Features:

  • Includes a 1/2-inch keyed chuck and onboard key storage
  • Operates at 5 different speeds: 740, 1100, 1530, 2100, 3140 RPM
  • Spindle travels up to 2 inches with easy to read, locking linear depth stops for accurate and repeatable drilling operations
  • Durable 1/3 HP induction motor develops ample torque and power
  • 6-1/2 x 6-1/2" worktable is height adjustable and bevels up to 45 degrees left & right
  • Swing: 8 inch. Motor: 120V, 60Hz. Horsepower: 1/3 HP.
001 and better, buy something bigger/more expensive

Wen might be my new go to brand. Yes, there is a little bit of flex between the post and the actual machine head but it was not enough to cause significant drill deflection, even at max throw and minimum chuck. And anyways, if you want to run +/- .001 and better, buy something bigger/more expensive. I'm not making medical devices in my garage, I'm drilling holes. Are you drilling holes? Get this drill press.

What a great little drill press.

To be honest I haven't used a drill press in 30 years, high school was the only time I used one. I've been using nothing but cordless drills since then. Got a few projects coming up and I don't know what made me look but I was blown away first by the price. I honestly didn't think you could buy a decent sub 100 dollar drill press, well I was wrong. Couldn't be simpler to build either, I only looked at the instructions because it seemed so simple I thought I'd forgot something. Attach stand to foot with 3 bolts, slide on the table, put the motor unit assembly on, tighten 2 hex key screws, put the chuck in by hand and give it a few good taps with a covered hammer and then plug it in and drill some holes. I put it on the top speed right away to check for vibrations and nothing. Zero (as far as I can tell) wobble in the chuck. Unbeknownst to me, they now make chuck keys that cannot be left in the chuck. I've done this on purpose in those high school days, you know back in the days when kids were men. That thing flies off fast and its a game of Russian roulette where it will go. This Wen chuck key however has a small spring bar insert, so you have to push the key into the chuck and then the springs force pushes it back out. So its impossible to leave it in the chuck, I honestly had a pair of pliers ready to break it off thinking it was a casting defect, when I accidentally pushed it in instead, what an idiot lol. The drill press is tiny, but its such a pleasure to use. It can function quiet well without being bolted down, its not as top heavy as you would think. But if you have anyone else near your stuff you're going to want to bolt it down just in case, as I plan to do myself.

80% lowers

I bought this to complete 80% lowers. This is so much better than I expected. There isn't any run out at all when I use my 5D Tactical Pro jig. I can drill right through the lower and out the trigger slot in less than one minute. When using a few drops of Tap Magic Cutting Fluid my bit doesn't even get hot at all. It has a little bit short of a stroke at 2 inches, so I put the bit in the chuck and raise the table up with the jig on the table so the bit goes through the guid hole on the jig and then lock the press table and then lock the drill press vice with my jig and lower in it to the press table. Then I add cutting fluid to the bit, then I hand turn the bit to make sure its in the right spot, then I turn the press on and drill the first hole I back off it a few times and add more fluid and I'm through in less than a minute. The 8 inch was a great purchase, the 10 inch would have been a little better, but the 8 is very affordable and still very usable. If you want to do perfect lowers get this drill press now.

No better deal for the money!

Got the HF version (with coupon) prior to this one, and returned it. It wasn't terrible, but it had too much play, wobble, and was noisy. Spent the extra $20 and got this one - QUITE a difference. The WEN base is more solid and substantial - same thing with the table. Better machined surfaces where they count. The pipe stand is a little beefier, and fits more squarely with the drill head and base. On top of that, it is quieter, no wobble, little if any runout, and it has a place for the chuck. I haven't drilled any holes just yet, but from what I see so far I don't predict any issues. I almost feel guilty paying the measly $72 that included shipping! The only con I have found thus far is the table handle being on the left side - however, for the price I can deal with it. I look forward to using this as my all-purpose garage drill press. 01/15/17 Update: Drilled a bunch of holes today in 1/2" thick steel Flat bar for a project, and it performed well. Very happy with it so far -

Happy Customer

Easy setup it took less than 10 minutes. Lots of YouTube vids on setup. I got this for drilling holes for knife blanks and handles.

... of the Wen drill press and have been very pleased with it so far

I purchased the 8-inch version of the Wen drill press and have been very pleased with it so far. I had seen it in the big-box store prior to purchasing it here on Amazon and I am glad that I purchased it on Amazon, it was $27 cheaper than at the store. So, that's pretty awesome! The overall construction is very good. The unit is nice and heavy, the base is super solid and supports the weight of the head of the unit very well. All of the castings are smooth and do not have any cracks. The baseplate might be small for some, but it's just about right for me. I plan on building a small fence for the bed so it will be extended anyways. Unfortunately, the bed of my unit does have some rust on it straight out of the box.(pictures) While it's a little bit of a bummer, it doesn't affect the performance of the machine. But it would be nice if it was rust free. I do have one slight complaint and it's mostly just because the lack of a feature. I am not a huge fan of how the depth guide works, the two nut setup is kind of a challenge to get right because the space is so tight to get a wrench in there. The nuts on my drill press were so tight, I had a hard time getting them loose in order to adjust the depth. If there was an alternate way to set the depth, or perhaps if the guide was moved outward a little from the head of the unit, that would make it easier to adjust. Once I freed the nuts, they have become a little easier to move, but the gap between the nuts / depth guide-rod and the head of the drill press is a little tight, so it does make getting the fingers in there a bit tight. It's doable though, just not ideal. Also, I do wish you could lock the drill press into a down position if you'd like, but it's not possible on this unit. Which I suppose is asking a bit much for something in this price range. I think you ptobsbly could add a nut at the bottom of the depth guide to act as a "lock" but other than that, it's not possible. All of the dials, nuts, bolts, belts and springs are extremely tight and adjusted just right. It's super sturdy as well as quiet, and it seems like it will serve it's needs very well. I would say it's worth the purchase. Especially for the price!

A great press for the money

A great simple press. I needed a press to machine 6016 aluminum to finish lower AR receivers. To do this I needed to make straight holes and I needed enough power to get through the alloy. I put the belt on the second to highest torque setting, which would mean the second to slowest speed and the press worked great. Everything on this press is rough. It's not a work of art, but it is strong, relatively light and it will make holes. If that's all you need then look no further. When I use this press I clamp it to my work bench, then put it under for storage. A larger press would make moving it much more difficult.

This could be one of our best purchases this year

This could be one of our best purchases this year. We use it in manufacturing, have only had it a week, but every bit as good as the very expensive JET drill press we also own. It's just a baby, but great for smaller stuff. We like very much. UPDATE 12-28-2017 ================= Still works like a champ! For the price and size, it's a great little tool. The main thing with a drill press is that the spindle stays on a nice axis and the motor doesn't die. I think we'll have it for quite a few more years, but even it it died today, job well done little guy!!

Fine little press for my needs ...

I'm a cabinetmaker so my needs for a drill press are for boring hinge cups in cabinet doors and drilling 3/16" holes in doors and drawer heads for handles & knobs. Pretty light duty. I read the reviews and took the plunge. I've owned a Delta 8" press in the past, so any comparisons will be to that press. First of all, the packaging for this little guy was absolutely the best I've seen in a while - all components were wrapped in 1 of 2 form-fitted styrofoam "trays", surrounded by beefy cardboard. Secondly, the assembly/use instructions were clear cut & simple. The unit could be assembled by any mechanically inclined 12 y/o. While my old Delta had 2 annoying features - no place to store the chuck key and feed handles that were always loose - the Wen has a specific place for the key, and the feed handles even have flats for a wrench if needed. One reviewer I read remarked that this press is top heavy. What did you expect? Yeah, bolt the thing down. It's an ease of use AND safety thing. All in all I'm confident this Wen press will do all I ask of it for years to come.

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