It does not matter whether you engage in professional or DIY projects. You will certainly need a drill. But what happens if you do not have enough money to invest in those expensive drills you see in the market?
WEN is known for their high quality yet affordable power tools and the WEN 4208 is not an exception. But how exactly does this drill press perform? In this WEN 4208 drill press review, we are going to look at how this tool performs and whether it is worth investing in.
Wen 4208 Drill Press Review of 2023 (Updated)
First, you want to keep in mind that this is a budget tool and that its motor is not as powerful. Simply put, it is a compact 1/3 inductive motor that comes with a 2.3 Amperes. This can comfortably drill both soft metal and wood.
- Power Source: AC
- Voltage: 120 Volts
- Speed: 740, 1100, 1530, 2100, 3140 RPM
- Swing: 8 inch
- Horsepower: 1/3 HP
- Spindle Travel: 2 inches
- Amperage: 2.3 Amps
- Chuck Capacity: 1/2 Inch
- Table Size: 6-1/2 x 6-1/2 Inches
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If you have to use it for heavy-duty applications, just ensure that you are working with low-density materials like plastic or wood.
Buyers are raving over the quality of this affordable, no-fuss drill press. “This is a great deal if you are in the market for an economical drill press.” Customers like the reliability of this drill for projects around the house, most don’t recommend this drill for heavy-duty work so keep that in mind when you purchase.
- Variable speed settings
- Amazing customer service
- High-quality construction for durability and durability
- Extremely affordable pricing
- User-friendly design
- Adjustable table for a range of products
- Not ideal for heavy-duty tasks
- Chuck can get wobbly
WEN 4208 Features & Highlights
We now want to look at some of the features of this drill press to help you better understand how it performs.
Drill Press Size
Perhaps you are not aware of this but most budget drill presses come in a compact size. This is not necessarily a bad thing because it means that you can easily fit the tool into your space even if it is limited.
It comes with a workbench of 6.5 x 6.5, which of course is not the largest but still enough for working on small projects.
The tool features a chuck with 1/2 size which we feel is a bit inadequate. 1/4 inch would have been able to make up for this tool’s small motor. Had the manufacturer fitted the drill with a 1/4 inch chuck, it would have been able to drill into tougher materials like hardened steel.
Drill Speed
If you are looking for the versatility of this tool, you will find it in the speed. This is because it comes with variable speeds that allow you to easily work on different materials.
As such, whether you want higher RPM to drill through thicker materials or a lower one to create holes in low-density material, this unit will adequately deliver the result you anticipate.
As we mentioned earlier, this tool is designed to drill holes through wood but you can use the lowest RPM setting to drill through soft metal that does not have more than ½ inches of thickness.
Drill Construction
Irrespective of its affordable price, this drill press is constructed under high-quality standards. The most important features such as the column base and table are made from thick cast iron.
This works to reduce vibrations as well as provide better stability. You can also rely on the durability of this unit because of that and we are impressed that at its price, this drill press does not look or feel cheap.
Work Table Angle
Remember the worktable that comes with this drill press? The one that we mentioned before? Well, you will be pleased to learn that it is adjustable in terms of both angle and height.
This means that you can rotate the table at 45 degrees to both the right and left without any difficulty. Moreover, you can easily lock the settings in place for repetitive actions. Of course, this allows for versatile angular drilling.
User-Friendliness
If you are a beginner, you will appreciate that the WEN 4208 drill press is an extremely user-friendly model with numerous beginner-friendly features.
For instance, adjusting the speed, tilting the table, and adjusting the spindle travel is so easy that even a first-timer can easily perform.
We would encourage you to get this tool if you are just starting as far as drilling. It makes a good learning tool.
WEN 4208 Drill Press Price
Did we mention that the WEN 4208 is the most “basic” tool in the WEN range of drill presses? It is therefore no surprise that it does not cost much.
It is probably one of the most affordable drill presses you will ever come across. That said; we do feel that this tool offers decent performance for its price.
This tool is even cheaper than the Craftsman 8-inch dill press that has the same if not more superior features.
At $88.69, you can get this baby to drill through soft metal and wood effectively. Needless to say, we think that this tool offers value for money.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may have several questions you want answered on this topic. It is for that reason that we have tackled a few below that we feel may be of help.
Are Wen drill presses any good?
Yes, they are. Judging from reviews the company produces decent quality power tools with a variety of features that you will like. We are talking about variable speeds and user-friendliness.
No doubt, the drill presses from WEN can drill through any light-duty material easily.
When should I use a drill press?
A drill press is primarily a woodworking tool that can also be used on several other materials. Of course, as the name implies the tool is for drilling, but you can fit it with a mortising attachment to drill square holes or use it as a spindle sander.
Conclusion
For us, recommending this drill press is not a problem. Why? Simply because it does not claim to be something, it is not.
Although it comes with a smaller motor, this drill press comes with many features including adjustable speeds and a rotating table that facilitates angular drilling.
In our honest opinion, the WEN 4208 performs better than its costlier counterparts like the Craftsman 8″ do.
Therefore, if you are on a limited budget, or if you are just starting when it comes to drilling, we would encourage you to go for this tool.