Thanks Robert! Really appreciate your feedback sir. I’ll try to do more. I need more tools! 🤣

Thanks Steve. I really appreciate the feedback. Cheers, Paul

I Agree. This is the kind of review i like but i disagree with "plenty of power". I have a 20 year old generic Pro Tec 8'' drill press with a 1/4 HP motor that out drills this. I bought this because it ticked all the boxes for what i needed in my shop much like ToolMetrix talked about. I stumbled upon this video while searching for anyone that may have upgraded the motor on the 4214.

Thanks for the feedback, Green Building! Cheers, Paul

Thanks for the feedback, Derek! Cheers, Paul

Thanks for the feedback, Monnie. I’m glad you’re feeling good about your purchase. Cheers, Paul

You could have bought it directly from Wen Products for $40-50 less than Amazon with free shipping.

Good to know

Thanks!

Thanks Aaron!

Thanks, Chomp! I appreciate the encouraging words.

Thanks for the feedback. Hope it works out well for you. Let me know what you think.

Drill press arrived and I've got it in its place and working in the shop. Gotta say, it really is quite a piece of machine for 250$. I am very happy I made the purchase. It's an excellent upgrade and seems to be everything I need as of now. The accessory table is also a great value, and it made boring holes for shaker pegs on a coat rack much easier than the previous one that I made... I agree about the plastic clamps. They honestly hardly seem to hold the accessory to the table in my case. It's like they weren't made for this drill press as they just barely reach the cast iron table. The accessory table will move with the slightest bit of pressure no matter how tight I try to make them. Not a big deal though, I already have an idea to fabricate some more substantial clamps from hardwood, using the same studs and knobs. I may make my own table in the future but this manufactured one quickly got my foot in the door to understanding the concept of table support. Thanks for the review, it helped me in making the decision. I subscribed and look forward to catching future content.

🙏 thanks Mike

Hi JPCF, Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad the video was helpful , and I appreciate your using the link. Hope it proves to be a great tool for you. Cheers, Paul

Thanks! Really appreciate the feedback.

If you going to use any large Forster bits you want press with lower slow speed setting. Otherwise I have had one for 2 years and no complaints. Bargain at 199 I paid.

@@daviddavis5689 Learned that pretty quickly LOL It's a tank of a drill press

Thanks 🙏!

Thanks Bill. Home Depot is always a good option as well. I’m just kinda hooked on Amazon I guess.

Both are good options, both should be relatively easy to return through but I guess home depot may be easier since this is heavier. I found a wen bandsaw cheaper on amazom and took that route (faster delivery too) and has worked great for me so far.

It works pretty well. It could be a little smoother, IMO, but it definitely gets the job done.

Thanks Louis. I don’t have a mortise attachment. I use a domino.

Hi Frank, I doubt it would make any difference because the belt itself isn’t likely causing the noise. It’s still one of the quieter tools in my shop so I don’t really think of it as a problem that I need to solve. But if you try it let me know if makes any difference.

If you watch at 1:50 you’ll see me do it. It was described in the manual as well.

@@ToolMetrix I noticed it. Your arbor slipped in easily. Mine, even after thoroughly cleaning everything, needs a lot of convincing to go in the spindle. Thank you.

Could be an interesting experiment

Doesn’t seem to

@@ToolMetrix Okay thank you.

Hi Mark, I’m not familiar with the Rikon, but if I were to hazard a guess I’d say that there’s a good chance that WEN makes the Rikon, as I’ve heard that they are the OEM for a lot of tool vendors.

Hi Ken, probably so but I haven’t looked into it.

Who did you buy yours from? Thanks

Thanks, VO. Hope you're enjoying your drill press.

@@ToolMetrix Yeah, it's a nice little drill press.

I bought mine in Jan 2021 direct from the factory. It was a little less than Amazon and I was surprised they didn’t add sales tax. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and love it.

Wow that’s great. I didn’t realize that was an option. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Paul

Good one! I never notice these things until someone points them out. :)

Hi Jack, thanks for your feedback. Are you tightening the two locking nuts against each other solidly after you set your depth? If you are already doing that and it’s still moving then I’m stumped. I’d suggest giving WEN customer service a call.

@@ToolMetrix Thanks for answering. Yes, I bring them together with the washer in the middle. But the bottom one simply winds downward making the depth more and more shallow. Isn't the washer supposed to be in the middle?

Ok. That was it. I took the washer out and it holds like magic. The bottom nut stays put regardless of the vibration. What are these nuts called. When I look up lock nuts, I mainly see the nylon type? Thanks for the help and all you're doing for all of us amateurs.

@@11JackBenny When two nuts are used in this configuration to lock against each other they are referred to as "jam" nuts. But if you search for "jam nut", you will typically find nuts that are 1/3 to 1/2 the thickness of a standard nut, but otherwise they look like a typical, plain old nut in appearance.

Hi Alex, no problems so far. I haven't noticed any visual wear on the belt. That said, I agree that the design would seem to add some additional stress onto the belt that might accelerate wear. I'll keep an eye on that. Cheers, Paul

It’s pretty stiff on mine but manageable. I haven’t had to make any adjustments.

Hi Gregory, thanks for your feedback. I assume what when you tighten it, the collar that wraps around the post tightens as far as it can go, so that there is no gap remaining at the rear of the collar? In other words, there is no remaining travel in the collar, but it hasn't fully tightened around the post. I just looked at mine, and with the collar fully tightened, there is approximately a 1/16" gap remaining. In other words, if I applied more pressure to the collar locking mechanism, it could squeeze another 1/16" (something would probably break if I did that). With the collar tightened there is no movement in the table on my unit. So, if you are seeing what I'm describing, it sounds like a manufacturing defect. If there is a gap remaining in the collar, but you just can't close it with tightening pressure, I would check to see if there is a bur (or something else stuck in there) that is preventing the collar from closing completely. If the collar is fully closed, i would suggest calling WEN customer service 847-429-9263 (M-F 8AM-5PM CST). I've heard good things about their customer service but I haven't had occasion to call them myself.

ToolMetrix, Thanks for the quick reply. I discovered I inserted the clamp from the wrong side. It must insert from the left not the right. Working great now. Thanks again.

Yep, that would definitely do it! Glad you have it sorted out. Cheers, Paul

I'm not near the drill press at the moment to measure it, but I believe that it is 2.5". Most 12" drill presses built today would have approximately the same size column, and I believe that WEN actually manufactures many of the drill press brands that you can buy so that part is probably interchangeable.

Mine is holding up great so far. I haven't tried getting parts, but I would be surprised if it was hard to do so. It's a popular model, and people rave about WEN's customer service.

I don’t think so. But I’m not positive

Yes

5.25”

@@ToolMetrix thank you for your quick response

I haven’t looked at that model in person but my hunch is that they are probably nearly identical (like interchangeable parts). WEN manufactures tools for lots of companies so I’d say that there’s a chance that WEN actually makes the Rikon. That’s pure speculation on my part, however.

@Mark Lengal Yes, it could be identical, but hard to know for sure. There could be internal changes or differences in the motor and/or in the quality of the shaft/quill/spindle and bearings.

I haven’t tried it but I think it would handle it as well as any other drill press in its class.

@@ToolMetrix @evolve 2survive I would want a drill motor that goes much slower for drilling 1/2" steel. Ideally down to at least 180-200rpm, depending on how large of a cutting/drilling bit you will be using...the larger the bit, the slower the speed. When drilling steel, you want a very slow speed AND LOTS of downward force. This of course requires good quality bits. And of course use a good cutting oil such as Tap Magic, etc.

Hmmmm....that's a strange problem. I don't know enough about the mechanism to have a suggestion for you. One thought is to try calling WEN support. I haven't personally tried calling them, but people seem to rave about their support, which is rare for a power tool company. Might be worth a shot.

@@ToolMetrix I guess I'm going to have to do that. Thanks for the quick response.

@@ToolMetrix I guess it needed lube. I haven't lubed it in three years. It said to lube the spindle , and shaft every three months. I opened up the top, and lubed the shaft the tensioner pulley rides on. Then slowly went through the RPM band back, and forth. To work the lube in, and now it works. It was so dry, the pulley was getting stuck on the shaft it rides on. That's why the belt would not tighten.

That is great info! Thanks for getting back with the update. Cheers, Paul

@@user-pk8pf8nh6s You might also try automotive "belt dressing" on the belt and pulley surfaces. This is usually sold either in a thick "stick" form like a giant Chapstick/lip balm dispenser, or an aerosol spray can. This increases "grip'' and reduces slippage, and also reduces noise to some degree. But yes, keeping the quill spindle or shaft & bearings lubricated is important!

Thanks, John!

Wow, that's not good at all. I would call customer service, as I have heard good things about WEN in that regard.

@@ToolMetrix thanks for the response and that's good to know. I try to research stuff before I call customer service as you don't always get someone you can understand. Thanks again!

No I don’t. Sorry.

I have their bandsaw, I like it. I'm no pro, kind of just a home DIY guy that's made a few pieces of functional furniture where needed around the house and garage, but I love it. It's cheap but it's a better feel in my mind then the cheap ryobi or harbor freight versions, and feels better in action then my old craftsman felt

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Chomp. Sounds like a good option.

I haven’t tried it but I think it would do fine.

@@ToolMetrix @evolve 2survive I would want a drill motor that goes much slower for drilling 1/2" steel. Ideally down to at least 180-200rpm, depending on how large of a cutting/drilling bit you will be using...the larger the bit, the slower the speed. When drilling steel, you want a very slow speed AND LOTS of downward force. This of course requires good quality bits. And of course use a good cutting oil such as Tap Magic, etc.

Great feedback. Thanks 🙏

Seems like it would be pretty straightforward but I’ve never looked into it.

@Forgotten Man Unless you already have a motor that will fit without modifications, for the time and trouble spent I would just buy the Jet J-2530. It's an absolute beast though in terms of being a "Benchtop" drill press. Large, tall, and very heavy at nearly twice the weight of this WEN. BUT you want to have that extra weight for stability with a 3/4HP to 1HP motor. I'm not sure I would advise putting a larger motor on this WEN. The quill bearings and pulley system would likely wear more quickly and increase runout over time. It's just not built for a larger motor. It's like putting a Chevy 350 V8 in a sub-compact 4-cylinder vehicle...you're going to destroy the transmission and rear differential, and bend the subframe real quick without upgrading everything else as well. By that time you've spent way more time and money than it's worth for the outcome. If you need a more powerful drill, just save up and buy one that will last! The Jet J-2530 usually goes on sale during Father's Day, otherwise it would be a lot more expensive than this WEN as well. But it's pretty much an End Game benchtop drill press. I would buy it at a retail store though as shipping or returning it can be difficult & expensive if you have any issues with it.

That's a lot.

I don't know how you would lower the minimum speed by half with this pulley design without electronic reduction.

@@ToolMetrix Turns out the larger model - out of stock and price was upped 50% ($400 to $600) - uses a three pully system. You would add a fixed pully stack (two) to drive the CVT, and the motor would add a third shaft with a pully stack (two) - and set the CVT range that way. So - too much trouble compared to getting the bigger machine. But if it's not available or affordable..

@@ToolMetrix It strikes me that the easiest way to cut the speed in half is to replace the motor with a given rated output that runs at half the RPM. I think those are available - not necessarily affordable. That would work bc there's no automatic clutch - just a question of fitting the motor - and mainly that's motor diameter not length.

Good to know!!!

Dang! Sorry bout that! The word is out.

@@ToolMetrix No apologizes needed, I think we all appreciate the review. It's channels like this that helps those of use that don't have the money to buy expensive tools be able to see what is out there for us where we won't be wasting what little money we do have. I know I wouldn't have known about this one if it wasn't for guys like you so thanks! It's still seems like a pretty good buy for the money.

10” wide x 37.5” tall x 20” deep

@@ToolMetrix Thanks!

Haha! I see what you did there. 😉

Thanks 🙏. The crank is fine for the price of the tool. . Easy Two handed operation. Could be better but it works fine for occasional adjustments.

@@ToolMetrix Just got one, and handle could be longer , takes a lot of torque to make not move. Re-tapped hole, helped some. Mine makes a lot of noise also. One laser beam is 3/16 wide, so useless.

Thanks for the report Jim. Yeah 3/16” is excessive.