Anyone here used a WEN drill press before?

[mustangmike6996]

I have done some searching for drill press info and most people here seem to lean towards the vintage Craftsman/Delta/Rockwell etc. I cant find anything local.

What I do want:

5/8" chuck and more than 1/3 HP.

So this limits me to about a few models unless I did a floor drill press, Id rather have the benchtop.

I found that Sears has a Craftsman 12" for about $200.

Home Depot has a WEN for about $275. It has a variable speed controller which eliminates swapping belts for speed changes.

I have not used the Craftsman model but the fit and finish is very nice, everything seems tight and its a leap above the 10 inch 1/2" chuck model.

I have not been to HD to look at the WEN yet and wanted some real world reveiws of each or any other suggestions.

 

[Plombob]

Didn't know WEN was still around. I had a couple of WEN tools from the 1960s and 1970s that I inherited. They were bulky, heavy and mediocre performers. I gave them away. If the modern tools are anything like the old ones, I'd pass.

 

[tarbellb]

WEN is equal in terms of quality to Craftsman if you ask me. Both are bottom dollar quality, only difference is WEN might cheaper?

I would look a little harder on CL for a older anything. If you absolutely need one now or want new I would look at Grizzly(better) or maybe Harbor Freight (on par with WEN).

 

[mustangmike6996]

WEN is equal in terms of quality to Craftsman if you ask me. Both are bottom dollar quality, only difference is WEN might cheaper?

I would look a little harder on CL for a older anything. If you absolutely need one now or want new I would look at Grizzly(better) or maybe Harbor Freight (on par with WEN).

I have looked at HD and Lowes amoung other big box stores. The Ryobi and Skill seem really crappy. I figured the Craftsman was in the same boat but Im actually impressed as to how well everything feels. Performance is another thing.

I did check out a floor Porter Cable as well and it seems slightly better than the Craftsman.

There is nothing popping up on CL as far as older model drill presses, actually, there are more "wanted" ads for vintage stuff.

I would have thought that the HF drills are not good. I have not had any luck with HF tools in the past.


This drill press wont be a daily use or extreme duty tool. It will be more for the projects that require more precision than a hand drill.