WEN Drill Press Buyer’s Guide in 2021

If you tend to drill holes frequently, one of the products you’ll want to consider purchasing is a drill press. Drill presses allow you to insert holes into wood and other materials, often more accurately than if you were using a handheld drill. Additionally, drill presses could will enable you to perform numerous other tasks, such as:

• Counterboring
• Countersinking
• Reaming
• Tapping

Most people think that a drill press is an expensive purchase, but this is not the case. Today, drill presses are available for no more than a few hundred dollars. Even if you drill only when completing the occasional DIY project for your home, purchasing a drill press is an investment that could save you both time and money.

When browsing drill presses, one of the companies you’re likely to come across is WEN. WEN is one of the most well-known drill press manufacturers in the industry, producing an array of products. Curious about which WEN drill press to choose? Fortunately, we’re here for you.

Below, you’ll find a WEN drill press buyer’s guide, allowing you to make an informed buying decision.

The Best WEN Drill Presses of 2020

If you’ve determined that purchasing a WEN drill press is in your best interest, you’ll likely find yourself looking into the company’s diverse product line. Below, we’ve taken the time to review five different WEN drill presses, allowing you to make an informed buying decision and purchase a product that best suits your needs.

WEN 4227 13-Amp 12-Speed Floor Standing Drill Press

If you’re interested in a more permanent drill press, you’ll want to check out this product from WEN. You can purchase this product in either two sizes, 15″ or 17″. The drill press comes complete with a 4.75″ spindle travel. We found that this spindle travel made it easy to drill through 4″ x 4″ boards without a problem.

Users will also appreciate that they can adjust the speed on this drill press. WEN includes 12 speeds in this design, ranging from 180 RPM to 2940 RPM. Additionally, the company provided a cast iron work table that can pivot up to 45 degrees in both directions. The table measures 14” x 14”. Customers will also find that this drill press has other features, such as a:

• Precision laser
• Onboard key storage
• 5/8” chuck
• Flexible work light

Of the WEN drill presses, this product has the highest swing and spindle travel. The product weighs around 215 pounds. Customers can purchase this product for about $700

What We Like

• Spindle travel allows you to drill deeply
• Powerful motor and high RPMs
• Pivot table makes it easy to move materials

What Could be Better

• The 12 speeds are pre-set, not variable
• Aiming the lasers could be challenging

WEN 4214 12-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press

Another WEN drill press worthy of your consideration is the 4214 model. WEN designed this drill press for use on tables or benches. However, the drill press packs a punch, with variable speed ranges maxing at 3200 RPM. We were also impressed with the LED display that indicated the RPM of our drill bit.

The spindle travel on this drill press is 3-1/8”. The spindle also comes with a depth stop feature, ensuring that you don’t over-drill your material. We were also impressed by this drill press’ 9.5” x 9.5” work cast iron work table. Users could take advantage of pinion height adjustments and bevels up to 45 degrees left and right.

Lastly, we appreciated the table roller extension that came with this product, which provides you with an additional 17” of support. This drill press weighs about 90 pounds. Customers can purchase the tool for about $240.

What We Like

• Digital display provides pinpoint accuracy when drilling
• Depth stopper prevents over drilling
• Table roller extension provides additional support

What Could be Better

• May not be strong enough to pierce steel
• Some customers found assembly challenging

WEN 4208 Drill Press

If you’re searching for an affordable drill press, the 4208 from Wen could be the ideal choice. You can purchase this drill press for about $75. WEN designed this drill press for use on benches. Customers will find that this drill press comes with five different speeds, ranging from 740 RPM to 3140 RPM.

The spindle on this drill press travels up to 2”. It also comes with locking linear stops, ensuring you don’t over-drill the materials. The work table on this product is 6.5” x 6.5”.

What We Like

• One of the most affordable bench drill presses available
• Powerful motor
• Lightweight, weighing a mere 30 pounds

What Could be Better

• Requires considerable force to push the drill bit
• Not as accurate as other drill presses

WEN 4210T 10” Drill Press with Laser

Another option from WEN worthy of your consideration is the 4210T. This 10” drill press features a laser, making it easier for you to drill in the correct location. You’ll find that you can drill from one of five adjustable speeds, ranging from 600 RPM to 3100 RPM. The spindle travel on this drill press is 2.5”.

The workbench on this drill press is 7-5/8″ x 7-5/8″. This bench drill press weighs roughly 50 pounds. Customers can purchase this tool for about $150.

What We Like

• Laser guide ensures accuracy
• Excellent for the “DIY” homeowner
• Drills into wood smoothly

What Could be Better

• Could be too heavy for some people to move
• The RPM lacks compared to other, more affordable models

WEN 4212 10” Drill Press

The last product from WEN you’ll want to consider is the 4212 model. This product provides you with variable speeds, ideal for drilling various materials. The RPM on the device ranges from 530 RPM to 3100 RPM. Additionally, there is a digital display that allows you to determine the speed at which you’re drilling accurately. This product weighs about 62 pounds. Customers can purchase it for about $170.

What We Like

• Low RPM ensures you don’t ruin the material
• A digital display allows you to determine precise speed
• Variable speeds allow you to choose the perfect setting

What Could be Better

• We wish the RPM’s were higher
• Does not come with a clamp

WEN Drill Press Buyer’s Guide

When drilling, you need to make sure that you have the right products at your disposal. When shopping for a WEN drill press, the first thing that you’ll likely notice is that there are two different types available: bench and floor presses.

If you purchase a bench drill press, you’ll need to secure it to a bench. These tools are most useful for drilling small holes. WEN bench drill presses are not as powerful as floor presses. However, you’ll find that they are portable. Because you can remove and affix them to a bench easily, they are easy to store. For the average homeowner completing weekend projects, a WEN bench press is likely the best option.

If you’re someone who completes project more frequently, you’re going to want to check out WEN floor drill presses. These machines are much more powerful. WEN designs their floor presses for those who are involved with more heavy or complicated drilling. The holes that you’ll receive when using a floor press are more prominent than the ones you’ll receive when using a bench press.

As you can imagine, floor presses are quite stationary. If you’re someone who uses a drill press frequently, this is the type that you’ll want to consider the most. Once you’ve determined whether you need a bench or floor press, there are some other things that you’ll likely want to consider. Below, we’ve included other features to consider when buying your WEN drill press.

Motor Power

One of the first features that you’ll need to consider is the power of the motor. If you plan to drill through dense materials, you’ll need a powerful motor. For instance, you’ll need more motor power to drill through steel than you would to drill through wood.

Drill Speed

Another thing that you’ll want to consider is the speed of the drill bit. If you plan on drilling a single product, you know what type of speed you’ll need. However, if you are looking to drill various materials – which is likely the case – you’ll need a drill press with varying speeds. Fortunately, most WEN drill presses come with variable speeds, one of the features that helps these products stand out from competitors.

Size of the Drill Press

When purchasing a WEN drill press, you’ll also want to consider the size of the machine. First and foremost, you’ll need to make sure that it can fit in your garage or workspace easily. Additionally, you’ll need to ensure that the press is large enough to hold the materials you wish to drill. The one features you should consider is throat depth.

The throat depth is the area between the drill bit and the drill press post. The wider the throat depth, the larger the material with which you can work. For instance, if you plan on drilling large pieces of lumber, you’ll want to make sure that you obtain a WEN drill press with a broad throat depth. On the contrary, if you drill thin sheets of metal, throat depth won’t be a primary concern.

Depth of the Drill Press

When comparing WEN drill presses, you’ll also likely want to check out the depth of the drill holes. You should not overlook the ability to drill deep holes, even if you don’t think that you’re going to need to do so during your upcoming projects.

Other Features

Lastly, you’ll want to consider some of the other features that could potentially come with your WEN product. For instance, some WEN drill presses come with laser guides, providing you with pinpoint accuracy when drilling.

Another feature you may want to consider is whether the drill press has a stopper. Stoppers are useful because they can prevent you from drilling too deep. If you were to drill too deeply, your materials would be ruined. Ensuring that your drill press has a stopper could be a worthwhile investment that saves you both time and money.

About WEN

WEN is one of the most well-known brands in the construction and power tool industry. Nick Anton first founded the company in 1951. Since then, the company has continued to grow, introducing numerous tools to its product line. In its first 50 years, the company sold more than 50 million consumer units. They’ve continued growing over the past two decades.

WEN’s headquarters are in Elgin, Illinois. The company says that its goal is to “help woodworkers and artisans across the world execute their wildest imaginations.”

The company also seeks to deliver products of the highest quality. WEN warrants its products form defects in material or workmanship for up to 500 hours of personal use. The company also warrants its products for up to 90 days for any commercial or professional use.

Conclusion

If you need a drill press, we highly recommend that you look into WEN. The American-based company has produced quality power tools for nearly 70 years. Customers can trust that their WEN drill press will be high-quality and incredibly durable.

We feel that all five WEN drill presses that we reviewed are worthy of consideration and that your choice should depend significantly on your needs. However, if you have room in your workshop for a floor press and don’t mind investing in a quality press, we recommend the 4227 model from WEN.

The 4227 model measures 17”, the highest of any of the WEN drill presses that we reviewed. Additionally, the spindle is an impressive 4.75”, which should provide you with enough depth to meet your drilling needs. The 4227 is a floor model, which means you’ll need to make sure that you have enough space in your shop for it.

However, if you do have enough space for this press, it could be an investment well worth your while. The product is high quality and should last for years. If you do not have the space for a floor press, we recommend that you consider the 4214 model from WEN. This drill press is simple and is perhaps best suited for beginners who are looking for assistance when completing a weekend DIY project.