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Choosing a drill press for woodworking: swing, quill travel and speeds from the makers' specs

WEN says drill presses are rated by their swing, which is twice the distance between the spindle's centerline and the column. Speed ranges differ by design: WEN's 4214T adjusts from 580 to 3200 RPM, RIKON's 30-217 lists 200 - 700 / 600 - 2,200 RPM, and DELTA's 18-900L lists 16 speeds from 170 to 3000 RPM.

What does drill press swing mean?

WEN explains that drill presses are rated by their swing, which is twice the distance between the spindle's centerline and the column, so a 12-inch press has 6 inches from spindle center to column. (WEN Products)

WEN's drill press FAQ measures that distance to the forward edge of the column. (WEN Products)

RIKON's benchtop radial 30-140 lists a 34" swing. (RIKON Power Tools)

Taikra doesn't rank or test tools; every figure here is from the maker's own page or manual, linked.

What is quill travel?

WEN describes spindle travel as the distance the spindle moves, which corresponds to the maximum hole depth that can be drilled. (WEN Products)

Benchtop models compared here list 3-1/8-inch of spindle travel (WEN 4214T) and 3-1/8" (RIKON 30-140). (WEN Products; RIKON Power Tools)

Fixed speeds or variable speed?

WEN explains that fixed-speed drill presses run only at a set number of speeds, while variable-speed models use an electronic or mechanical mechanism to reach any speed within a range. (WEN Products)

WEN's FAQ says its variable-speed drill presses use variable-diameter pulleys that are mechanically adjusted. (WEN Products)

WEN lists 580 to 3200 RPM for the 4214T, and DELTA lists 16 speeds from 170-3000 RPM for the 18-900L. (WEN Products; DELTA Machinery)

Benchtop or floor-standing?

WEN says the first consideration should be space: floor space for a larger floor-standing model, or a smaller benchtop model. (WEN Products)

WEN's FAQ says benchtop models are generally less powerful but take up less room and cost less, while floor-standing models are generally more powerful and handle large workpieces but cost more. (WEN Products)

Maximum chuck-to-table distance is listed at 22-1/4 in. on DELTA's 18-900L and 27-3/4" on RIKON's 30-217. (DELTA Machinery; RIKON Power Tools)

Tables, chucks and tapers

DELTA lists a 20 in. x 14 in. table that tilts L/R 0-90 degrees and forward 0-48 degrees on the 18-900L, with a 5/8 in. chuck and a Morse #2 spindle taper. (DELTA Machinery)

RIKON lists a 14" x 14" table that tilts 90 degrees, a 5/8" chuck and an MT2 spindle taper for the 30-217. (RIKON Power Tools)

WEN lists a 9-1/2 by 9-1/2-inch cast-iron table that bevels 45 degrees left and right on the 4214T. (WEN Products)

Setup and operating instructions are in each maker's manual.

Choosing a drill press for woodworking: questions answered from the sources

What does a 12-inch drill press mean?

Per WEN, the 12 inches is swing, twice the distance from the spindle centerline to the column, so the spindle sits 6 inches from the column.

Source: How to Choose a Drill Press

Is a floor drill press worth it over a benchtop?

WEN's FAQ says floor-standing models are generally more powerful and handle large workpieces but cost more, while benchtop models take up less room and cost less.

Source: Drill Press FAQs

How deep can a drill press drill in one stroke?

Spindle travel sets the maximum hole depth, per WEN; listed travel is 3-1/8-inch on WEN's 4214T and 6 in. on DELTA's 18-900L.

Sources: How to Choose a Drill Press; WEN 4214T 5-Amp 12-Inch Variable Speed Cast Iron Benchtop Drill Press; 18-900L | 18 in. Laser Drill Press - Delta Machinery

What speed range does a drill press have?

DELTA lists 16 speeds from 170-3000 RPM for the 18-900L, and WEN lists variable speed from 580 to 3200 RPM for the 4214T.

Sources: 18-900L | 18 in. Laser Drill Press - Delta Machinery; WEN 4214T 5-Amp 12-Inch Variable Speed Cast Iron Benchtop Drill Press

Sources

  1. How to Choose a Drill Press — WEN Products
  2. Drill Press FAQs — WEN Products
  3. WEN 4214T 5-Amp 12-Inch Variable Speed Cast Iron Benchtop Drill Press — WEN Products
  4. Model 30-217: 17" VS Drill Press - Rikon Power Tools — RIKON Power Tools
  5. 18-900L | 18 in. Laser Drill Press - Delta Machinery — DELTA Machinery
  6. Model 30-140: 34" Benchtop Radial Drill Press - Rikon Power Tools — RIKON Power Tools