motor. Most magnetic drill presses have between 6 and 12 amps of power and a cut depth between 1 and 3 inches.Īll of the above models are considered to be mostly stationary tools once a location is decided upon, but the benchtop and floor options-with some effort-can be moved to another location in the workshop. A strong magnetic base sits directly on the metal that you want to cut, ensuring stability and accuracy while drilling.

HOME DEPOT DRILL PRESS PROFESSIONAL
Benchtop models are designed more for the home workshop than for professional use. When mounted to the workbench, the top of a benchtop model reaches roughly 60 inches in height. A benchtop drill pressis usually mounted to the workbench with bolts to keep it from moving during use.All drill presses operate on the same basic principle, but differences can be found in power level and in optional features. When shopping for the best drill press for your needs, consider whether you have sufficient space on a workbench to mount the power tool or if you’d prefer a freestanding floor model. Photo: What to Consider When Choosing the Best Drill Press BEST FOR WOODWORKING PROS: Shop Fox W1848 Oscillating Floor Drill Press.BEST FOR DIYERS: WEN 4214 12-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press.

BEST FOR BEGINNERS: WEN 4212 10-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press.BEST FOR CRAFTERS: Shop Fox 13-Inch Bench-Top Drill Press/Spindle Sander.RUNNER UP: JET JDP-15B 15-Inch Bench Drill Press.BEST OVERALL: DEWALT Drill Press 2-Speed Magnetic 2-Inch.The list of top picks below was assembled after a thorough review of the market and in-depth product vetting. When choosing the best drill press for you, factor in the thickness of the material-average drill depth is around 2 to 6 inches-and the type of material you’re working with: Dense wood and metal require more power to drill through than softwoods and plastic. There are many different kinds of drill presses, including magnetic, a floor model, and a mounter or workbench design. A drill press produces perfectly aligned holes of equal size every time, depending on the model. A hand drill is controlled by the user’s hand and arm, so human error can create a hole that’s slightly off-center.
