6 Models of WEN Drill Press – Reviews
WEN is one of the most important players in the power tool industry. Consequently, this company offers an impressive line of drill presses for both professionals and amateurs. In fact, there is a model for every budget and need in its lineup. But which model do you actually choose? It can be a difficult question to answer. Hopefully, our short reviews of the different drill press offerings from this company will help you find a good model for your workshop.
Without further ado, let us get started with our WEN drill press review.
You can also read other drill press reviews such as benchtop drill press, mini drill press, radial drill press, floor drill press, Craftsman drill press.
6 Models of WEN Drill Press - Reviews
#6. WEN 4208 8-Inch Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(4.3 / 5)
The WEN 4208 is a bottom of the barrel offering from this company. It is its most affordable solution intended mostly for beginners on a strict budget. As any budget power tools, it does not offer the best features or performance. In fact, this model only supports a 1/3 HP motor rated at 2.3-Amp. This is not the most powerful motor power, but as long as it is used on wood and soft metal of less than 1/2 inch, it delivers decent performance. On hardened metal, like hardened steel of more than 1/2 inch thick, it will stutter. No such problem with wood or soft metals (aluminum, brass, copper, etc.)
Additionally, it contains a 5 preset variable speed of 740, 1100, 1530, 2100, 3140 RPM. This variable speed allows you to adapt to the density of the material for a more efficient drill.
One of the best features of this model is the tiltable work table that can be adjusted 45-degrees to both the left and right. This adjustable table makes it versatile when performing angular drills. What we also like about this model is its fairly durable and sturdy build construction. The base and table are made from cast iron, and it even has a metal column for more stability.
Pros
- 5 variable speed control to adapt to the material.
- Tiltable work table at 45-degree left and right.
- Sturdy build construction with cast-iron table and base.
Cons
- Weak motor of 1/3 HP will struggle with hard metal of more than 1/2 inch thick.
- Small spindle travel of only 2 inches.
All in all, despite being a budget drill press we find that WEN did not cut corners with the features or build quality. It is pretty decent for the price. We recommended it for absolute beginners who work with small wood material and drill on soft metal of no more than 1/2 inch.
#5. WEN 4210 10-Inch Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(4.2 / 5)
A step up to the model above, the WEN 4210 is a little bit more “premium” while still being offered at an entry-level price. It has a more powerful 3.2-Amp motor that allows it to drill through soft metals as well as regular wood quite easily. Additionally, it sports a 5 variable speed of 600 - 3,100 RPM. The lower 600 RPM is a little bit better when drilling through tough and high-density material. It also sports a tilt work table of 45-degrees left and right for angular drills, as well as a laser guiding system. The laser guide makes it very easy to produce accurate and speedy drilling, especially for beginners.
Pros
- More powerful motor of 3.2-Amp offer better performance when drilling metal.
- 5 variable speed of 600 - 3100 RPM.
- Tiltable table for angular drilling versatility.
- Laser guided drilling system for accuracy and speed.
Cons
- Not recommended for drilling thick, hard metal.
The presence of a laser guiding system makes it excellent for beginners and even professionals who need accurate drilling in low-density material like wood and plastic. It can also perform quite well when drilling through tiles, ceramic and other mineral-based materials. Recommended for soft metal of not more than 1/2 inch.
#4. WEN 4212 10-Inch Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(4.1 / 5)
A huge step up from both the WEN 4208 and WEN 4210, the 4212 is a semi-professional drill press that contains better features. For starters, it has a more powerful-4.5 Amp motor that now allows it to drill through metal in a reasonable manner.
The variable speed is also much superior since it is not locked to any presets. This means that you can fine-tune the speed anywhere between 530 - 3100 RPM. This offers a lot of versatility when working with different types of materials.
Pros
- Powerful 4.5-Amp motor can drill in wood and steel quite easily.
- Tunable variable speed of 530 -3100 RPM.
- Table tilt of 45-degree both left and right.
- Sturdy cast-iron base and table for stability and durability.
- Worktable of 8 x 7-2/3 Inches accommodate bigger materials.
- Digital speed readout meter.
Cons
N/A
The Wen 4212 is the “sweet spot” between performance and price. It sports decent features as well as contains a fairly powerful motor that can drill both wood and metal, including hardened steel adequately well. It is recommended for amateurs, DIY enthusiasts, and semi-professionals who work mostly with low-density material like wood, plastic, ceramics, etc.
#3. WEN 4214 12-Inch Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(4.4 / 5)
The WEN 4214 looks very similar to the WEN 4212. This model has an agile 5-Amp motor which is just a little bit better than the WEN 4212. The variable speed of 580 to 3200 RPM is also nothing to write home about and performs nearly the same as the WEN 4212.
However, what we like the most about this drill press is its larger worktable of 9-1/2 x 9-1/2 Inches and larger spindle travel of 3-1/8 Inches. This means it can bore holes deeper in material of up to 3-1/8 inches as well as accommodate larger stock on its table.
Pros
- 5-Amp Motor can drill in both wood and metal.
- Variable speed of 580 to 3200 RPM offers versatility when working with different materials.
- Larger worktable of 9-1/2 x 9-1/2 Inches.
- Longer spindle travel of 3-1/8 Inches allows this unit to drill deeper holes.
Cons
- Looks like a clone of the WEN 4212 in terms of performance but at a significantly more expensive price.
If you require a larger work table of 9-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches along with a deeper spindle travel, then this modern is more suited for your need than the WEN 4212 with almost similar performance. The only problem with this model is its exaggerated price.
#2. WEN 4225 15-Inch Drill Press
Editor's Rating: (4.3 / 5)
This model is a more professional drill press. It has a beefy 8.6-Amp motor that is powerful enough to drill through any type of material, from wood to hardened steel. It has a variable speed of 280 - 3300 RPM that allows you to adapt to your material as well as not limiting you with preset speeds. You can “fine-tune” your drilling speed very easily with this model.
What we like the best about this unit is its generous 15-inch swing size. You can drill and maneuver fairly large pieces of stock on the equally spacious 12 x 12 inches worktable. As always, the table is tiltable to a 45-degree angle both at the left and right and it also sports laser guiding as well as bright LED for more visibility and accuracy.
Pros
- Powerful 8.6-Amp motor ideal for any type of material.
- Fairly large 12 x 12 inches work table made from cast-iron . Sturdy and durable.
- Laser guided system for accuracy and speed.
Cons
- More expensive than other models.
This model is a huge step up from the drill presses we have reviewed so far. It has a very powerful 8.6-Amp motor that allows it to drill through any type of material, including hardened steel of more than 1/2 inch fairly easily. We recommend this model to anyone looking for a professional, versatile, and powerful drill press in the workshop.
#1. WEN 4227 17-Inch Drill Press
Editor's Rating: (4.3 / 5)
The WEN 4227 is the most professional and premium drill press in this review. It has a very powerful 13 Amps inductive motor that will not stall on anything you throw at it. The 12 variable speed of 180 to 2940 RPM makes this unit excellent for working with metal. Indeed, 180 RPM is a very low speed which allows this unit to bore through metal efficiently without causing too much heat. It definitely delivers a more professional drill finish.
What we like the most about this unit is the swing size. It is the largest in this review at 17 inches and along with the large 14 x 14 inches table, you can work with very large stock with great ease and maneuverability. The spindle travel of 4-3/4 Inches is also very much welcome as it allows this model to drill very deep holes. Bottom line is, you will never be limited in any way with this professional drill press from WEN.
Pros
- Very powerful 13 Amps motor can drill through anything like butter.
- Very professional finish and excellent build quality. Durable and long-lasting drill press.
- 12 variable speed of 180 t0 2940 RPM makes it excellent for both metal and wood drilling.
- Large table size of 14 x 14 inches.
- The spindle travel of 4-3/4 inches allows this model to drill deeper material.
Cons
- The Price
If you require the best of the best for your workshop, the WEN 4227 is the most powerful, versatile and professional drill press the company has to offer.
Conclusion
We come to a conclusion. As we have seen, there are many WEN drill presses suited for different needs and budgets. Whether you are a professional who make a living using a drill press or a casual woodworker, you will find a model for your need in this review. If you have not, go through it one more time.
Last Updated on January 19, 2019 by