Whether you are working on small household projects or big, sturdy furniture, having a drill press in hand is a MUST! It makes the otherwise dangerous and tedious task of boring precise holes as easy as a piece of cake. Every carpenter, professional or not, will definitely need a drill press in their tool shed that is the best drill press under 500 dollars.
You can easily adjust using a drill press to bore holes of various diameters and depths using a drill’s intricate choice of bits. Because of the drill press’s versatility, they can become quite expensive and it can become overwhelming searching for the drill press amongst thousands of other drills that all claim to be the best. But don’t break a sweat, because we have your backs! Here are our top picks for the best drill press for the money.
Quick Overview
- 1 Our Top Picks Of Best Drill Press Under 500, 400, & 300 Dollars
- 2 Consider These Factors to Buying The Best Drill Press Under 500 Dollars
- 3 CONCLUSION
Our Top Picks Of Best Drill Press Under 500, 400, & 300 Dollars
- WEN 4214 12-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press, Orange: Because of how user friendly it is for both beginners and professionals to use this drill press, it is one of the best WEN drill presses you will find in the market today.
- WEN 2012187 4208 8 in. 5-Speed Drill Press: This light-weight drill press will tend to all of your carpentry needs with its stunning 5 speed feature. This is hands down one of the best drills under just 200 dollars!
- JET JWDP-12, 12-Inch Bench top Drill Press, 1/2HP, 115V 1PH (716000): If you are buying a JET drill press, you can rest assured that you will receive the best quality drill press. This will be the best drill press for your money because of its stability and power.
- Shop Fox W1667 1/2 HP 8-1/2-Inch Bench-Top Oscillating Drill Press: This drill press comes with a stunning, patented feature where you can use this drill press as both a drill press or as an oscillating sander. The best part about this drill is that you get this amazing feature at an excellent price point; this is the best drill press under just 300.
- BILT HARD 13 inch Floor Drill Press with Vise, 16 Speed Stand Bench top Drill press, 6.6 Amp 120V 1 HP, 5/8″ B16 Chuck, CSA Certified: This drill press may look petite and innocent, but it is definitely a best in disguise. It can power through wood, plastic and even metal. Despite being compact, it is still one of the best quality drill presses you will get on a budget.
Now that you have taken a quick glance at our top picks, read further to know all about the details and the specifications.
WEN 4214 12-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press, Orange
TOP SPECS
- Weight: 89.1 pounds
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 36.63 x 16.75 inches
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Voltage: 120 Volts
Our Observation
WEN has been manufacturing power tools since 1951, so you can blindly trust them for providing you with the best possible drill presses. WEN’s Stationary Drill Presses are one of their finest works so you can only expect the absolute best from this drill press.
The WEN 4214-12 drill press is a beast, it is best known for how extremely powerful it is. For the utmost stability, this drill press comes with a spacious, cast iron work table which has a pinion height adjustment. Additionally, for your comfort, the table can also bevel 45 degrees left and right.
Another amazing feature that this drill provides is its variable speed feature which will allow you to target the exact RPM of 580-3200; this will allow excellent precision for your work. And most importantly, the speed can be adjusted through a simple turn of a lever.
- Comes with a digital speed readout
- Cast iron base
- Patented work light
- Easy to assemble
- Power switch may be fragile
WEN 2012187 4208 8 in. 5-Speed Drill Press
TOP SPECS
- Weight: 31 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 22.88 x 11 inches
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Voltage: 120 Volts
Our Observation
The WEN 4208 drill press will be an excellent addition to your work table because of its compact size, it won’t take up too much table space, but it will definitely provide you with all power you need to bore holes through wood plastic and metal and more.
This drill press comes with 5 different levels of speed ranging from 740, 1100, 1530, 2100, and 3140 RPM, this will ensure that you can work easily with any and every material at any speed. The WEN 4208’s versatility doesn’t here, it also comes with a ½ inch JT33 keyed chuck that will allow you to use drill bits up to a size of ½ inches!
This drill press is as user friendly as it can get, it comes with an easy to adjust work table that can bevel 45 degrees left and right. Additionally, for repeatable drilling operations, it also has a locking depth adjustment feature that limits spindle travel.
- Locking depth adjustment
- Cast iron head, table and base
- One year warranty
- Adjusting the work table may be difficult
JET JWDP-12, 12-Inch Bench top Drill Press (716000)
TOP SPECS
- Weight: 85 pounds
- Dimensions: 29.7 x 19.9 x 12.2 inches
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Voltage: 115 Volts
Our Observation
Get precision like no other with the JET JWDP-12; this drill press is built with an X shaped XACTA laser that will allow you to be consistent with every drill. The drill press has a retractable roller extension that will provide you with the utmost support as well as adjust your work piece quickly.
This drill press is suitable for all beginners and professionals alike. The JET JWDP-12 has a digital readout display that will help in reading out the different levels of speed. Additionally, the drill press also has a built- in work light that makes drilling intricate holes so much easier. Its oversized knobs provide maximum control and usability, making this the perfect beginner friendly drill press.
- Beginner friendly
- Large paddle switch
- Compact and easy to transport
- Easy assembly
- Base may wobble slightly
Shop Fox W1667 1/2 HP 8-1/2-Inch Bench-Top Oscillating Drill Press
TOP SPECS
- Weight: 50.9 pounds
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 18 x 13.7 inches
- Voltage: 110 Volts
Our Observation
The Shop Fox W1667 is a stunning drill press that can be used as both a drill press and an oscillating sander. The drill press has a sanding spindle that can be effectively used with sanding drums between 1 and 2 inches in diameter and up to 4-1/4 inches long. And because the spindle oscillates, it is guaranteed that you will get perfect, precise results every time!
This drill press also comes with the amazing feature of an extremely useful 90 degree rotation that makes it one of the most flexible drill presses in the market today. Another innovative feature that this drill press will provide is its 2-1/4-inch dust port that will always keep your work space spick and span.
This drill press has definitely been built to last! Its top notch quality, roughly built parts and its 2 year warranty will ensure that your tool has an extended life.
- Tilt table left and right
- Safety switch
- Depth scale
- 5 speeds
- Inadequate packaging
- Chuck may wobble slightly
BILT HARD 13 inch Floor Drill Press
TOP SPECS
- Weight: 83.8 pounds
- Dimensions: 31.6 x 19.25 x 11 inches
- Power Source: Hardwire
- Voltage: 120 Volts
Our Observation
In this budget, this is one of the most powerful drill presses you will find available in the market. This drill press has a 13-1/4 inch swing, 7/64″ to 5/8-inch keyed chuck B16, 6.6A induction motor and a 3-1/8 inch spindle travel that will ensure that your drill press can power through even the thickest wood, plastic or metal.
For added durability and stability, the drill press’s head, table and base are all framed with cast iron. The drill press simultaneously also comes with 16 different levels of speed. Yes you have read that right, 16 different speeds ranging from 220-3600 RPM that will allow you to effectively target the same speed for the most precise drilling.
The BILT HARD 13 inch has a table that will make all of your tedious drillings a piece of cake. The table rotates 360 degrees and tilts 45 degrees left and right. The base also has pre drilled holes that will allow you to mount it onto a bench or work stand.
- 6.6A induction motor
- Depth stop with gauge
- Table lock
- May be noisy
- Spindle may be slightly loose
Consider These Factors to Buying The Best Drill Press Under 500 Dollars
Even though drill presses are one of the most important tools that you should keep in your work station, the price tags often result in reluctance. We hope that after going through our product reviews, you can find a drill press that is the most suitable for your budget. But even before you make your purchase, there are a few things that are essential for you to know and keep in mind, have a look at our buying guide for more information.
So how do you choose your best drill press type?
There are mainly two types of drills– hand held drills and drill presses. A hand held drill is small and compact and much, much more portable than a drill press. But, in our personal opinion, nothing beats the power, speed, durability and the functionality of a drill press.
A drill press has a more powerful motor, thus it can be handy when working with larger and sturdier projects.
Drill presses have the ability to lock drill bits in place; they often have digital readouts too which ensure enhanced stability and accuracy.
Lastly, drilling and sanding can both be dangerous tasks, but having a drill press instead of a handheld drill eliminates a lot of those dangers. Drill presses have a clamp to hold your material in place, so your hands won’t be in danger. You can also change speeds easily depending on the thickness of your material which will result in less damages and breakages of the material.
So all in all, we highly suggest that you purchase a drill press for all of its stunning and helpful advantages.
There are two types of drill presses too, bench top models and stationary models. Benchtop models are lightweight, compact and portable which makes them the perfect purchase for hobbyists. Secondly, there are stationary models which are more powerful, stable and durable thus making them the right choice for bigger projects.
That’s about it for the different types of drills and drill presses, but lastly; here are some other key factors that you need to know before you make your big purchase.
SWING
The swing is the distance between the drill’s central column and the spindle, multiplied by two, and it defines the maximum width of material that can be fitted into the drill when drilling to the center of your work piece.
HORSEPOWER
Simply put, the more horsepower your drill press has, the more powerful it will be. So, if you know you’ll be working on tasks that need drilling through heavy, thick things, invest in a high-horsepower drill press.
DEPTH STOP
The depth stop is what allows you to drill multiple holes that are all the same size and shape. This is a fantastic tool for when you need to repeat or copy your work; the depth stop ensures that your work is extremely accurate.
SPEED
For a smooth cut through difficult materials like metal, you’ll need to drill at slower rates. Similarly, for softer materials such as wood or plastic, a quicker speed is required. Almost all drill presses have changeable speed levels, making them quite versatile. Floor standing drill presses come with a variety of speed settings, making them an even better choice.
CONCLUSION
You are now all set to make your big purchase! This is almost all the necessary information you will need for your purchase. But if you are still confused and unsure about which drill press to buy, our suggestion would be the WEN 4214 12-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press. It is super beginner friendly, of course budget friendly and most importantly, manufactured by a company you can blindly trust. Rest assured that this will be an excellent purchase!
We truly hope our article helped you, may whichever drill press you choose to purchase, give you the utmost joy. Happy drilling!
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