Benchtop Drill Press Experiences?

[SpringReverbFan1234]

I'm pretty sure it came in two or three pieces, but yeah, it'd take a pretty hefty box to ship.

And yes, I believe it's a Central Machinery.

My big one has a crank for the table, but man I miss the simplicity of just loosening the clamp and sliding it up and down.


View attachment 110828

I had that same model of HF drill press but I quickly gave up and went back to hand drilling. It was probably just user error but I didn't feel comfortable using it without something to hold the workpiece. Clamping took way too long to do for each hole. If I ever get one again I'll be ready to build a jig.

 

[The Grand Wazoo]

I've had pretty good results hand-drilling with a unibit, but even when I center punch and drill a small pilot hole things can drift a bit. I figure that can happen with a drill press too. Still, this is not sustainable!

Assuming I'll benefit greatly from doing things this way rather than awkwardly holding enclosures off the side of a shitty side table - what am I looking for, in your experience? I need something relatively inexpensive, not insanely loud, and as small as possible. Given that criteria, what would you get?

- This Vevor seems ok, and I like the fact that it has a simple crank for raising/lowering the height. That seems very important, and most of the lower-tier ones have a more awkward mechanism for adjustments.

- Not sure how this 4208T WEN and this 4206T WEN differ... Besides, they may be a pain to raise and lower. Still, seems well-liked. I've seen these on quite a few benches.

- Reading other drill press threads, seems like some people use a vise like this, some spring for a cross slide, and some seem to find that lowering the bit into a pilot hole eliminates the need for a vise.

- Assuming I need a vise, is it crucial that it's magnetic?

I'd love some input! I'm sure there are other factors I haven't

Yup


I had a plan in my head to get a HF press and a vise, but they know what they're doing… the vises they sell only fit on the tables of the larger presses or the milling station.
View attachment 110924

No way they'll fit onto the <$100 one (I took one out of the box to check ) And I don't even think it'll fit on the 10" or 12", maybe just the floor press, and even then that plate doesn't look the same as what's on the floor press…
View attachment 110922

Yup


I had a plan in my head to get a HF press and a vise, but they know what they're doing… the vises they sell only fit on the tables of the larger presses or the milling station.
View attachment 110924

No way they'll fit onto the <$100 one (I took one out of the box to check ) And I don't even think it'll fit on the 10" or 12", maybe just the floor press, and even then that plate doesn't look the same as what's on the floor press…
View attachment 110922

I know this thread is old, but this is the appropriate place to post this. I have an Harbor Freight 10 inch Bauer drill press. I found that a Wen 3 inch drill press vice fits perfectly on a bench top drill press. The vice is small and the max enclosure size is a 125B. But I haven’t built anything larger so far. To make this even better, I’ve outfitted the vice with bicycle seat quick clamps. This allows me to reposition the vice instantly whenever I need to. With the crank height and swivel table adjustment, I can position my enclosures very easily and accurately. It is much better than using a handheld drill, IMHO. The Bauer 10 inch drill press has a table light and a laser cross-hairs. The light isn’t very useful. But the cross-hairs are. Here are a few pics.

 

[jessenator]

Nice!

I've restored to the 3d printed drill template and then just holding the enclosure haven't lost a limb or eye or kidney yet

 

[jwin615]

That looks like a red version of the Ryobi tbh. At least the one we had at my former workplace 8-9 years ago.

 

[The Grand Wazoo]

I know this thread is old, but this is the appropriate place to post this. I have an Harbor Freight 10 inch Bauer drill press. I found that a Wen 3 inch drill press vice fits perfectly on a bench top drill press. The vice is small and the max enclosure size is a 125B. But I haven’t built anything larger so far. To make this even better, I’ve outfitted the vice with bicycle seat quick clamps. This allows me to reposition the vice instantly whenever I need to. With the crank height and swivel table adjustment, I can position my enclosures very easily and accurately. It is much better than using a handheld drill, IMHO. The Bauer 10 inch drill press has a table light and a laser cross-hairs. The light isn’t very useful. But the cross-hairs are. Here are a few pics.

I realized that some may want to know what I purchased.

Wen 3 “ drill press vise: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q4PG9GB?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

Bicycle seat clamps: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZR32QYB?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

I replaced the plastic finger nut on the clamps with M8 nylon lock nuts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJFPC2N3?ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details&th=1

And M8 washers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSFJFTPW?ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details&th=1

 

[The Grand Wazoo]

That looks like a red version of the Ryobi tbh. At least the one we had at my former workplace 8-9 years ago.

Not familiar with the Ryobi drill press. But it’s common for a small number of factories to make products under multiple brands.

 

[Feral Feline]

My drilling is so bad I won a contest.

Hand drilled with a dull uni-bit, so bad I had to cover the hole with a washer for the 3PDT to not pull through:

Also hand-drilled, before the one above, when the bit was still sharp:

So I tried to up my drill-game with this:

Unfortunately my drilling didn't improve with my drill press...

That dull ol' bit latched onto the enclosure for a moment, gave it a ride better than any fairground attraction and then shook it off.
I was lucky the machine threw the enclosure at the wall and not at my face. ALL the pilot holes were perfect, then the first big hole I drill — whizzzz-BANG!!-Bork!

I drilled up another enclosure for that project but the holes were maligned and misaligned, the "chrome" paint turned out to be dull grey and I'd laid it on too thick and it was still soft when I made it more "textured & tactile"...

After that I changed the belts and slowed the machine down to what I was used to having when using my Amp-sifu's drill press.



I've got to redo a couple of wedges that match the taper of the sidewalls of Hammond enclosures, so I can drill straight into the sides.
I think that was a HamishR trick, IIRC.
Another trick of his is using fences and rails to get holes drilled in a straight line. I'm still working on that, too.



Might have to go back to hand-drilling...

 

[anevilspar7an]

My drilling is so bad I won a contest.

Hand drilled with a dull uni-bit, so bad I had to cover the hole with a washer for the 3PDT to not pull through:

Also hand-drilled, before the one above, when the bit was still sharp:

So I tried to up my drill-game with this:

Unfortunately my drilling didn't improve with my drill press...

That dull ol' bit latched onto the enclosure for a moment, gave it a ride better than any fairground attraction and then shook it off.
I was lucky the machine threw the enclosure at the wall and not at my face. ALL the pilot holes were perfect, then the first big hole I drill — whizzzz-BANG!!-Bork!

I drilled up another enclosure for that project but the holes were maligned and misaligned, the "chrome" paint turned out to be dull grey and I'd laid it on too thick and it was still soft when I made it more "textured & tactile"...

After that I changed the belts and slowed the machine down to what I was used to having when using my Amp-sifu's drill press.



I've got to redo a couple of wedges that match the taper of the sidewalls of Hammond enclosures, so I can drill straight into the sides.
I think that was a HamishR trick, IIRC.
Another trick of his is using fences and rails to get holes drilled in a straight line. I'm still working on that, too.



Might have to go back to hand-drilling...

Please get new bits, I worry for your hand's safety.

 

[GAStan]

Clamping the workpiece to the table is much safer than trying to hold it by hand. Deep-throated* F-Clamps work well for this.

*can't wait for the comments...

 

[Feral Feline]

I do have new bits, and I use regular bits mostly instead of steppe bits, mostly.

 

[pricklyrobot]

I made this contraption:

Thread 'Homemade “Tool”: Sanding/Ironing board'

Jan 5, 2026

I was looking for a better way to hold enclosures steady while I sand them. “Better than holding them with my feet?!” you ask? Maybe so…



I channeled my ‘caveman level’ woodworking skills, drilled some strategic holes in a piece of plywood, put some 10/24 tee nuts on the back to serve as little reinforcing collars, grabbed my trusty box of assorted long 6/32’s, and viola!

Can use it for sanding and for ironing on the transfers I use for etching.

Then when I’m not using it, it’s just a flat piece of wood, easy to stash in the closet.

• pricklyrobot
• Replies: 0
• Forum: The Toolbox

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Initially for sanding, but it’s handy for drilling too.

I’m hand drilling (no place in my small, garage-less house I could reasonably set up a drill press), but I’d imagine it, or something similar could work with a press

 

[owlexifry]

I use regular bits mostly instead of steppe bits, mostly.

this could be a part of the problem.

i used to use regular bits. a long time ago.
then when i started attempting to drill steel chassis for a few amp projects, i grabbed a step bit, as it was recommended.

i've been using the same step bit for about 5 years and it's still good.
basically everything in my build reports have been done with the same step bit. with a hand drill.

 

[Nostradoomus]

I am guilty of just holding the enclosure in my hand 100% of the time while using a press. But I always center punch and drill a pilot hole and go really slow, never had much trouble. Also lube up the bit with some soap and water every so often.

 

[DDad]

Ryobi is one of the better brands for sure. But before I went that pricier route I tried a cheapo from Amazon (Vevor 813B, $99) since I could return it if I didn't like it. I love it. It weighs 25 pounds. I looked up a Ryobi press and that model said 35 pounds. But the Vevor still feels beefy.

I drilled 45 enclosures last fall before it got too cold to paint. No issues, so much better than the hand drill I used on the first enclosure - the hand drill caused me to look for a press and I'm so glad I got one.

With a step-bit it was easy-peasy to drill 45 enclosures. I have 60 to go and am not dreading it at all (this is a retirement hobby for me, not a business). Couldn't be happier with this unit.

Vevor 813B

 

[Feral Feline]

Owlexifry, straight bits are good!

When I was in Hong Kong, it was difficult to find a good step-bit, the ones I found and used dulled in no time.

Now that I'm back in the winter-wonderland-with-summer-of-constant-rain, I have managed to procure some higher-quality step-bits.

Nonetheless, there are times when a regular set of bits outperforms a step-bit, such as drilling side-jacks on 1590A Hammonds. Most step-bits either drill through the other side or damn near start to. Also, when hand-drilling with a step-bit it's too easy to go too far. At least with the drill-press you can set the depth (at least on mine I can, maybe super cheap drill-presses don't have that feature?).


I go slow, I use a centre-punch, then a pilot hole and if the hole is a big one I'll go up in drill-bit size in a number of increments.

I've measured meticulously, I've used PPCB's punch/drill guides and others, I've printed out drill templates...
No-no like'm paper templates, they're never square on the enclosure and shift and rip and... I'd rather measure meticulously for too long than use printed pages that inevitably go wrong. Some day I'll find what works for me and/or just simply get better at it.

Regular bits vs step-bits — there's no comparison, each has its merits and time in the chuck.

 

[swelchy]

My drilling is so bad I won a contest.

Hand drilled with a dull uni-bit, so bad I had to cover the hole with a washer for the 3PDT to not pull through:

Also hand-drilled, before the one above, when the bit was still sharp:

So I tried to up my drill-game with this:

Unfortunately my drilling didn't improve with my drill press...

That dull ol' bit latched onto the enclosure for a moment, gave it a ride better than any fairground attraction and then shook it off.
I was lucky the machine threw the enclosure at the wall and not at my face. ALL the pilot holes were perfect, then the first big hole I drill — whizzzz-BANG!!-Bork!

I drilled up another enclosure for that project but the holes were maligned and misaligned, the "chrome" paint turned out to be dull grey and I'd laid it on too thick and it was still soft when I made it more "textured & tactile"...

After that I changed the belts and slowed the machine down to what I was used to having when using my Amp-sifu's drill press.



I've got to redo a couple of wedges that match the taper of the sidewalls of Hammond enclosures, so I can drill straight into the sides.
I think that was a HamishR trick, IIRC.
Another trick of his is using fences and rails to get holes drilled in a straight line. I'm still working on that, too.



Might have to go back to hand-drilling...

I can see those sanding belts from a mile away... I use to work for Klingspor