Small drill press needed

[FrankEV]

Anyone using a WEN 4208T 2.3-Amp 8-Inch 5-Speed Cast Iron Benchtop Drill Press about $110 on Amazon ( A little more at Lowes).  

I need a small drill press and the WEN would work.  My shop is small and a DP can not take up a lot of room.  I have found info on a Mini Drill Press that is even smaller then the WEN, at almost the same cost, but reviews were not too great with mfg QC being the major issue. 

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks   

[rafairchild2]

I have had my WEN for 6 years now.  I added the table to it.  It has been a real workhorse for me.  I use it every day.  I also put a mop sander and barrel sanders in it too.

You can see it below tucked in the corner.  I just spin from my scroll saw to my drilling and carving/sanding stations.

 

 

[kmmcrafts]

I bought a WEN drill press last year but haven't really used it a lot since it's only been a year. It's not the small one though, I think it's a 12" with variable speed and had a LED worklight as well as a laser guide light.. So far it's been good.. for what I've needed it for. I still have and use my old 8" 5 speed Delta.. I just leave the Forestner bit in that one for drilling the holes for the clocks I make. Sure is nice not having to set up for the forstner bit all the time.. always had to change drill speed via changing belt to other pulleys and then change back for drilling small holes for scrolling..  

[Peter N White]

You could make one for small bits with a Dremel.  Acutabove Woodworking has a video on how to on his website.

[FrankEV]

3 hours ago, Peter N White said:

You could make one for small bits with a Dremel.  Acutabove Woodworking has a video on how to on his website.

I already use the Dremel tool in their drill press.  I use my setup for dilling the blade holes in patterns and have posted a write up on my setup previously. 

I'm happy with my setup but I want a small Drill press for the more normal kind of drilling purposes.  I would like to use larger bits to produce more true and accurate perpendicular holes in all kinds of projects.  I would like to use Fosner bits, Spade bits as well as regular wood and metal Twist bits. 

[OCtoolguy]

7 hours ago, rafairchild2 said:

I have had my WEN for 6 years now.  I added the table to it.  It has been a real workhorse for me.  I use it every day.  I also put a mop sander and barrel sanders in it too.

You can see it below tucked in the corner.  I just spin from my scroll saw to my drilling and carving/sanding stations.

 

 

I'd like to see more pics of your shop. Different angles. It looks to be very organized.

[BadBob]

I had a small benchtop drill press for a few years and got rid of it for two reasons. The primary reason was because of the table height adjustment. I will never again buy a drill press that doesn't have a hand crank to adjust the table height. The second reason I got rid of it was the chuck mount system was non-standard. I wanted to change the chuck for a chuck that would hold very small bits, but I could not get one.

Another thing to look out for is how the stops work. In my opinion, you should be able to adjust the depth stop without tools.

[TAIrving]

I had a Wen 4208 and eventually gave it to my son and got a Wen 4214 for myself.  My issues with the 4208 include the lack of a hand crank as BadBob mentioned, the throat depth (8" vs 12"), and the spindle travel (2" vs 3").  In addition, the 4214 has the laser spotter, a work light, a lever to control the speed and a readout for the speed.  And I got it on sale for $215.  

[rafairchild2]

11 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I'd like to see more pics of your shop. Different angles. It looks to be very organized.

Here you go.  It's a modest shop as it shares the garage with my Mustang. My space is about 20' x 5'.  Although I can still work while the 'Stang is in the garage, I prefer the car out so I have a bit more space to think  

My table saw I tuck away and roll outside to use since it generates a lot of sawdust. I keep my rattle cans and sandpaper on the lower shelves of that rolling cart too. I also have a larger belt/disc sander on the shelf, along with my laser so you do not see those.  I have rolling metal shelves on the other side of the garage, I store wood and "waste" wood, and also by the garage door I have my air compressor with my hose on a retractable reel, with about 50' of hose.

I just installed the piping for the dust collection system, I added a cyclone bucket to it.  I am still figuring out how I want to do the right side of the sanding bench where the smaller belt/disc sander is.  Right now I just use the expandable hose when I want to use it plugging it in where my grinder/ flex drum sander plugs in.  I am using blast gates to control everything.  My vacuum system goes on anytime I turn on a piece of equipment.  Most controlled by a dead man's foot pedal.  My scroll saw is the only tool that does not turn the vac on as it does not draw enough current to trigger my controller.  The electric is the next thing I will neaten up after I finish the dust collection.

I am also going to get another workbench with built-in vice and dogs, and I am waiting for my new Wen 4214 drill press to come in tomorrow.  I wanted something with cranks and a laser.

Edited October 7, 2023 by rafairchild2

[BadBob]

The ease of changing speeds would also be a big plus.

[OCtoolguy]

Thanks for all the pics. Those steel framed tables are nice.

[rafairchild2]

5 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

Thanks for all the pics. Those steel framed tables are nice.

Got them off amazon.  Height adjustable, and on casters.

Oh and I figured out how to do the dust collection on my small belt sander and my table saw.  Just hooked it all up.

Edited October 7, 2023 by rafairchild2

[rjweb]

Very nice looking shop, I see you have a few Wen tools, are you happy with them, RJ

[crupiea]

I just use and old school small hand drill.  That or a jewelers drill with the little a spring thing in it that just goes up and down.

[James E. Welch]

On 10/6/2023 at 1:30 PM, FrankEV said:

Anyone using a WEN 4208T 2.3-Amp 8-Inch 5-Speed Cast Iron Benchtop Drill Press about $110 on Amazon ( A little more at Lowes).  

I need a small drill press and the WEN would work.  My shop is small and a DP can not take up a lot of room.  I have found info on a Mini Drill Press that is even smaller then the WEN, at almost the same cost, but reviews were not too great with mfg QC being the major issue. 

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks   

I've had one for probably 6 or 7 years. Works great. I've often looked at the more expensive ones but can't justify the purchase when my little Wen works so good. 

[preprius]

It turns out my 30yr old craftsman 1/3 hp 8" just broke.  So it is time for a new one.  So this post talked me into the Wen 4214T.  maybe it will on reduced during Amazon Prime days. 

I see they have an accessory keyless chuck that goes down to a 1/64" drill. 

 

[rafairchild2]

On 10/7/2023 at 8:38 PM, rjweb said:

Very nice looking shop, I see you have a few Wen tools, are you happy with them, RJ

Yes, I have been quite satisfied with WEN tools.  I have their air filtration system, large and small belt/disc sanders, and the bench grinder converted to a flex sander on one side.  I just purchased their 4214T drill press with light and laser, I will give my small 10" to my son in law.  it has been a work horse for me.  I just wanted cranks and laser.  My rotary tool is a WEN also.  I actually started with the WEN scroll saw, but outgrew that in about 3 months and went to the 21" Excalibur. 

[rafairchild2]

7 hours ago, preprius said:

It turns out my 30yr old craftsman 1/3 hp 8" just broke.  So it is time for a new one.  So this post talked me into the Wen 4214T.  maybe it will on reduced during Amazon Prime days. 

I see they have an accessory keyless chuck that goes down to a 1/64" drill. 

 

I just got the 4214T Sunday.  It is a monster compared to the WEN 10" drill press, pretty heavy.  I actually assembled it and got it on the work-table by myself. I actually assembled on the table.  Just lifting the head into place was a little challenging. 

I think it is too high right now as the drill bit is at eye level.  I like it a little lower, so I will purchase a stand for it that is lower. I will get photos of it today after work.

 

[kmmcrafts]

The 4214T is the same one I bought last fall, So far I love it. My old Delta 8" DP I have to change belt to various pulleys for speed changes.. and the table didn't have a crank on it.. However that all said it is my first DP so I never knew the luxuries I was missing until I bought the WEN. Also love the work light, I don't use the laser crosshairs thing though but could be handy in certain situations I suppose. 

One has to wonder what is different about the WEN 4214T and this Jet 716000 Looks like the same drill press for around $300 more for the white colored paint and a jet sticker.. 

 

[Scrappile]

Just my thoughts:

Looks like a great drillpress.  I like the variable speed if it holds up, if it quits, is the drill press dead?  the lazer lights, to me are worthless. I have one on my Jet, never use it.  Never could get is set correctly  and as I lower the quill, to double check that the bit is hitting in the right spot, the quill blocks the light.  And, because the light has to come down at in angle it changes the "X" spot as you move the table up and down.  A pain to readjust.  Not sure what the handle on the left side it for on the Wen.  The other dislike I have is the depth adjustment.  screwing those nuts up and down is a real pain.  My first drill press I had was a HF, and it had a dial to set the depth.  I love that compared to the nut adjustment.  I think the pull out roller setup could come in handy.  The price is certainly good.

[kmmcrafts]

The lever on the left is the variable speed adjuster.. I'm with you on the laser crosshairs light.. useless to me.. but some might find it handy. 

For the depth stop.. I never change that... I just raise / lower the table top while pulling the lever all the way down until I get it to stop at the depth I need it to. If drilling a hole for the clocks I place a 1/8" scrap on the table and lower the drill all the way down and then move table to just barely touch the 1/8" scrap.. That gives be the proper depth when I remove the 1/8" piece and then drill.. This was always difficult to do on my small drill press because the table had no gear / crank.. 

I can understand certain cases where you'd need to have precise hole depth and needing to use the stop.. but for the most part I just adjust the table height to meet the drill bit.  

[rafairchild2]

Here's the monster.  And yup, assembled it and hoisted the head in place all by myself.  I already had the press table so I figured I would install it on my new press.

But as you can see it is way high now.  I used to be able to spin from my saw to the drill press in my stool.  Now I have to stand and the drill is at eye level, which messes up my workflow a little.  But I am with Kevin.  I raise and lower the table to adjust the depth, use a 3/4" scrap wood for the drill through.  Never liked the screwing thingie. 

 

[preprius]

can you cut the main tube down?

 

[dgman]

1 hour ago, preprius said:

can you cut the main tube down?

 

Don’t do that! Make a shorter stand!

[preprius]

oh yea, my old craftsman does not have a crank.  So only the column can be cut.

My bench is bolted to the wall.  My old craftsman would almost fit on my bench.  I could have cut it down to to fit.  But decided not to put it on my bench.

Old setup,

 

New setup

 

after 3 years.... working from home

 

ok on the other side of garage is my cutting drilling station.  My timeout out corner.

I stash , ok put away, power sanding , cutoff saw , and power hand tools in cabinents and under the scroll saw.  Power dust makers are used outdoors. 

The small drill press is in the corner. 

The WEN 4214T the top and the chuck will be about 10 inches higher.