Here’s our review of the best drill presses for metal for 2022.
Careful research is crucial if you want to find the best drill press for metal for you and thus make sure you’ll get the tool that will match your needs and allow you to achieve your projects easily and quickly.
A good metalworking drill press has to have strong power, no doubt about it. Finding one that also has a few useful features is even better.
Of all the available machines out there, we’ve selected what we think are the best overall drill presses for metal today, namely the Jet J-2500 (floor drill press), the Wen 4214T (benchtop drill press), and the Milwaukee 4272-21 (magnetic drill press).
But that’s not all, folks. As you won’t all have the same budget nor the same needs, we’ve figured that it would be great to widen our scope by including an upgrade pick and a budget pick to each of the three following sections of this review. We hope that this will help most of you find the best drill press for metal, the one that will feature what you need for your projects and that will fit in your budget.
Let’s get into it.
Best Drill Press for Metal – Our Picks
- Best Floor Drill Presses:
- Top Pick: Jet J-2500 15 In. Floor Drill Press
- Upgrade Pick: Jet J-2550 20 In. Floor Drill Press
- Best Budget: Shop Fox W1848 13-1/4 In. Floor Drill Press
- Best Benchtop Drill Presses:
- Top Pick: Wen 4214T 12 In. Benchtop Drill Press
- Upgrade Pick: Jet JDP-15P 15 In. Benchtop Drill Press
- Best Budget: Wen 4208T 8 In. Benchtop Drill Press
- Best Magnetic Drill Presses:
- Top Pick: Milwaukee 4272-21 13A Magnetic Drill Press
- Upgrade Pick: Milwaukee 4274-21 13A Magnetic Drill Press
- Best Budget: Dewalt DWE1622K 10A Magnetic Drill Press
Because we want to give you the most actionable information, we’ve divided our review into sections and subsections that will help you pick the drill press for metalworking.
First, what type of drill press do you want? Are you looking for a floor drill press, a benchtop drill press, or a magnetic drill press?
To check out our floor drill press picks, keep reading.
For benchtop drill presses, click here.
And if you need a magnetic drill press, see our picks here.
In case you need some advice first, or more details on the differences between these three types of drill presses, check out our tips for choosing the best drill press for metal.
Best Floor Drill Press for Metal
Here is our selection of the best floor drill presses for metal.
First is our top pick, which is expected to be the one that will satisfy most of you. If you’re looking for something larger and more powerful, check out our second pick, right after this one. And if you have a lower budget, our third pick should be the one you need!
Top Pick: Jet J-2500 15 In. Floor Drill Press
Type: Floor drill press
Overall Dimensions (L x W x H)(in.): 31 x 13 x 63
Weight (lbs): 167
Swing (in.): 15
Spindle Travel (in.): 3-3/8
Chuck Size (in.): 5/8
Table Travel (in.): 24
Table Size (L x W)(in.): 11-1/2 x 11-1/2
Tilting Table: Yes (45° left and right)
Motor: 3/4HP
Number of Speeds: 16
Speeds (RPM): 200 – 3,630
Light: No
Laser: No
Additional Features: /
User Manual: Jet J-2500
To us, the best floor drill press for metal for DIYers and professionals who want to get a good overall tool but not ruin themselves is none other than the Jet J-2500.
Jet is well known for making strong and durable tools. Those tools may lack a bit of fanciness, I agree, but they usually are easy to install, to use, and they do the job very effectively.
The J-2500 is no exception to the rule. With its pretty strong build, its good dimensioning, and its strong 3/4HP motor, this drill press will give satisfaction to most DIYers and to some professionals too, as long as their projects do not imply oversized workpieces nor require too high power.
There are no fancy features on this drill press. No laser. No dust port. This tool is designed to do one thing and to do it well. Drilling. It’s made to be strong, stable, and be powerful enough for most average metalworking projects. And it does just that!
Plus, this drill press offers 16 different speeds. This gives you a lot of possibilities as far as the scope of materials and material thicknesses you want to drill.
The Jet J-2500 is a very good mid-range floor drill press for metal and it had to be on top of our list. There are better and more powerful tools on the market, of course. But within this price range, which may well be that of most DIYers and contractors, it is, in our opinion, the best drill press for metalworking.
Upgrade Pick: Jet J-2550 20 In. Floor Drill Press
Type: Floor drill press
Overall Dimensions (L x W x H)(in.): 33-1/2 x 18-1/2 x 67
Weight (lbs): 304
Swing (in.): 20
Spindle Travel (in.): 4-3/4
Chuck Size (in.): 5/8
Table Travel (in.): 21-1/2
Table Size (L x W)(in.): 18-11/16 x 16-3/4
Tilting Table: Yes (45° left and right)
Motor: 1HP
Number of Speeds: 12
Speeds (RPM): 150 – 4,200
Light: No
Laser: No
Additional Features: /
User Manual: Jet J-2550
If you’re looking for a more powerful floor drill press for your metalworking projects, you should take a close look at the Jet J-2550.
Simply put, this metal drill press is an improved version of the J-2500. It offers a larger and heavier design, which gives you more stability and more downward pressure. Its 1HP motor has plenty of power, allowing for drilling through harder and thicker materials. It also features a larger swing and table, for handling wider workpieces, as well as a longer spindle travel for deeper drilling.
It has 12 different speeds available, which is less than little sister J-2500. But, it is worth noting that you also have lower and higher speeds available. And so this offers a pretty wide range of drilling possibilities.
The Jet J-2550 is a strong metalworking drill press that looks like it belongs in a machine shop. It is a premium choice, especially if you’re looking for higher power and a larger design than the J-2500. As you probably guessed, you’ll have to be willing to spend more money to get this powerful drill press for metal. But if you do decide to buy it, we’re pretty sure that you won’t regret it.
Best Budget: Shop Fox W1848 13-1/4 In. Oscillating Floor Drill Press
Type: Floor drill press
Overall Height (in.): 63
Weight (lbs): 122
Swing (in.): 13-1/4
Spindle Travel (in.): 3-1/8
Chuck Size (in.): 5/8
Table Size (dia.)(in.): 12-3/8
Tilting Table: Yes (45° left and right)
Motor: 3/4HP
Number of Speeds: 12
Range of Speeds (RPM): 250 – 3050
Light: No
Laser: No
Additional Features: Table dust port (2 in.), oscillating spindle (3/4 in.)
User Manual: Shop Fox W1848
If you don’t want to spend too much money, or if what you need is a good enough floor drill press for occasional use and relatively light metalworking projects, then the Shop Fox W1848 is probably the one you need.
This drill press is equipped with a 3/4HP motor that gives you more than enough power for tackling most light and medium-duty metal drilling tasks.
It comes with 12 different speed settings, thus providing you with a pretty good range of adjustments to adapt to various types of drilling jobs and materials.
Unlike the previous two Jet drill presses the W1848 has got additional features, starting with a dust port. That’s pretty cool, especially if you also want to use that machine for drilling or sanding wood.
Yes, sanding. You heard that well! This drill press is also designed to be used as an oscillating spindle sander. All you need to do is mount a sanding sleeve, adjust the depth stop to allow the spindle to oscillate, and position the sleeve in the appropriate cutout portion of the table.
Getting back to drilling, although $200 cheaper than our top pick, this drill press is about equivalent in power to the Jet J-2500. Where they differ, however, is on dimensions and robustness.
The W1848 is about 45 lbs lighter than the J-2500. This weight difference sure has an impact on the tool’s stability and pressure applied to the workpiece.
It also features a 1-3/4 in. shorter swing and a 2/8 in. shorter spindle travel. I advise you to take close note of these measurements before purchasing this drill press. So make sure they’re going to be sufficient for your projects.
Again, this floor drill press offers pretty good power and costs $200 less than our top pick. So take some time to consider. It might save you a couple hundred bucks!
Best Benchtop Drill Press for Metal
Now, here is our selection of the best benchtop drill presses for metal. This section is divided in the same way as the previous one.
Top Pick: Wen 4214T 12 In. Benchtop Drill Press
Type: Benchtop drill press
Overall Height (in.): 36-1/2
Weight (lbs): 85
Swing (in.): 1
Spindle Travel (in.): 3-1/8
Chuck Size (in.): 5/8
Table Size (L x W)(in.): 9-1/2 x 9-1/2
Tilting Table: Yes (45° Left and Right)
Motor: 5A
Range of Speeds (RPM): 580 – 3200
Light: Yes
Laser: Yes
Additional Features: Digital speed readout, table roller extension
User Manual: Wen 4214T
Wen makes very interesting and affordable drill presses, starting with the one we’ve chosen as the best benchtop drill press for metal, the 4214T.
This drill press has a 5A motor that gives it pretty good power for a benchtop drill press.
With a 12 in. swing, a 3-1/8 in. spindle travel, and a 9-1/2 in. square table, it also offers a very decent dimensioning.
And unlike many other drill presses, this one doesn’t require manual belt adjustments for changing speeds. Instead, it uses the turn of a speed adjustment lever to adjust the speed anywhere between 580 and 3200 RPM.
To add to the cool features, it also features a work light, laser pointers, a real-time digital speed readout, and a table roller extension that allows for up to 17 in. of workpiece support.
There are many things to like about this metalworking drill press. And if you don’t need larger dimensions and higher power, we’d strongly suggest you go for this one. If you do, however, take a look at the next drill press down below.
Upgrade Pick: Jet JDP-15B 15 In. Benchtop Drill Press
Type: Benchtop drill press
Overall Dimensions (L x W x H)(in.): 27 x 17 x 43-7/8
Weight (lbs): 154
Swing (in.): 15
Spindle Travel (in.): 3-1/8
Chuck Size (in.): 5/8
Table Size (L x W)(in.): 12-1/2 x 17
Tilting Table: Yes (45° left and right)
Motor: 3/4HP
Number of Speeds: 16
Range of Speeds (RPM): 210 – 3500
Light: Yes
Laser: Yes
Additional Features: /
User Manual: Jet JDP-15B
Now, if you need a stronger and more solid benchtop drill press for metal, the Jet JDP-15P may well be the one you need.
With its 3/4HP motor, this drill press offers more power than the Wen 4214T 5A motor.
It is also about twice as heavy as the Wen 4214T. This might give you an idea of how much more stable this benchtop metalworking drill press is and how much more pressure it applies to the workpiece.
It has 16 different speed settings between 210 and 3500 RPM that you adjust with a traditional belt adjustment system. No fancy lever here, unlike the Wen 4214T. Also, it has no digital speed readout, but it uses a work light and laser pointers for better accuracy and comfort.
Even though it is not a floor drill press, the JDP-15P is the type of machine that gives you the power and strength of a mid-range floor drill press with the compactness of a benchtop drill press.
If high power and large dimensions are what you prioritize, then I’d highly suggest you go for this one.
Best Budget: Wen 4208T 8 In. Benchtop Drill Press
Type: Benchtop drill press
Overall Height (in.): 23-1/8
Weight (lbs): 34.2
Swing (in.): 8
Spindle Travel (in.): 2
Chuck Size (in.): 1/2
Table Size (L x W)(in.): 6-1/2 x 6-1/2
Tilting Table: Yes (45° left and right)
Motor: 2.3A
Number of Speeds: 5
Range of Speeds (RPM): 740 – 3140
Light: No
Laser: No
Additional Features: /
User Manual: Wen 4208T
If you don’t care much about power and features, you’re probably only looking for a more basic type of benchtop drill press that will allow you to achieve light-duty metal drilling tasks with ease.
If that’s the case, chances are that the benchtop drill press for metal you need is the Wen 4208T.
There’s not much to say here except that this metalworking drill press is comfortable to use and will allow you to achieve light-duty projects easily. It has only 5 available speed settings, but they allow for a pretty large number of drilling possibilities.
Pay close attention to the drill press’s dimensions, as this one is the smallest of all Wen drill presses. If you need something a little bigger, you may want to check out the Wen 4210T and the Wen 4212T.
Best Magnetic Drill Press for Metal
Lastly, here is our selection of the best magnetic drill presses for metal. This section is divided in the same way as the previous two, with our top pick first, followed by our upgrade pick, and our budget pick.
Top Pick: Milwaukee 4272-21 13A Magnetic Drill Press
Type: Magnetic drill press – Corded
Tool Height (in.): 12-1/4
Weight (lbs): 30
Spindle / Drill Travel (in.): 5-3/4
Chuck: 3/4 in. Weldon – 1/2 in. keyed chuck
Motor: 13A, 2.3HP
Number of Speeds: 2
Speeds (RPM): 475, 730
Light: Yes
Laser: No
Additional Features: Tool-free cutter to twist bit chuck adjustment, tool-free motor head adjustment, auto-stop lift-off detection, 1 in. retractable pilot pin
User Manual: Milwaukee 4272-21
I love magnetic drill presses.
If you’re like me, you probably love the idea of turning a heavy stationary machine into a lighter portable tool, as well as the fact of being able to drill right on spot.
That being said, if you’re looking for a handy and powerful magnetic drill, you might want to consider the Milwaukee 4272-21.
Thanks to its 13A motor that develops up to 2.3HP, this tool offers great power. It also features a drill travel of 5-3/4 in., which is what I call a large drilling depth capacity!
In addition to its great power and good dimensioning, this magnetic drill press also features a lift-off detection that will stop the motor automatically to prevent damages and avoid ruining the hole you’re drilling.
Just like the two following drill presses, it has two separate speed settings, one for cutters and the other for bits. By the way, talking about what they have in common, all three magnetic drill presses featured in this section have a tool-free chuck that allows for switching from 3/4 in. Weldon for cutter attachments to a 1/2 in. keyed chuck for drill bits. They also all feature a motor height adjustment.
In short, the Milwaukee 4272-21 magnetic drill press offers great power, comfort of use, and many adjustment possibilities to its owner. It has most features you’d like to see on a magnetic drill press, though one is missing that can be crucial for some of you. Fortunately, our upgrade pick has it. Scroll down to know what it is and whether you need it or not.
Upgrade Pick: Milwaukee 4274-21 13A Magnetic Drill Press
Type: Magnetic drill press – Corded
Tool Height (in.): 12-1/4
Weight (lbs): 30.5
Spindle / Drill Travel (in.): 5-3/4
Chuck: 3/4 in. Weldon – 1/2 in. keyed chuck
Motor: 13A, 2.3HP
Number of Speeds: 2
Speeds (RPM): 475, 730
Light: Yes
Laser: No
Additional Features: Permanent magnet base, partial magnet mode, tool-free cutter to twist bit chuck adjustment, tool-free motor head adjustment, auto-stop lift-off detection, 1 in. retractable pilot pin
User Manual: Milwaukee 4274-21
The Milwaukee 4274-21 magnetic drill press is, at least on the surface, a copy of the 4272-21 as it has the same features and dimensions. But it also has a little bit more to offer, which, as you’ll see in just a moment, explains the price differential between the two.
The main difference comes from its magnet base.
First, the power of the magnet used for the base of this magnetic drill press is so strong that Milwaukee claims that it gives the user the strongest hold on ¼ in. steel of the market.
Second, this magnet can also be partially turned on for faster and easier hole alignment.
But the most important point is probably this one. The 4274-21 uses a permanent magnet instead of an electromagnet. The difference between a permanent magnet and an electromagnet is the first doesn’t need electricity to hold on metal.
Okay, but when is that useful? Two words, power outages. Imagine you have a vertical or overhead ongoing drilling operation when the power goes out. What would happen to the Milwaukee 4274-21 compared to the 4272-21? Start picturing that? That’s right, the first one wouldn’t move while the second would end up on the ground, which might be, let’s say, problematic both for the tool itself and for the accuracy of your hole.
I can’t tell you how great using this magnetic drill press is. The only thing I’m going to tell you at this point is that if you need all of its features, you’ll enjoy the power, portability, and ease of use of this tool, no doubt about it.
Best Budget: Dewalt DWE1622K 10A Magnetic Drill Press
Type: Magnetic drill press – Corded
Tool Height (in.): 14-1/4
Weight (lbs): 33
Spindle / Drill Travel (in.): 4-3/8
Chuck: 3/4 in. Weldon – 1/2 in. keyed chuck
Motor: 10A
Number of Speeds: 2
Speeds (RPM): 300, 450
Light: No
Laser: No
Additional Features: Quick Change Chuck and Quick Release systems, overload protection, motor height adjustment, magnetic coolant bottle
User Manual: Dewalt DWE1622K
It’s not that easy to find a magnetic drill press that is guaranteed to be reliable and cheap at the same time. That’s why we’ve preferred choosing a tool that we know as being strong and reliable while being a bit less expensive than the Milwaukee 4272-21 for our budget pick.
So, if you want to spend a bit less but still want to make sure you’re getting a strong tool, the Dewalt DWE1622K is a very good option.
This magnetic drill press uses a 10A motor that delivers good drilling power. Such power is more than sufficient in many instances. It features a 4-3/8 in. drill travel, which is not as much as the Milwaukee 4272-21 but still offers a good drilling depth.
On the downside, the DWE1622K is about 3 lbs heavier than the 4272-21, and the two drilling speeds it features are both low. This means that this tool is exclusively made for slow drilling, either on hard or thick material.
As a reminder, all three magnetic drill presses in this review have a tool-free chuck that allows for switching from 3/4 in. Weldon for cutter attachments to a 1/2 in. keyed chuck for drill bits. They also all feature a motor height adjustment.
The DWE1622K is no exception, and it even offers something more with its Quick Release system. This system allows for switching the handle from one side of the tool to the other in seconds, which might be very useful in some situations, either because of restricted space or simply when two different people are expected to use the tool and one is right-handed and the other is left-handed.
The Dewalt DWE1622K is a solid and serious tool. For a couple hundred dollars less, you basically get a quality tool comparable to the Milwaukee 4272-21. The main thing is you get a little less power and drilling depth. But for many of you, that shouldn’t matter too much.
Choosing the Best Drill Press for Metal – Factors to Consider
To find the best drill press for metal, you first need to determine exactly what you are looking for in your metalworking drill press. Is it power, precision, size, portability (yes, you’ve read that well)? Understanding your needs will allow for targetting the right features and characteristics when shopping around and thus sorting between all available models of metalworking drill presses. You’ll then be able to select the one that’s best for you.
So, to make sure that you’ll get the right metal drill press, consider the following points.
Types of Drill Press for Metal
There are three different types of drill presses you can choose from. They all drill metal, no doubt about it. But, each type of metal drill press has specific pros and cons, as well as different sizes and prices. By knowing the differences that exist between these types of metalworking drill presses, you’ll be able to determine which one is the most suitable for your projects.
- Floor drill press: Also called standing drill press or floor-standing drill press, this type of drill press is the largest of the three and also the one that’s likely to give you the highest amount of power.
- Benchtop drill press: As its name implies, this type of drill press for metal is mounted on a workbench. It is a smaller and less powerful tool than most floor drill presses, but its compact size and strong enough power make it the most convenient type for most occasional metalworkers.
- Magnetic drill press: A magnetic drill press is a smaller and portable model of drill press. Its magnetic base allows for holding ferrous metals – and to a certain degree, non-ferrous metals – in place, thus offering the ability to drill directly on spot.
After reading this, the question to ask yourself for picking the best drill press for metal is pretty straightforward. What type is going to best suit your projects, a floor drill press, a benchtop drill press, or a magnetic drill press?
But, not too fast! Before answering this question, you better make sure that the type of drill press for metal you’re thinking about right now is going to match your needs in terms of dimensions.
Dimensions of the Metalworking Drill Press
Obviously, by choosing one of the above types of drill press for metal, you’re also choosing the overall size of the tool. But, there are also other dimensions to consider when choosing a metalworking drill press.
Swing
As far as drill press names and designations, you’ve probably noticed that there’s always a size expressed in inches that comes right after the reference of the drill press. This dimension is called the swing.
It is the distance between the front end of the drill press column and the center of the drill (or spindle) times two. This dimension is intended to tell you how far you’ll be able to position the drill bit from the edge of the material. So, the larger the swing, the farther away you’ll be able to drill.
As a side note, the larger drill presses usually have a swing that ranges from 15 to 20 in.
Spindle Travel
When you’re looking for a metalworking drill press, you want to make sure it is going to allow you to drill deep enough into the material. And that’s where the spindle travel comes into play.
The spindle travel dimension simply informs you of the vertical distance the spindle is capable of traveling downward (1).
So, a drill press with a 4 in. spindle travel will allow you to reach a maximum drilling depth of 4 in., for example.
Chuck Size
The chuck is the part of the spindle in which you clamp the drill bit (2).
I’m sure you already know what I’m about to say. Once again, pretty straightforward, isn’t it?
The larger the chuck, the bigger drill bits you’ll be able to use on your metalworking drill press.
Table Size
Depending on your situation and budget, the following is not always possible, but I’d highly suggest you get a drill press for metal with a large enough table. This is important for drilling precision, stability of the workpiece, and safety.
Metal Drill Press Speeds
Next on the list of features to pay attention to before purchasing a drill press for metal is the speeds at which the drill press operates, expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM).
A quick study of the drill press speed range will allow you to get a grasp of the scope of its drilling capabilities. A metalworking drill press with a wide range of speeds offers more setting possibilities (larger variety of materials and hole sizes).
To give you an idea, take a look at the following chart from JET.
Notice that drilling harder materials, i.e. metal, and larger holes require lower speeds while drilling softer materials and smaller holes requires faster speeds.
Horsepower and Torque
Now, let’s talk about power. I’m sure you’ve been waiting for that!
Well, there is not much more to say than the usual “the more the better.”
Simply put, the more torque the drill press develops, the stronger it will be (3). And, the higher the horsepower, the more powerful it is (4).
Additional Features
The best drill presses for metal may also have interesting additional features, such as:
Led Light
A cool thing to have on your drill press is a simple led light. This feature will help you improve your overall precision, and not only during power outages…
Is it me, or did I just say something stupid?
All jokes aside, let’s just say that the more light there is on your workpiece, the better it is for your accuracy and comfort.
Laser
Some metalworking drill presses may come with a laser pointer feature that helps the user be more accurate and work faster. What such a feature implies in practice is that you don’t need to lower the drill each time you want to line up the drill bit with your mark. Instead, this cool laser helps you target the right spot in seconds.
Durability
One other important factor to consider is the durability of the drill press.
I know what you might think. How am I supposed to know that in advance?
While that might often not be so easy to assess beforehand, by digging a little deeper and not stopping right after reading the tools’ description, chances are you’ll learn about brands or models that have been proven to be stronger than others. One very effective way to find such hints is to look at the customer review section of the products. This is often precisely where you’ll come across reviews from people saying that they’ve been using such and such metal drill press for a long time without encountering any problems. Such reviews might be pretty good and accurate signs of a drill press durability.
Price
From 100 bucks to several thousand dollars, the price range of metalworking drill presses is pretty wide, to say the least.
As always, larger and more powerful tools will cost you more money. Additional features will, too.
So, once you know what type of drill press you want and which features you need, what is left for you to do is find a drill press for metal that both matches your needs and your budget.
FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions people usually have about drill presses.
Check them out if you need information about drill presses in general (both for woodworking and metalworking).
What is a Drill Press / Drill Press for Metal?
A drill press is a stationary power tool that is used for creating holes in different materials, such as wood or metal. Its motor activates the rotation of a spindle, to which is mounted a cutting tool, the drill bit. Being put into contact and pushed against the material, the fast-rotating drill bit is then able to power its way through the material, thanks to the specific shape and sharpness of its edges, leaving nothing but a circular hole behind it.
Drill presses come in a variety of sizes and power ranges. The most powerful drill presses are called drill presses for metal or metalworking drill presses. That’s simply because thanks to their strong build, power, and torque, they allow for drilling into the hardest materials, i.e. metal.
How to Use a Drill Press?
Here is a concise but great article from Bob Vila’s notorious website to help you get started with operating a drill press.
What Safety Precautions Should I Take When Using a Drill Press?
A drill press is a powerful and potentially dangerous tool. Just like many other power tools and machines, it may cause serious injury if not used properly (5).
That is why we advise you to always read all the manufacturer’s guidelines and follow them closely. But here are some of the main safety rules to follow when using a drill press, whether you’re drilling metal, wood, or any other material.
- Always wear the appropriate eye, ear, and hand protection.
- Do not wear any loose clothing or jewelry that could catch on to the drill.
- Your hands should never be anywhere near the table, let alone the drill bit.
- Never try to hold the workpiece with your hands. Instead, use clamps, a vise, or any other device to secure it firmly in place.
- All guards must be in place when the drill press is running. Although most modern drill presses are able to turn the motor off as soon as a guard is not where it is supposed to be, you better be careful and pay attention to this each time you use a drill press.
How to Maintain a Drill Press?
A drill press is a tool that needs very little maintenance. All you need to do is:
- Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Switch off and unplug the drill press before doing any maintenance task.
- Clean up the machine with WD-40 every once in a while.
- Make sure the drill press is well lubricated to prevent damaging the mechanisms.
Our Verdict
Again, to make sure you’ll get what you need out of a drill press for metal, we advise you to carefully assess your needs first. Then, decide which of the drill presses we selected for you best matches your needs. That’s how you’ll pick the best drill press for your metalworking projects.
As a reminder our top picks for each category are the Jet J-2500 (floor drill press), the Wen 4214T (benchtop drill press), and the Milwaukee 4272-21 (magnetic drill press).
