WEN 12-Inch Benchtop Drill Press, 6.2-Amp Variable Speed Motor with Cast Iron Construction, Laser and LED Work Light (DP1263V)

What a GREAT addition to my room full of junk and power tools... This drill press is a BEAST... It's twice the size of my little old SKIL, which you can see in the pictures... The SKIL did a good job for me, but I outgrew it... Once I found out that drill presses with variable speed existed, IT WAS ON!!! I had to have one... No more messing with loosening the motor and sticking my fingers into the belt & pulleys... That had gotten old a long time ago...I've only had it for a few days now... I love it... It'll probably be the last drill press I'll ever need to buy...ACCURACY: Seems to be accurate, as the tip of the drill bit hits right where the lasers cross... I don't have a dial indicator to check the runout, but I'm sure it will serve me just fine... I'm not running a machine shop, and I don't need accuracies down to the thousandths of an inch...EASY TO ASSEMBLE: No, not entirely... But I was doing a couple other things during the process, like drinkin' beer, and helping my buddy with his trailer hitch... The column-to-base bolts call for a 16mm wrench... I bought a whole set of ratchet wrenches a couple years ago, but there was NO 16mm in there... I found a socket to fit, 5/8" I think... The hardest part of the assembly was lifting the head up onto the column... It's quite heavy and unbalanced... A second pair of hands would've been a plus... My trailer hitch buddy had already left...VALUE FOR MONEY: I shopped around 4-5 online sites for 3 weeks, and I kinda felt like I was being "spyed upon"... It seemed to me that they were bidding amongst each other for my money... The prices quoted for this machine on different sites kept fluctuating every couple days... It was truly weird... I think I'm gonna buy a VPN next... But anyway, for all the features this machine has, I think it's worth every bit of what I paid for it... It TOWERS over my old drill press, so I don't have to squat down or sit to use it... It's REAL good looking, like the STAR of my workshop... The table with the extension that swivels and bevels adds ALOT to the package... The swivel feature is kinda messed up, as it relates to that rack gear on the side of the column... The rack gear ends just ride in the top (orange) and bottom collars, and can get bound up if not guided along during swivel... (??Did that come out right??) And, of course, like a kid in a toy store, I had to open the lid on top to watch how the variable speed worked... It's pretty neat...But, the MOST BRILLIANT part of the entire design of the machine is... ...wait for it... ...you'll never believe it over everything else I mentioned... THE CHUCK KEY itself gets 6 out of 5 stars for it's design... Sticking out from the center of the key is a small pin with a spring behind it... It is IMPOSSIBLE to forget the chuck key and turn the power switch ON... That sprung pin pushes the key out of the chuck... I don't know if this design has been around for a while, as this is the 1st drill press I've bought in a LONG time... This chuck key design should've been implemented on ALL styles of chucks for the last 50 years... ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!YES to "would buy again"... And Again, And Again, if needed... Nice machine for an novice to half-pro environment... It might last in a PRO environment (machine shop) if taken care of... It's really quite the nice machine... Thanx WEN, and Thanx Amazon... GOOD DAY...

If you're thinking about saving money and buying the 8" WEN press, hold on a minute and take a few things into account that I didn't because I was so blinded by the $118 price tag. I wanted a good small drill press, as I do some guitar work, and also work with electronics, 3D printed models, and various wood projects. I sold my Porter Cable drill press a few years back, but I've found myself needing a drill press again, and my Dremel drill press just wasn't cutting it. The WEN 8" model, with its incredible looks and price, immediately caught my eye and I found myself ordering before I even had a chance to think. The second I opened the box and realized the table was the same size and length to the column as a Dremel press, it became clear I had made a mistake. I couldn't even reach tremolo holes in guitar bodies, so it was essentially useless. After a few more minutes, it became clear it was much more than just size that it was lacking.I did a bit more research, and when I found the 12" model was about $180 more, it wasn't just the added size that hooked me. It also has features that I overlooked on the 8" model because I was so enamored with price tag. I skipped right over the 10" WEN offered and took what I think is an incredible deal at around $300. After assembling, the footprint was only about 4 inches bigger than the 8" model, and fit right into the same spot the 8" would have sat on my table. While taller, I welcome the extra size and heft.Now, here is why you want to spend the extra money and upgrade to this model over the 8", aside from the increased size-1. Its built FAR better. This isn't just an upsized version of the 8" model. Everything is beefier, and better. The chuck on the 8" model is a basic, small, one piece design that barely sits in the spindle. The 12" features a beefy 2 piece chuck that seats way up into the spindle, ensuring good, straight contact. At 5/8ths you can use larger bits than the 8"'s 1/2 inch chuck. While you might still get some drift, it will be nowhere near what the 8" would have given you, and the "play" is adjustable with a bolt. In fact, several features offer adjustments that the 8" just didn't. Other parts just look and feel sturdier. The depth stop is far more accurate. These things alone are worth the extra money.2. Speed range and adjustment lever with digital readout. I don't know about you, but I hate having to move belts to change speeds on a drill press, and find myself using an incorrect speed out of laziness when doing quick holes. Here, you just turn the lever and the digital readout tells you what speed you're running at. No popping the top and adjusting a belt. I'm sure the accuracy isn't perfect, but the fact I can get from 580 RPM to 3200 RPM means I can use this press with far more materials and bit sizes than the 8" would have allowed. You also get 3 1/8 inches of spindle travel, so you can drill deeper holes without raising the table, where the 8" model only has 2 inches of travel.3. Column and table are track adjustable with a lever and handle. Raising and lowering the 8" meant loosening the bolt and catching the table before it dropped, and then having to support it while you try to tighten it to stay at the height you want. Having a track means you can use one hand to raise or lower the table without it dropping straight to the ground.4. Accessories. Most drill press tables, fences and jigs, whether pre-made or from plans, are made for a 12" drill press. An 8" table is small enough, and then if you add in a fence, you're cutting off another 1-2 inches. Then there's also the little things already included. Having a laser on a tool can be hit or miss. It sounds great on paper, but seldom are they accurate enough to trust. So far, this laser has been pretty accurate, plus, it offers fine adjustment to calibrate. Even if I just use it to ballpark quick holes, I'd much rather have it than not. The work light is an awesome little bonus that makes a big difference.Spend the extra money once, and you won't regret it. If you're on the fence, look at it this way- You're already spending over $100. The second you have a project that needs that extra 4" of reach, or requires a bit more accuracy, you'll wish you had just given in and spent a little more the first time. It won't be fun having to drill a hole by hand when you have an 8" paper weight sitting right next to you on your bench. Thank me later.

This press arrived safe. all the parts for there. It took me about an hour to put together. I took my time. My run out was 001 to 002 back-and-forth. Everything works perfect the laser, the light everything. Build quality is great on this WEN 4212.T i've got 2Led lights that are yellow mounted on the front. They angle down toward the drill bit

I'm glad I read other model reviews prior to purchasing. This features LIGHT that is well placed to illuminate my work. The table cranks up and down for dialed-in precision, the laser was spot-on out of the box. Good power, and the Continuous Speed Control comes in very handy when drilling between hardwoods, softwoods, and metals, within one project like I recently built. The base, shaft, motor assembly, quill & chuck are all good quality. The table is the only negative as paint quality and machining could be improved, but as I built a table and fence system to attach, really not a problem. The table is flat and true. One tip, there are 3 long handles, and 1 short. I installed one long handle for speed control which gives more leverage for changing speeds and shorter one installed on 2nd location of drill press. I like the avaliable distance between chuck and bottomed out lowered table. Overall great quality for price. Recommended to my friends.