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If you’ve got the extra budget – a floor drill press will provide you well with more power, a larger table, extra throat depth and a larger quill stroke compared to a benchtop model.
We’ve put together this short guide on some of the best floor models on the market to help narrow your choice…
Quick Picks
Here's 3 products we picked out that thought you would be interested in depending on your budget...
The Best Floor Drill Press with reviews 2024
Here's a list of floor drill presses we found:
1. JET J-2500 Floor Model Drill Press
- 3/4 HP Motor
- 15” swing size
- 45-degree table tilt
- 115 Volts
- Cast iron head
- Large quill allows greater accuracy
- Head casting features a permanently lubricated ball bearing spindle assembly, using four heavy duty ball bearings mounted in an enclosed quill for extended life.
- Table tilts 45°
- Large ground steel column diameter for maximum head and table support
Pros
- Smooth action
- Cast iron head
- High stability
- Huge power
Cons
- Rigid column
- The table can be hard to adjust
- No laser
Overview
If it’s power you’re after, then get this drill press. The 3/4 HP motor is going to allow you to drill through even the thickest of materials. You expect some wobble with that level of power but it’s not an issue that can be found here.
Instead, you get an incredibly stable drill press. The action is also very smooth, allowing you to have easily repeatable drilling. It’s a professional drill press which is going to be able to get through a lot of work due to its build quality and durability.
2. WEN 4227 13 Amp 12-Speed Floor Standing Drill Press
Pros
- Versatile speed range
- Precise laser
- Large chuck size
- Powerful motor
Cons
- Can be difficult to align lasers
- Can use small drill bits
Overview
WEN have been able to produce a floor drill press with the power that you’d expect from such a tool. To go with the large level of power, it also has a large chuck to give you plenty of drilling options. It makes it a versatile drill press for a wide range of jobs.
The lasers it has can be difficult to align but once they are set will allow you to make a very precise hole. It’s part of the overall usability of the drill press which is helped by its smooth action and also the great speed range it has.
3. Shop Fox W1848 Oscillating Floor Drill Press
- 3/4 HP
- 14” swing size
- 5/8” chuck size
- 250 – 3,050-speed range
- Durable build quality
Pros
- Has the ability to sand
- Large size
- Versatile speed range
- Large chuck size
Cons
- Hard to change the speed belts
- The dust collector isn’t standard
Overview
Shop Fox have been able to create a floor drill press which ranks very highly in terms of durability. If you want a drill that will last for years, then this is your model. The high-quality it has will be able to get through a relentless workload.
It’s also a versatile drill press and it’s going to be able to be used as a sander too. The speed range that it has means that it’s going to be able to complete a wide variety of different tasks. It can be fiddly to use at times but overall it is a great drill press.
4. Delta 18-900L 18-Inch Laser Drill Press
- 18” swing size
- Laser guide
- 3/4 HP motor
- Oversized work table
- 5/8” chuck
Pros
- Auto-tensioning belt
- Large quill
- Micro-adjustable depth stops
- LED lights
Cons
- Lasers aren’t great
- Manual belt change
Overview
The tensioning of the belt can be a difficult part with a lot of drill presses. With this Delta model, it features an auto-tensioning belt which is going to make your life very easy. It also has a large quill to give you highly accurate holes.
There are other features on this drill press which make it very easy to use. The lasers will help to guide you and the LED lights are going to allow you to see what you’re doing. It makes it very easy to use and gives you great results.
5. Grizzly G7944 12 Speed Heavy-Duty Floor Drill Press
- 3/4 HP
- 12-speed settings
- 140 – 3,050 RPM speed range
- 14” swing size
- 110 volts
Pros
- Great speed range
- Heavy-duty
- Built-in light
- Cast iron
Cons
- Hard to tighten the belts
- Cheap material on the controls
Overview
Grizzly are another company who have been able to make a powerful drill press. It uses that power very well with a high level of torque and a dynamic speed range. It allows you easily to get through all the jobs that you need.
The cast iron of the drill press will keep it very stable, even at the highest speeds. The built-in light is very useful and adds to the ease of use the drill press has. It can be hard to tighten the belts at times but this isn’t going to be a huge issue.
6. JET 354170/JDP-20MF 20-Inch Floor Drill Press
- 20-inch floor drill press
- Powerful 1.5 hp motor
- Smooth-traveling table raises and lowers at the turn of a crank to exactly where you need it
- 12 spindle speeds ranging from 150-4200 rpm;
- 3/4-inch chuck
- Built-in work light;
- 2-year warranty
Pros
- Very powerful motor
- Super precise
- Highly reviewed
- Huge table
Cons
- Big investment
- Heavy machine may need more than 1 person to set up
Overview
The JET 20 in. Metalworking Drill Press is designed to allow rapid change of spindle speed and comes equipped with a rotating and tilting crank-operated worktable with quick-release clamps. A 12-speed design offers maximum versatility to tackle a variety of applications with the 1-1/2 hp motor. With high-quality manufactured parts to ensure long life, machinists can put this drill press through the paces and receive superior results time after time.
| Name | Power | Swing size | Chuck size | Speed range | Table tilt |
| JET J-2500 | 3/4 HP | 15″ | 5/8″ | 200-3630 | 45° |
| WEN 4227 | 2/3 HP | 17″ | 5/8″ | 180-2940 | 45° |
| Shop Fox W1848 | 3/4 HP | 13-3/4″ | 5/8″ | 250-3050 | 90° |
| Delta 18-900L | 3/4 HP | 18″ | 5/8″ | 170-3000 | 90° |
| Grizzly G7944 | 3/4 HP | 14″ | 5/8″ | 140-3050 | 90° |
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Wrapping it up
If you have the space available for it, then a floor drill press is a great idea. They are able to deliver a very high level of power while still having impressive stability. All the drill presses that we have looked at here have a remarkable level of quality.
There is one stand out model, however, and that is the JET J-2500. It is able to give you the immense power of a floor drill press with the control and usability of a benchtop model. It has a fantastic level of quality and will easily complete all tasks.
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