What a drill press is specified by
| Feature | Powermatic PM2800B | WEN 4214 | JET JDP-17MF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swing | 18 in | 12 in (6 in chuck to column) | 16-1/2 in |
| Spindle travel | 6 in | 3-1/8 in | 4-3/8 in |
| Chuck | Keyed, 5/8 in | Keyed, 1/8–5/8 in | 5/8 in |
| Spindle taper | JT-3/MT-2 | Not stated | MT#2 |
| Speed range | 250–3000 rpm, variable | 580–3200 rpm, variable | 200–3630 rpm, 16 steps |
| Table tilt | 0–90° left and right | 0–45° left and right | ±45° |
| Motor | 1 HP | 120 V, 5 A | 3/4 HP |
Each figure from the machine's own manual. Motor ratings are given as each maker states them, in horsepower or amps, and are not converted or compared.
Swing is twice the distance from the spindle to the column — WEN gives 6 in for its 12 in press — so it sets the widest work whose centre the bit can reach. Spindle travel, or stroke, is the deepest hole in one plunge before the table must be raised. Chuck capacity is the largest shank the chuck holds, not the largest hole: WEN's speed table lists bits to 1-5/8 in for a 5/8 in chuck, so bits that large must run on shanks within the chuck's capacity.
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Powermatic PM2800B
The PM2800B in the table above: by Powermatic's manual, an 18 in swing, a keyed 5/8 in chuck, 6 in spindle travel and a table that tilts 0–90°.
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Speed: three makers, three rules
There is no universal drill press speed table, and the manuals do not pretend there is. Powermatic names the factors — the material, the size of the hole, the type of drill and the quality of cut wanted — and gives a rule of thumb: the smaller the drill, the higher the speed, and faster for soft materials than hard. JET's manual says the same of bit size and adds that wood needs higher speeds than metal. Only WEN prints numbers for wood, for its own machine:
| Drill bit size up to | Millimetres | Speed range (rpm) |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8 in | 9.5 | 2000–3200 |
| 5/8 in | 16.0 | 1400–2000 |
| 7/8 in | 22.0 | 1000–1400 |
| 1-1/4 in | 31.75 | 800–1000 |
| 1-5/8 in | 41.4 | 580–800 |
WEN's table for its 4214, wood column, as printed. WEN does not say which kind of bit the figures are for, so they are not a speed for any bit on any other machine.
How the speed is changed differs as much as the numbers. Powermatic's PM2800B and WEN's 4214 are variable-speed machines whose manuals say to change speed only while the machine is running; WEN warns specifically against changing it with the machine turned off. JET's JDP-17MF changes speed by moving belts between pulleys, following the chart inside the pulley cover. Follow the method your own manual gives. Variable speed or belts is one of the differences weighed in choosing a drill press.
Setting up
Square the table to the bit
WEN's method: chuck a 3 in bit, raise the table to about 1 in below it, stand a combination square on the table against the bit, and tilt the table until bit and square agree.
Lock everything
Lock the table before starting, and check that every handle, set screw and bolt on the table and head is tight, as Powermatic's inspection asks.
Protect the table
Set the table or the depth stop so the bit cannot reach the table, and put scrap under the work. WEN also says to position the table so the bit enters its centre hole.
Set the depth
For stopped holes, set the depth stop: measure from the bit's tip to the work, add the depth wanted, and set the stop nut to that mark (Powermatic), or bring the bit to a mark on the side of the work and set the stop there (WEN).
Keep the quill short
Powermatic says to work with minimum quill extension and raise the table instead of using excess travel.
Holding the work
All three manuals say to secure the work with clamps or a vise so it cannot spin with the bit. They differ on the column: WEN and JET say the work may bear against the left side of the column to stop it turning, and to clamp it if it is too short to reach; Powermatic says using the column as a work stop is not recommended and to use clamps instead. Clamping satisfies all three. A small part goes in a drill press vise, which WEN says must itself be clamped or bolted to the table. For long work, Powermatic swings the table aside and uses the base.
Bits in a drill press
- Brad point bits are WEN's preferred bit for wood; Bosch lists its brad-point bits for drill presses.
- Forstner bits are listed by Freud for drill presses and hand-held drills.
- Auger bits: WEN says not to use them, as they can lift the work off the table and whirl it around.
- Spade bits: Bosch lists its own for corded and cordless drills only.
- Which bit makes which hole is set out in the guide to wood drill bits; for feeding, chips and exit tear-out see drilling clean holes.
Safety rules the manuals share
- Remove the chuck key before switching on (Powermatic, WEN, JET).
- No gloves (all three); no tie, rings or watch, sleeves above the elbow, long hair confined (Powermatic).
- Eye protection: approved safety glasses or a face shield, not everyday glasses (Powermatic).
- Unplug the machine before adjustments and maintenance (Powermatic, WEN).
- Never start with the bit against the work; stop the drill before clearing scrap from the table (WEN).
- Clear chips with a brush, never by hand, and do not leave the machine until the spindle has stopped (Powermatic).
- Use recommended accessories only, and the machine only for its intended purpose (Powermatic).
Safety— What none of the three manuals approves
None of the manuals reviewed lists a mortising attachment, sanding drum, router bit, wire wheel or side-loaded accessory for its machine, and Powermatic disclaims use for any purpose other than the intended one. This guide recommends none of them. A mortise is cut by a hollow-chisel mortiser or an attachment whose own documentation names your machine; the joint is covered in the mortise and tenon guide.
Wobble is diagnosed, not tolerated by a number. WEN's troubleshooting lists a bent bit, a bit badly seated in the chuck, worn spindle bearings and a chuck not properly installed as causes of runout, and describes taking up spindle play with an adjusting screw while noting that a little play is normal. None of the three manuals gives a runout figure, so none is given here.
Before switching on a drill press
- Table square to the bit and locked
- Depth stop or table set to clear the table, scrap underneath
- Work clamped or in a vise that is itself clamped
- Chuck key out, bit seated and tight
- Speed set by your machine's own method
- No gloves, sleeves up, eye protection on
Sources
Every specification, rule and speed is the named maker's for its own machine; where the three manuals differ, each is shown, and nothing is averaged. None of the three gives a runout tolerance, so none is given here. No machine was tested.
- 1.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 18-inch Variable Speed Drill Press, Model PM2800B (Rev. E1, 04/2019), as hosted by Purdue University. Powermatic, 2019.
Used for: The PM2800B's 18 in swing, keyed 5/8 in chuck, JT-3/MT-2 spindle taper, 6 in spindle travel, 250–3000 rpm changed only while running, 0–90° table tilt, 1 HP motor; a depth stop with two nuts; swinging the table aside to use the base for long work; clamps or hold-downs whenever possible, the column not recommended as a work stop; scrap below for clean holes; minimum quill extension; feed rate; speed set by material, hole size, drill type and cut quality, with smaller drills and softer materials faster; safety rules on training, eye protection, jewellery, sleeves and hair, no gloves, adjustments with the machine unplugged, keys removed, recommended accessories only, use only for the intended purpose, and staying until the spindle stops; chips cleared with a brush, not hands.
- 2.
Model 4214 12-inch Variable Speed Drill Press manual (2015), as hosted by a retailer. WEN Products, 2015.
Used for: The 4214's 580–3200 rpm variable speed, changed only with the machine on; 1/8–5/8 in chuck; 3-1/8 in stroke; 6 in chuck to column; 0–45° table tilt; squaring the table to a bit with a combination square; rules to clear the table, keep hands from the bit, support work without a flat surface, never start with the bit against the work, lock the table, remove the chuck key, set the table or depth stop to avoid drilling the table, stop the drill before removing scrap, clamp or use a vise, no gloves, and set speed for the material; work against the left of the column or clamped, a vise clamped or bolted down; backup material under the work and a slow feed at breakthrough; brad point bits preferred, auger bits not to be used; a wood speed table by bit size; spindle play and runout causes.
- 3.
Operator's Manual, JDP-14J/14M/17M/14JF/14MF/17MF Drill Press, as hosted by UC San Diego. JET Equipment & Tools.
Used for: The JDP-17MF's 16-1/2 in swing, 5/8 in chuck, 4-3/8 in spindle travel, MT#2 taper, 16 speeds from 200 to 3630 rpm set by belt position from the chart in the pulley cover, ±45° tilt and 3/4 HP motor; chuck key removed, table or depth stop set to avoid the table, a backing piece, work clamped or held in a vise, no gloves, eye protection; work against the left side of the column or clamped; smaller bits faster, wood faster than metal.
- 4.
Brad Point Drill Bits. Bosch.
Used for: Brad-point bits listed for portable drills and drill presses.
- 5.
PB-100 Forstner Bit Set and carbide Forstner bits. Freud.
Used for: Forstner bits listed for hand-held drills and drill presses.
- 6.
Daredevil Standard Spade Bits. Bosch.
Used for: Spade bits listed for corded and cordless drills.
About this guide
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