Drills are, without a doubt, one of the most essential pieces of equipment in a home shop. The only problem with handheld models is that they aren’t all that accurate or powerful. Tabletop drill presses are more accurate, but still lack the power that some projects require. For that, you will need to get your hands on the best floor drill press that you can find. These marvelous machines are heavy, accurate, and powerful.
Not all floor drill presses are the same, however. When we were conducting our research, we had to take lots of factors into consideration. First off, we looked at the different levels of horsepower available, which lets you know how powerful they are. Then we looked at the number of speeds and the speed ranges, since the speed is an important factor on the kind of work you can complete. Finally, we looked at how much each press weighs. The weight will help to determine how steady the press is when you are using it.
To put together our comprehensive list that you can view below, we spent tens of hours reading through thousands of user reviews. If you are just starting to look for the best floor drill press, then be sure to check out our detailed buying guide. Once you know everything you need to know about floor presses, make sure you check out our in-depth product reviews so that you can see which press is right for you.
Extra features: built-in work lamp
If you are in the market for the absolute best floor drill press, then this is the model you are going to want to go for. It has one of the most powerful motors on the market today – it can provide you with a whopping 1.5 HP of power. This model also has one of the widest speed ranges, which makes it perfect for a variety of materials, from metal to wood.
Though this is press is somewhat challenging to assemble, once it is put together it works really well, aside from the depth gauge, which is a bit tricky to get used to. This drill press comes with a quick adjustment motor, mount, which helps to ensure quick and easy spindle speed modifications. You can also easily adjust the motor speeds without any tools. This makes it a snap to alter the speed based on the project you are working on at any given time.
The worktable is one of the largest on the market, which makes this a great press for large-scale projects. The work table also rotates and can be set at a 45-degree level in both directions. This will allow you to carry out any angled drilling that you might need to complete. The table is easy to adjust, thanks to its quick release clamp. Even though this clamp can be loosened easily, the table still has a capacity of 80 pounds, making it perfect for large or small sized projects.
Extra features: gooseneck LED light
If you are in the market for a quality drill press that isn’t going to break the bank, then this offering from Klutch might be a good option. It’s powered by a ¾ HP motor that will still provide plenty of power for your projects. It has as a wide speed range and plenty of different speeds that you can select from. While the top speed might be a bit too slow for some woodworking projects, the lower end speed is perfect for metalwork.
There are several good factors when considering this press worktable. There are also some bad ones as well. As far as positives go, this table is very easy to maneuver. It can be moved up or down on the support column with a one-handed clamp. It can also be tilted, so that you can get the proper angle you need when you are drilling. However, it is, unfortunately, a relatively small table. This might make it difficult to use this press with larger scale projects.
As you might expect from a press in this price range, this is a much lighter model than some other, more expensive options. While this helps to make this press more portable within your shop, it will also limit the tool’s stability at higher RPM. This might make it difficult to complete precise work for more complex projects. The power cord is also in an awkward position that could get in your way once you plug it in.
Extra features: built-in LED work light
If you are looking for a great drill press for woodworking, then look no further than this model from Jet. It has one of the largest spindle ranges of any drill press on the market today. This will allow you to get the depth you need on your projects quickly and easily with a simple turn of the handle.
This is also one of the easiest presses to adjust where speed is concerned. In fact, all you need is one hand to quickly and easily switch between one of the 16 different speeds within a large range, with a generous upper RPM limit.
Another nice feature on this press is the large grooved table. These grooves make it simple to line up your project and center your holes. The table can be moved far up and down the support column, which is helpful for larger projects.
One thing that you will have to watch out for if you do select this press is the chuck key. It is a bit cumbersome, which, unfortunately, makes loosening and tightening the chuck somewhat tricky. This is especially true for smaller drill bits. You need to make certain that you have tightened the chuck all the way each time you use it. Otherwise, you are liable to lose your bits or damage your projects. The quill also tends to vibrate at higher RPM, so be sure to check before you drill so that you are certain you to get the desired results.
Extra features: patented oscillating Spindle
The thing that is going to jump right out at you with this drill press is its weight. Unlike most other floor models, which can easily top 200 lbs., this press is a relatively trim 122 pounds. This makes it by far the most mobile floor press out there today. Due to its light weight and compact size, this is a great press for a smaller shop, since it can be moved around, so it isn’t in the way when you are not using it. Of course, since this press is so light, it will vibrate more at higher RPM, which could make your work less precise than you would like it to be.
The table is also a highlight of this press. Though it is on the small side, it features a 90-degree tilt, which makes it easy to get whatever angle you need on your projects. You can also adjust the position and height of the table to accommodate different sizes of wood or metal.
The motor on this drill press is a ¾ HP model. With this motor, you can select from 12 different speeds, which makes this a versatile and easy to use the press. This press also has an oscillating feature that will allow you to use it as a sander. All you need to do is follow a few tool free-steps, and you can use it as a highly effective sander.
Extra features: laser, work light, key storage
Whenever you are drilling metal, you need to make certain that you don’t overdo it in the speed department. If you try and drill metal too fast, you will end up causing it to overheat, which can warp the hole you are drilling and mar the whole metal piece. This model has a much slower speed range than other drill presses, which makes it an ideal drill press for metal.
This is also one of the more trustworthy machines out there. It is quick and easy to get precise holes drilled with this press, thanks in part to its weight. Since it is so heavy, there is not a lot of vibration when you use it, which helps to keep your holes precise. This press also has a laser guide that makes each hole that much more precise.
The cast iron worktable is one of the most durable you will ever see on a drill press. It is also nice and big, which makes using it on larger pieces that much easier. The press itself is also pretty large, so you will definitely need to find a big space to keep it in your workshop.
The biggest downside for this drill press is the size of the chuck. It cannot be used with smaller drill bits since it is oversized. This might limit the types of projects you can complete with this press since you will not be able to use those smaller, more precise bits.
In this section, we will go through everything you need to know to find the best drill press for your shop.
Floor drill presses have a few distinct advantages over handheld and benchtop drill presses that make them an essential tool for any workshop. First off, a floor press is a lot steadier than any other type of drill. Even if you operate it at extremely fast rates, you can count on it to have no vibrations, which will help to get a much more accurate hole drilled.
Floor models also have a wider range of speed options in comparison to other drill types. Handheld drills usually only offer two, while benchtop drills can only offer you ten different speeds. Floor models regularly offer between twelve and sixteen-speed settings, which helps to make them great for a wider range of drilling needs.
Floor model drills will also make it a lot easier to a lot of holes in a short amount of time without having to adjust the drill at all. This will make your work that much easier, and speed up the assembly process on all of your projects.
There are several key features that you need to take into consideration when you are looking for a drill press. In this section, you will learn everything that you need to know to find the best floor drill press.
The power of the motor on any drill press will help to determine what type of drilling you will be able to accomplish. Obviously, the more power you have, the more materials you will be able to drill through. Motor power is shown as HP or Horsepower. Most floor models have a ¾ HP motor, with the most powerful being up to 1.5 HP.
Of course, this power doesn’t come without a price.
The more powerful the motor, the more expensive the drill is going to be. If you are looking to save a bit of money and are only going to be drilling wood, then you could get by with ¾ HP motor.
Speed is usually expressed in RPM, or Rotations Per Minute. The higher the RPM, the faster the drill press will be able to rotate, which will increase the speed at which you can drill. Most drill presses have a pretty wide speed range, though some will go higher or lower than others.
Low speeds are better for jobs that require more power, such as metalwork, while faster speeds are better for drilling wood. If you are a DIYer, then you can probably get by with a smaller speed range, since you won’t need to complete as many different projects as a professional contractor. This will help to save you a bit of money off the purchase price of your drill press.
The ability to select a wide range of different speeds is one of the most important distinctions between floor drill presses and benchtop/handheld models. You’ll want to make sure that the speed levels are easy to switch between since this will help to speed up your projects. Again, the more the speed levels, the higher the price of the press will be.
The quill on a drill press is the hollow tube that surrounds the spindle. The spindle is the rotating shaft that the chuck is mounted on. A mechanism allows the quill to be lowered and raised based when you are drilling. This, along with the length of the drill bit you are using, will help to determine how long of a whole you will be able to drill.
If you are looking to drill thin materials, then you don’t need to have a quill with a wide travel range. If you want to drill larger materials, then you will need a press with a larger quill travel range.
The drilling capacity of any drill press is determined by the largest piece of a material that can be center drilled. This will be determined by the size of the table on the press and how far it is away from the support pole that holds up the drill. The larger the gap between the support column and the drill, the larger the capacity. This is also determined by how far away you can move the table from the drill itself.
The chuck on any drill press is the three-jawed clamp that you tighten to hold the bit evenly and securely so that you can drill with precision. The size of the chuck on your new press will determine how large holes are that you can drill can be, since larger chucks can hold larger bits.
If you are looking to drill large holes, then you will need a larger chuck. It is probably a good idea to look for a larger size chuck right off the bat, since they can always be tightened to a smaller size, but they cannot be made larger. That way, you will be covered for pretty much any type of drilling needs.
The size of the work table on a drill press is going to determine the size of the materials that you will be able to drill on your press. If you have a larger table, then you will be able to conveniently drill larger pieces. Of course, larger tables also take up a lot more room than a smaller table and will cost more. If you’re unhappy with the size of your work table, you can always get a drill press table better suited your needs.
While a built-in work light is not an essential feature on a drill press, it will make your life a lot easier. A light on the press will make it a lot easier to make sure that you are drilling in the right spot, which will help keep your projects as precise as possible.
The only real downside for this type of drill press is that they are usually quite large and very heavy. If you have a smaller shop, then you will want to shoot for a drill press with a smaller overall size, so that it doesn’t take over space.
As far as the weight is concerned, the heavier the press, the more stable it will be at high speeds.
Like all power tools, drill presses have lots of different moving parts that could fail over time, even if you properly maintain them. To try to avoid expensive repairs, you should look for a good warranty. Just be certain to read the fine print carefully, as some companies have very specific parts that they will or will not replace.
If you are looking for the best floor drill press on the market today, then you need to check out the JET 354170/JDP-20MF. It is the sturdiest, most powerful drill press that you can buy. It can be used for pretty much any type of project you have in mind and has a wide range of speeds to choose from.
A good drill press is essential for any woodworking project, and the Jet JDP-17 is the best woodworking floor drill press available today. It has a high maximum RPM that makes it perfect for use with wood projects, especially considering it is so quick and easy to adjust the speed settings.
