A drill press is an indispensable tool for just about any shop.
It is important to pick the best drill press for metal for your needs as it will likely be around for a long time.
Just want to see our top metal drill press picks?
If so, just click the button below to go directly to them, otherwise keep reading for some details on important things to consider when selecting a drill press for metal.
See Our Top Best Drill Press for Metal Picks
Important Considerations
There are some important considerations that should be kept in mind when shopping for the best drill press that will be used for drilling metal.
Some of these include the type of metal you plan to drill and the available spindle RPMs of the drill press.
Surface Feet Per Minute (SFM)
First, let’s talk about surface feet per minute.
This is a very important concept to be familiar with, especially when drilling harder metals such a hardened or stainless steels.
Because of this, you should definitely understand how SFM figures into picking the best drill press for metal.
What is Surface Feet per Minute?
Surface feet per minute in the context of drilling is a measure of the amount of drill bit diameter surface that cuts the material you are drilling per minute.
Why is Surface Feet per Minute Important?
Friction generates heat, and heat is the enemy of cutting tools.
All cutting generates heat, and the amount of heat generated is directly related to the surface speed per minute of the cutting tool.
So that means that the higher the cutting tool surface speed per minute the more heat will be created during the drilling process.
There are many factors that go into selecting the proper surface feet per minute such as workpiece material, bit type, and cooling method.
How do You Know the Proper Surface Feet per Minute?
The drill bit manufacturer will be able to provide the proper surface feet per minute that should be used when drilling with their bits.
There are also some general guidelines you can find online to get you started.
In the end, to find the optimal surface feet per minute speed for your application you will have to do some experimentation.
On thing to keep in mind is that it is safer to run at a lower surface feet per minute than to push it to the maximum value, so start at the lower end.
Calculating Surface Feet per Minute
Surface feet per minute is pretty easy to calculate, and it depends on the drill bit diameter and the operating RPM.
Here is the formula to calculate it:
SFM = RPM x bit-diameter x .2616
And example of SFM for a 1/4″ drill bit operating at 500 RPM would be:
SFM = 500 x 0.25 x .2616
This drilling setup would have a SFM speed of 32.7.
Finding the Right RPM
We just talked about how important the surface feet per minute (SFM) tool speed is when drilling metal.
This is directly related to RPM, so one of the most important things to be aware of when picking the best drill press for metal is the available spindle RPMs of the drill press.
Most of the best drill presses for metal have adjustable RPM values, but there is a little more work needed to find out what RPM should be selected to get the target surface feet per minute.
So, how do we calculate the target RPM to get the surface feet per minute speed we want?
Of course, there is a formula for that, and here it is:
RPM = SFM x 3.8196 / diameter
We will use the example setup mentioned earlier when calculating the SFM value with a spindle speed of 500 RPM with a 1/4″ drill bit.
If you remember, we calculated the SFM for that setup would be 32.7, so when we solve the same scenario for the RPM needed for achieve a 32.7 SFM values we should get 500 RPM.
When we plug the numbers into our formula we get this:
RPM = 32.7 x 3.8196 / 0.25
When we solve with these values we get the expected value of 499.6 RPM (a little rounding error) needed to achieve 32.7 SFM with a 1/4″ drill bit.
That is how you figure out the needed spindle RPM to achieve the desired surface feet per minute speed.
Hard to drill metals like stainless steel require a lower RPM than other metals like softer metals such as aluminum, regular steel, and cast iron.
Drilling at too high of a spindle RPM can quickly overheat a drill bit and make it useless.
For example, 500 RPM is acceptable for drilling up to 1″ holes in regular steel, but only 1/2″ holes in stainless steel.
That same 500 RPM is good for up to 1-1/2″ holes in aluminum and around 9/16″ in cast iron.
For a more detailed discussion about how the know the best RPM for drilling take a look at our article on how to select the best RPM for drilling.
Our Best Metal Drill Press Picks
So, let’s get down to what you are here for.
We have done the research and found the best drill presses for metal.
We have our top three metal drill press picks below.
| Top Pick | JET JWDP-12 | Check Prices |
| Grizzly G7944 | Check Prices | |
| WEN 4208T | Check Prices |
JET JWDP-12
The number one pick for the best drill press for metal on our list is the JET JWDP-12.
Check Current JET JWDP-12 Prices
Quick Specs
- 12” Drill Press
- Benchtop
- 1/2 HP
- 530 – 3100 RPM
- 5/8” chuck
- 3-1/8” travel
- 85 lbs
Pros
- Adjust RPM without pulley changes
- LED Work Light
- X-Shaped Laser
- DRO (RPM)
- Retractable roller table extension
Cons
- Extension only works in one direction
- All controls on right side
Check Current JET JWDP-12 Prices
Detailed Information
JET lists this drill press under woodworking tools on their website, but a lot of people use this drill press for metal as well.
Wide Range of Spindle Speeds
It has a wide range of spindle speeds available from 530-3100 RPM.
The lowest 530 RPM speed might a little fast for some types of metal drilling, like drilling holes bigger than 1/2″ in stainless steel.
If you plan to drill a lot of large holes in stainless then you might be better served with the Grizzly drill press mentioned next.
It goes down to 140 RPM, which would be good for drilling up to 1″ holes in stainless steel.
Benchtop Model
This drill press is a bench top model, so you would need a stand or an existing bench for it.
Easy Speed Adjustment
Probably the feature we like the most the is speed adjustment on this drill press.
You don’t have to change any belts or pulleys to adjust the RPM on this drill press.
You simple move the speed adjustment handle and the RPM DRO shows you the exact spindle speed.
If you do a lot of different types of drilling then this ease of spindle speed adjustment will be a huge time save for you.
Being a 12” drill press, it is a good size but not too large.
Relatively Compact
The design is pretty compact as well, with a footprint of 10” x 16-1/8”, it will fit on benches with limited space if needed.
If you have a bigger bench then you will have extra space for other tools and work.
Not a Lightweight
The JET JWDP-12 weighs in at 85 pounds, so we would not say it’s light.
But if you do need to move it around from time to time it is doable.
To make the JET very easy to move you could look into a drill press mobile base.
The 1/2 HP induction motor is pretty powerful for its rating.
We saw people mention it performed better than some other manufactures’ 2/3 HP motors in their experience.
Standout Features
Here are some of the features of this metal drill press we think stand out.
Easy Speed Adjustment
Simply move the speed adjustment lever to change the spindle speed and know the exact speed on the RPM DRO without any hassle of changing belts and pulleys!
X-shaped XACTA laser
The innovative X-shaped laser is a nice feature.
It projects an X exactly where the workpiece will be drilled.
This takes the guesswork out of aligning for a perfect drill position every time.
Retractable roller extension
This extension will help support long workpieces and the roller allows quick and easy adjustment of the workpiece position.
RPM Digital Readout (DRO)
The large digital readout displays the exact spindle speed.
You always know exactly the speed you are working at with no guesswork.
Table Tilt
The table on this drill press tilts 45 degrees to both the right and left to get the exact drilling angle you need.
Summary
In summary, the JET JWDP-12 is a great choice if you need a medium sized drill press in the benchtop form factor.
It has some nice features for the price, so you can see why it is our top picks for the best drill press for metal.
Check Current JET JWDP-12 Prices
Grizzly Industrial G7944
The number two drill press for metal on our list is the Grizzly Industrial G7944.
Check Current Grizzly G7944 Prices
Quick Specs
- 14” Drill Press
- Floor Standing
- 7.5 Amps
- 140 – 3050 RPM
- 3-1/4” travel
- 171 lbs
Pros
- Wide RPM Range
- LED Work Light
- Four T-Slots
- Threaded Depth Stop
Cons
- RPM adjustment not as easy as the JET
- Manual could be better
Check Current Grizzly G7944 Prices
Detailed Information
This is a free standing drill press, so you will not need a bench or stand for it.
It is also larger than the number one drill press on our list, the JET JWDP-12.
The JET is a 12” drill press while the Grizzly G7944 is a 14” drill press.
Powerful Motor
The Grizzly G7944 has a powerful 7.5 amp motor that provides plenty of power for all of your drilling needs.
Lots of Spindle Speeds
This drill press has 12 speeds, so no matter what material you are drilling you can select the speed to give the best results.
Low Minimum Spindle RPM
The lowest speed of 140 RPM is good for drilling up to 1″ holes in stainless, so if you need to drill larger holes in a hard metal like stainless this drill is a good choice for the best drill press for metal.
Heavy Like a Grizzly
The Grizzly G7944 is no lightweight.
It weighs in at a hefty 171 pounds, so once you find a home for it in your shop you probably won’t be moving it around too much unless you are also a professional strongman.
If you do plan to move the WEN at all a drill press mobile base is your best friend.
Standout Features
Here are some of the features we feel are important for this best drill press for metal pick.
Low Minimum Spindle RPM
The wide range of speeds on this Grizzly drill press allow you to work with more types of metals, especially larger holes in stainless with its low 140 minimum spindle RPM.
Cast Iron Base
The heavy cast iron base keeps the drill press planted during use.
You won’t get or wobbling or walking with this hefty drill press.
Threaded Depth Gauge
The built-in threaded depth gauge makes sure you will be able to get a consistent hole depth when drilling multiple hole.
This gives you maximum precision for your drilling depth operations.
Coolant Runoff Channel
There is a 1” coolant runoff channel around the perimeter of the table that helps contain any cutting fluids used when drilling metal.
Summary
The Grizzly G7944 is a great drill press if you are looking for a large floor standing model that you don’t need to move around and have the space for.
It does lack some bells and whistles like a DRO (Digital Readout), but it is definitely a solid choice for the best drill press for metal.
Check Current Grizzly G7944 Prices
WEN 4208T
The third drill press on our best drill press for metal is the WEN 4208T.
Check Current WEN 4208T Prices
Quick Specs
- 8” Drill Press
- Benchtop
- 1/3 HP
- 740, 1100, 1530, 2100, or 3140 RPM
- 1/2” chuck
- 2” travel
- 34 lbs
Pros
- Lightweight
- Powerful motor for size
Cons
- Work platform adjustment can be difficult
- Work platform a little small
Check Current WEN 4208T Prices
Detailed Information
This is a much smaller metal drill press than the previous two as it is only an 8 inch drill press.
Small Option
An 8 inch drill press is pretty small, so it might not fit your needs due to its size alone.
If that is not a problem then the WEN 4208T is a great basic drill press for metal for the price.
Good Power for Size
The WEN 4208T has a 1/2 inch chuck and a powerful 1/3 HP motor.
For metal drilling the lowest spindle speed of 740 RPM would be good for up to 23/64″ holes in stainless or 1/2″ holes in steel.
This should be fine since this is a pretty small drill press for metal, just something you should be aware of.
Pretty Lightweight
It is also the lightest by far in our list at only 34 pounds.
At this size and weight you could pretty easily move the WEN 4208T around or store it when not in use if you wanted or needed to.
The base size is only 11” x 7”, so it will take up minimal space on your workbench.
Standout Features
Here are some of the features we noticed when looking at this final pick for our best drill press for metal.
Five Speeds
Easily adjust the spindle speed to your workpiece material and the type of drilling you are doing.
The available speeds are 740, 1100, 1530, 2100, and 3140 RPM.
Beveling Worktable
The 6-1/2” x 6-1/2” work table bevels 45 degrees to both the left and right for angled drilling operations.
It also has slots for mounting things like clamps and vises.
Locking Depth Stop
Get accurate and repeatable depth operations with the locking depth adjustment on the depth gauge.
Summary
The WEN 4208T is a small benchtop drill press at only 8 inches, but if you need a smaller option for the best drill press for metal with basic features then it is a great value for the money.
Check Current WEN 4208T Prices
Conclusion
Don’t see anything on our list you like?
There are definitely other many other options available when it comes to the best drill press for metal.
Click the link below to look at other options that may better fit your needs.
Check All Metal Drill Press Prices
