Handheld drills are all great and all, but what they can not offer sometimes is the precision that is required for most of the projects. Alongside that, they also lack the power to carry out large scale projects.
Now, are you looking for something that will not only allow you to take on large projects but also will let you drill holes precisely? You are looking for a floor drill press then.
However, not all the units that you are going to stumble upon in the market will be the best floor drill press for the money. Well, as you have found us, you will not have to worry about that anymore.
We are going to introduce you to the best ones that the manufacturers are offering now in the market. Alongside that, we are also going to provide you a short but informative buying guide.
Best Overall |
|---|
 |
Best Value |
|---|
 |
Honorable Mention |
|---|
 |
13 Best Floor Drill Press for the Money
The market is full of options, and it is not that hard to get bewildered in all of them in the case of choosing one. For that reason, we went through all the popular options and picked only the ones that offer decent overall performance and are worth investing money in. Have a look at the list that we huddled for you:
1. Powermatic PM2800B 1792800B
You might think that to change the speed of the drill, you are going the have to switch the belt from the unit manually. Well, with this one, you will not have to go through the hassle of changing belts to change the speed of the drill.
The thing that makes this one stand out among all the options that are out there is the variable speed dialer that it features. With that, you will be able to switch between a wide range of speed without having to change the belt from the motor.
It also comes with a digital LED screen on the front that will show you the information regarding the speed of the drill. You will be able to accurately select the speed that you require for the type of work that you are carrying out with that display.
Alongside that, it also features an adjustable fence system. It will allow you to make a perfect ninety degrees alignment with the work table. With that, you will easily be able to maneuver the workpiece on the table. In the case of quill travel, it is 6 inches per revolution.
You will also get an extraordinary amount of accuracy with the unit. It comes with an adjustable material stop. With that, you will be able to make multiple holes that are going to be of the same size and same alignment.
Pros
Cons
2. WEN 4225 8.6-Amp, 15-Inch
One of the manufacturers that have an extensive lineup of drill presses is WEN. They are offering a plethora of options in this category. And, this unit is one of the reliable ones among all of them.
Let us start by talking about the power of the machine. It comes packed with a dominant 8.6 amps induction motor that will provide you with all the power that is needed to take on large-scale projects. You will be able to drill holes in thick surfaces without any issues at all.
Just like most of the units, this one also comes with a variable speed mechanism. You will be able to choose from 280 RPM to 3300 RPM. Because fo the digital display that it features on the front, you will be able to know the exact speed of the drill. With that, making precise holes will be much easier.
Other than that, it comes with a 12x12 inches work table. It is of cast iron, which makes it extremely sturdy. You will be able to keep heavy workpieces on it without any issues at all. The work table is adjustable too. You can pivot it in 45 degrees on both sides.
It also has an adjustable depth gauge. With that, you will be able to limit the overall spindle travel that will yield you multiple holes on your workpiece that are going to have the same depth. You will not have to measure the hole every time because of that manually.
Pros
Cons
3. Rockwell ShopSeries RK7033 6.2-Amp 10 inches
While working on your project, you might not have adequate light from the environment. In that case, a work light comes in handy. Rockwell kept that in mind and brought out this one by integrating a work light on the work table.
As we have mentioned, the unit comes with a bright work light on top of the work table. It packs 1.3 Ah battery that will offer you a fade-free light to work on your projects. With that, you will be able to work in a dimmer environment where there is not enough light.
Talking about the work table, it is fully adjustable. You will be able to adjust it to 45 degrees in both the right and the left side. It is of cast iron too, which makes it sturdy. That means it will be able to hold heavy workpieces without any issues at all.
Just like most of the high-end drill presses, it also comes with a variable speed mechanism. With that, you will be able to switch between five different speeds. The speed ranges from 620 rpm to 3100 rpm.
It comes packed with a powerful 6.2 amp motor that will be able to offer you adequate power that is needed to drill holes in different surfaces. The spindle that the unit features will let you precisely make holes. And, the chuck that it features is ½ inches, which is compatible with a plethora of bits that are out there.
Pros
Cons
4. Klutch Floor Drill Press 13 inches
Making multiple precise holes by manually adjusting the lever each time can be quite a hassle. To mitigate that, you would need something like this one that comes integrated with a depth adjustment mechanism.
Keeping the tabs up with most of the high-end precise drill press that is out in the market, Klutch integrated a depth locking mechanism in this one.
With that, you will be able to limit the spindle travel, which will allow you to make multiple holes in your workpiece that are of the same depth without having to stop each time manually.
It also comes with an adjustable work table. The table is tiltable, and you will be able to adjust it to 45 degrees on both sides. Because of that, you will be able to make slanted holes on your workpiece easily.
The work table will offer you a good amount of space to work with large projects without any hassles at all. It is 11 3/8 inches in diameter.
Alongside that, it also has a LED light on top that will let you work on a dimly lit environment. It will be able to illuminate the workpiece and allow you to make precise holes even in the darker environments. But to drill in low light, we advise to use a center punch to make the holes more accurate.
The unit also comes featured with an adjustable speed dialer. With that, you will be able to switch between 16 different speeds. You can work at a low pace of 260 RPM, or you can dial it up to up to 2840 RPM.
Pros
Cons
5. JET J-2500 15 Inches 115 Volts
Among all the units that are out there, the best floor standing drill press for the money are those that feature a durable work table alongside all the other features. A good example of a unit such as that would be this one that JET is offering.
Unlike most of the units that are out there, this one features a sturdy worktable. It is of cast iron, which makes it exceptionally durable. You will be able to work on heavy workpieces on it at ease. The table is also adjustable. You will be able to tilt it 45 degrees to both left and right, which will allow you to make slanted holes easily.
The spindle that it comes with features a ball bearing that is permanently lubricated. Because of that, it will be able to operate optimally for an extended amount of time without showing any signs of being stiff.
On the bottom, it comes with a large base that is of steel. With that, it will be able to support the head and the table adequately. Alongside that, the unit comes with a large quill that enhances the overall accuracy significantly. You will be able to make precise holes in your workpiece without any issues.
It also comes with a depth adjustment mechanism that will let you limit the spindle travel. With that, you will easily be able to get multiple holes of the same size in your workpiece.
Pros
Cons
6. Delta 18-900L 18 Inches
The ones that feature laser guides on the work table will be able to offer maximum precision. If you are looking for such a unit, you should have a look into this one that is from Delta.
To begin with, it comes with a laser guider that makes it stand out from most of the options that are out there. The laser is pretty bright, and it will point directly at the point of contact of the drill. With that, you will be able to get precisely located holes in your workpiece at ease.
Alongside the laser, it also comes with a work light on the top of the worktable. The light is bright enough to illuminate the entire worktable, and with that, you will be able to make precise holes on your workpiece in darker environments without any issues at all.
Talking about the worktable, it features a fully adjustable mechanism. You will be able to bevel it from 0 to 90 degrees in both left and right. Alongside that, you will be able to tilt it forward to up to 48 degrees. It also large enough to hold large workpieces easily.
Other than that, the unit packs a heavy-duty motor that will provide an ample amount of power. You will have no trouble at all in the case of drilling holes in thicker surfaces with that.
The unit also features a depth stop mechanism. With that, you will be able to make multiple holes of the same size without having to measure the travel distance manually.
Pros
Cons
7. SHOP FOX W1680 1-Horsepower 17 Inches
During drilling holes in metal surfaces, there remains a good amount of possibility that metal chunks can come flying right at your face. In that case, you should opt for something like this one that comes with a guard around the chuck.
As we have mentioned above, the unit comes featured with a guard around the chuck. It will protect the user from flying partis and debris. The guard is spring load, which means you will be able to flip it up when you want to install bits.
Because of the spring-loaded mechanism, you will not have to worry about the guard coming into the way while you are switching from one bit to another.
Alongside that, the unit also comes with a tiltable table. It tilts to a full 90 degrees in both directions. With that, you will be able to make slanted holes on your workpiece easily.
You can also adjust the height of the table. It has a hole cutout in the middle, which will let you get a maximum depth of 31-1/2 inches.
Other than that, the unit features a dominant motor too. It is 1 HP, and the maximum speed that it can rotate is 3050 RPM. With the variable speed mechanism that it features, you will be able to switch between twelve different speeds.
Besides that, the unit also comes with a built-in light socket. You will be able to install a light in it, and with that, you will have no trouble at all in the case of working in darker environments.
Pros
Cons
8. SKIL 3320-01 3.2 Amp 10 Inches
One of the problems that most of the newbies face in the case of operating a drill press is the alignment. They can not seem to figure out where the bit is going to make contact on their workpiece. This hassle can simply be solved if they opt for something such as this one that comes with an X2 laser beam.
Just like we mentioned above, the unit comes featured with an X2 laser beam. This laser is X-shaped and will guide the user where the bit is going to come in contact with the workpiece. With that, getting precisely positioned holes on it will be a no hassle at all.
Like most of the high-end units that are available, this one also comes with a variable speed mechanism too. You will be able to switch between five different speeds that will range from 750 RPM to 3050 RPM.
The 3.2 amps motor that it packs will be able to offer an adequate amount of power to make the fully utilize that speed and drill holes in thicker surfaces without any issues at all.
Talking about the chuck, it comes with ½ inches chuck that can accept most of the drill bits that are out in the market whether for stainless steel or for hardened steel bolt. You will be able to install most of the bits that are used to cut through wood and other materials. It also comes with a sizeable worktable that is adjustable. You will be able to tilt it 45 degrees right and left.
Pros
Cons
9. HICO 8-Inch Bench Top Drill Press
In the case of making multiple holes in the workpiece that are of the same size, a press that comes with a depth stop will make it easier. An excellent example of such a unit would be this one that is from HICO.
Manually measuring the travel distance of the drill is a big hassle while trying to create multiple holes of the same size in a workpiece. The depth stop that this one comes with will eliminate that hassle.
You will be able to limit the travel distance by adjusting it, and after that, you will be able to make equal-sized holes without having to measure the distance by yourself manually.
Other than that, it also has a variable speed mechanism like most of the units that are out there. You will be able to switch between five different speeds with that. The lowest is 760 RPM, and the maximum it can go is 3070 RPM. With that, you will be able to make holes in a plethora of materials.
It comes included with a ½ inches keyed chuck. You will receive all the necessary tools and the key in the package. Alongside that, it comes with a 2/5 HP induction motor. The motor can create an ample amount of torque to go through most of the thick materials at ease.
Besides that, it comes with a cast-iron work table that is 6-1/2 x 6-1/2 inches. It has both tilt and height adjustment mechanisms.
Pros
Cons
10. Grizzly Industrial G7943 14 inches
The manufacturer Grizzly has been around for a long time. They have been offering reliable drill machines to the crowd. And, this one is no exception.
To begin with, it comes with a dominant ¾ HP motor. It is rated at 7.5 amps and operates at a single-phase. With that, the unit gets a drilling capacity of ¾ inches steel. That means you will have no trouble at all in the case of making holes in thick surfaces with this.
It also comes with a variable speed mechanism, just like all the other industrial-grade drills that are out there. You will be able to switch between twelve different speeds on the go.
It will allow you to make the chuck spin at a maximum speed of 3050 RPM, which will make it easier for you to go through thick materials. The lowest speed is 104 RPM.
Alongside that, it also comes with a threaded depth gauge. This gauge will allow you to limit the downward travel of the chuck. With that, you will be able to make multiples holes that will be of the same size without having to measure the distance each time manually. The maximum spindle travel is 3-1/4 inches.
It also comes with an adjustable worktable. The table tilts at 90 degrees left and right. Alongside that, it swings at a full 360 degrees too. With that, you will be able to make slanted and off-angled holes in your worktable easily.
Pros
Cons
11. EURO TOOL Small Benchtop Drill Press DRL-300.00
You might not have the space to accommodate a large-sized drill in your garage. In that case, what you should shoot for is a small compact press such as this one that is from Euro Tool.
As we mentioned, the unit comes featured with a compact footprint. Because of this small body, you will be able to set it up without having to worry about not having an adequate amount of space. It can easily be installed in one corner of the room.
Even though the press is small in size, it did not skimp one bit in the overall functionality. It comes packed with a powerful motor that will let you go through thick materials without any issues at all.
Alongside that, you are also going miss out on that many features in comparison to a large-sized press. It comes with a variable speed mechanism, just like most of the units. With that, you will be able to choose between different speeds for complying with a different types of workloads.
Because of the small footprint, it comes with a similarly sized worktable. It is 6-3/4 x 6-3/4 inches, which will be able to hold medium to lightweight workpieces easily. However, you will not be able to accommodate large-sized ones.
Overall, this is an excellent pick for small spaces, and you will be able to do most of the drilling works smoothly with this one.
Pros
Cons
12. Dremel Drill Press Rotary Tool
Even though most of the unit ships with tiltable worktable to let you drill angled holes, having an articulating chuck will make the process much easier. An excellent example of that would be this one.
Instead of including an adjustable table, this one comes with an articulating chuck. That means you will be able to drill angled and perpendicular holes without having to change the rotation of the workpiece and the table. The head can bet angled with 15 degrees increment, and it can be adjusted to about 90 degrees horizontally.
As the unit does not come with a worktable, you will have to use the base as the worktable. However, you will be getting a large amount of drill depth because of that. The overall depth that the chuck can dive to is 2 inches. With that, you will be able to make big sized holes in your workpiece.
It also comes with onboard storage for holding all the drill bits. You will be able to keep all the frequently used bits in that, and you can switch between them within a matter of seconds. The shaft that the unit features is adjustable too. You can set it to any height between 16 inches and 29 inches.
Alongside that, it also comes with a depth stop. With that, you will be able to limit the overall travel of the chuck. It will allow you to make multiple similar sized holes without having to measure the distance each time.
Pros
Cons
13. GENERAL INTERNATIONAL 12 inches 75-010 M1
When it comes to a drill press, a unit that features a vibration-free motor will be able to enhance the overall precision substantially. If you were looking for one of such press, then you should take a look into this one.
Let us talk about the precision that the unit offers first. Just like most of the high-unit drills, this one also comes with a laser guiding system. The last points directly at the place that the chuck is going to travel through. Because of that, you will be able to get accurately placed holes in your workpiece without any hassles at all.
Alongside that, it comes with a motor that features vibration-free technology, as we mentioned above. This implementation of technology will enhance the overall precision. You will be able to get precise holes in your workpiece without any issues at all.
Talking about the motor, it is quite powerful. The rating is 1/3 HP, and it is of industrial-grade. It will allow you to carry out most of the drilling works at ease. You will be able to make holes on thick surfaces easily.
Besides that, it also comes with the variable speed lever that most of the units feature nowadays. It is mechanical and is quite easy to operate. With that, you will be able to choose speed ranging from 500 RPM to 3000 RPM.
The work table that the unit comes with is adjustable too. You will be able to change the height of the table with the built-in crank.
Pros
Cons
What to Look for Before Buying?
Just going through our best floor drill press reviews will not be enough, you should also have to know about the important factors that you have to consider before you decide to invest money in one unit. These points will allow you to scrutinize the presses properly and make an efficient decision. They are:
Motor
People opt for floor drill press because of the power that they can offer. They are known to come with industrial-grade motors that can provide a significant amount of power to grind through thick materials.
However, not all of the units that you are going to stumble in the market will come with an adequately powerful motor. That is why the first thing that you should consider is the motor.
In that case, we would recommend you to steer away from anything that comes with a motor that is less than 1/3 HP. If you opt for any of that, you will not only be able to make holes in thick materials but also will not be able to get that much speed from the chuck.
Variable Speed
Even though most of the units will come with some sort of mechanism that will let you switch between the speed of the chuck, some might not include any. The ones that do not have a variable speed mechanism will run at one single speed.
That means they are not only power inefficient, but they might not even offer that much RPM to go through thick materials.
On that topic, many will come with a digital meter that will display the speed on the screen. It is not absolutely necessary for the unit that you are shooting for to have a display, but if it comes with one, you will be able to see what the speed in real-time.
Worktable
The work table is a necessary component in the case of a drill press. In this case, what you should first consider is the adjustability. If the unit that you are shooting for does not come with an adjustable table, you have a tough in the case of making angled holes on it.
Besides that, you should consider if it has a height adjustability mechanism or not. Without that, you will not be able to get that much amount of drill depth.
Depth Stop
Lastly, you should also factor in the depth stop. With that, you will be able to make multiple similarly sized holes without having to measure the travel distance each time.
Also Read: 8 Hydraulic Bench Presses
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which one is more powerful between benchtop and floor drill press?
If both of them are compared in the case of power, the floor drill press will come at the top. These units pack an industrial-grade motor and can grind through most of the materials at ease.
- What safety measurements should I take while using a drill press?
A safety goggle is a must in case of working with a drill press. Without a safety goggle, your eyes will be vulnerable to the flying parts and metal chunks that might come flying while you drill a hole in a metal surface. Besides that, you can also opt for safety gloves.
- Is 1/3 HP motor enough for a drill press?
Yes, if a unit comes with a 1/3 HP motor, it will be able to offer the adequate power that it is needed for most of the drilling tasks. Besides that, if you opt for the more powerful ones, you will be able to grind through thick materials without any issues at all.
- What do the inches in the labels stand for?
The distance that is between the spindle center and the edge of the column is first measured, and then it is doubled. So, if the measurement is 7.5 inches, the label would state 15 inches. This measurement is stated as the swing of the unit, which dictates the largest diameter that the machine can handle.
- What is one thing that a drill press can offer that regular drills can not?
Accuracy is the thing that most of the regular drills can not offer. With a drill press, you will be able to make precise holes on your workpiece easily.
- Can you change the work light of a drill press?
Yes, it is possible to change the work light of a drill press if it gets fused. You will be able to find identical lights easily.
Final Words
While getting the best floor drill press for the money was a challenging task for you, in the beginning, we hope that after going through the article, choosing one is much easier for you. With that, we are going to end it here by wishing you good luck and hoping that all the holes that you drill is precise.
Do read our article on the best drill guides!
