Best Drill Presses for Metal - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide

by Scott Miller Updated on Jun. 7, 2019

If you are working with metal, you are aware of the necessity to have a good drill press.

Now, the question is how to determine which one is the best drill press for metal.

As you are reading this, you are probably looking for it among a lot of models available on the market and you do not know which one to choose.

In order to help you, we have tested 43 drill presses and made a list of the best five of them, meaning that by going through this overview you will gather all the necessary information and be able to decide the right tool for your needs.

Spoiler Alert - Check out my top choice here >>

Top Rated Drill Presses for Metal

Model	Rating	Buy Now
Jet 716200 Jdp-15B Drill Press For Metal	3.5	Check Price
Jet JDP-17 3/4 hp	3.7	Check Price
SKIL 3320-01 Drill Press	3.8	Check Price
SHOP FOX W1668 Drill Press	4.0	Check Price
Rockwell ShopSeries RK7033 Metal Drill Press	3.8	Check Price

* Ratings are based on Editor's own opinion.

5 Best Drill Presses for Metal Reviewed

#1. Jet 716200 Jdp-15B Drill Press For Metal

Top Pick

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Jet could not but make the best of the best drill press model.

The Jet 716200 Jdp-15B held steady during usage, it was accurate and powerful, and that is what you expect from the good drill to do.

The chuck held bits of all sizes, which is considered another advantage.

We managed to adjust it easily in a short period of time.

Its large table is designed for half an inch of sheet metal and is there to hold workpieces steady.

The tool is also quiet and was even a great value at the price we paid making it rightfully our top pick.

We have no disadvantages to mention and this is a bench drill press which is worth consideration.

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Pros

Accuracy
Steady
Stability
Power
Great value for money

Cons

No issues

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#2. Jet JDP-17 3/4 hp

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The JDP-17 3/4 hp was tested on wood and half-inch strips of sheet metal.

We drilled the holes at different angles and by adjusting the speed and in the end we wanted to see how much post-drilling cleaning up was necessary.

After finishing this test, we were extremely satisfied with this drill press.

This is definitely an amazing drill press for the money you pay.

You will be able to achieve better results if you pay much more for better quality presses.

This is not a tool for a professional, but for DIY workers this is more than expected.

We have to mention that its performance drilling holes in metal dropped off a bit after repeated use, while on wood, it did not happen.

However, a very few people will drill so many holes repeatedly, so this is the model that we definitely suggest purchasing.

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Pros

Great range of motion
Large table
Steadiness
Great value for money

Cons

Not suitable for protracted metal drilling

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#3. SKIL 3320-01 Drill Press

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SKIL is famous company for making tools which are great options for the occasional users.

Its tools are functional and affordable on basically anyone’s budget.

The same situation is with the SKIL 3320-01 Drill Press.

If you get the SKIL model, you will be satisfied with basic competence, but if you have to do a heavy-duty work with it, we have to warn you that you will have some issues.

It is better to invest extra money to get a better model.

This is a drill press that will be used once in a while to punch a few holes in thin metal.

The quality goes with the price and this is not a pricey model at all.

In case you put it in everyday use, we believe that very soon you will need to purchase a replacement drill.

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Pros

Excellent
Exceptional for-dollar value

Cons

Precision
Built to price

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#4. SHOP FOX W1668 Drill Press

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The fourth one on the list is the Shop Fox W1668 drill press.

We can conclude that this is not a very good value.

The tool has enough power to create a nice clean hole but there are much better than models that cost less.

What we have found its weakness is the changing speeds and we did not like that there was no work light.

These two things are something that all the other manufacturers have changed on their models, but Shop Fox did not.

The only positive thing about this model is the power and that it drilled nice, deep holes.

So, our suggestion is to avoid the W1668 as there are much better models at the same price.

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Pros

Great power
Drilled deep holes

Cons

Poor value for money
Changing speeds
Lacks work light

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#5. Rockwell ShopSeries RK7033 Metal Drill Press

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The Rockwell ShopSeries RK7033 is the last on our list because it is designed only for DIY projects.

It is the heaviest and the most unstable tool that we have tested.

Quite an amount of time is necessary to mount it and there are less heavy models at the same price which can be used right out of the box.

The drilling is done and we could not expect better holes if we take into account how much we paid for the tool.

They were okay holes based on the price tag.

Adjusting the angle of the holes we were drilling was a challenge and required more work and more time.

So, we suggest you that you ought to look at a different model entirely.

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Pros

Price

Cons

Heavy
Unstable
Difficult to adjust

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Drill Presses for Metal: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Buying a drill press is something that requires time and patience, as it is an important investment for any workshop.

By gathering useful information about its features and equipment, prices and models, you will become a well-informed buyer who will not regret its purchase.

That is why we have some tips to offer you to help you in your decision making.

Should I know my needs prior to purchase it?

Before making your decision, our suggestion is to decide what you really need or want the drill press for.

If you are just a home enthusiast, you do not need to get the drill press which requires a lot of space and money.

Buying two different presses, one for metal and one for wood is not what you should have in mind.

If you will do both woodwork and drilling of metal, you should look for a model with a large table that clamps down workpieces firmly.

Some people need one for regular use and they should go for more expensive, thus better quality too.

If you plan to drill a hole once a year you have to admit that a more complicated machine is not for you.

We can say that the SKIL 3320-01 is a drill press for occasional use on light metal which is at the same time a great value at its price.

Which one is better: bench or floor?

There is not such a great difference in the operation of bench and floor drill presses.

The bench drill press is taking up less space and is more affordable.

On the other hand, the floor drill press offers higher quality operation and durability, but takes up more space and is more expensive.

Which one is better depends on your needs.

If you want a big, versatile and stable tool, you should invest more money and get a floor model.

However, if your space is not too big or your budget is limited, you should go for the drill that goes on your bench.

What about accuracy?

The reason why we need a drill press at all is to have holes that need to be cut in a specific place at a specific angle and sometimes to a specific depth.

This sentence says enough.

The imprecision is something unacceptable here.

The accuracy is one of the most important features which has to be on your mind when buying a drill press.

So, we suggest you pay attention to the quality of the tool as you are going to need something that can put holes exactly where you want them and at the angle you want them and not to destroy your work.

Conclusion

Among all the reviews of both satisfied and dissatisfied users, we have made short descriptions of the best models and gathered significant feature details to make your decision easier.

Now, we have some clear reasons to claim that the JDP-15B performed perfectly for us and it rightfully our top pick.

The JDP-17 3/4 hp is also a perfect bench drill press but we noticed that its performance on metal declined a bit after repeated use.

SKIL has produced an affordable model for casual home use but not for more intensive work.

The Shop Fox W1668 is a powerful tool that you should avoid while the Rockwell Shop Series RK7033 got our lowest ranking due to delivering bad results.

You can keep on looking at different models of drill presses, so as to find the right balance of work quality and price, but we hope that our buyer’s guide helped you make the best possible choice.

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