Drill Press Accessories:
Whether you’ve just bought a drill press and you’re wondering what the must-have drill press accessories are, or you’re still in the market for one, and you’re simply researching which add-ons would come in handy, you’ve come to the right place.
As you’ll see, there’s no shortage of drill press accessories designed to either expand upon or compliment, the impressive functionality and versatility of what is one of the most popular workshop tools available.
From tilting vises that’ll help you drill at angles and organizers designed to boost productivity and eliminate the stress and swearing that comes from losing the one drill bit you need, to cutting fluid that reduces wear-and-tear to prolong drill bit life; it’s all here.
Here are fifteen must-have drill press accessories for amateurs and professionals alike:
- Tilting drill press vise
- A set of nylon vise jaws
- Adjustable drill press clamp
- Universal T-tracks
- Extended drill press table
- Self-centering jig
- Titanium drill bit set
- Drill bit sharpener
- Drill bit organizer
- Sanding drum set
- Work support stand
- Magnetic cleanup tool
- Flexible LED worklight
- Heavy-duty shop apron
- Industrial cutting fluid
Keep on reading as we’ll show you each accessory in detail.
Quick Links – Drill Press Accessories
For maximum convenience, we recommend picking up a tilting vise like the 3-inch Wilton model shown here, as opposed to a fixed, non-tilting model. If you’re planning on doing any angled drilling, tapping, or reaming, you’ll benefit from the vise’s ability to tilt and lock at any increment from zero to 90-degrees.
Even better? The Wilton 11753 comes with a lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.
Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to overcome this issue by installing a set of nylon vise jaws. Available in a 4-inch or 6-inch size, they’re a great way to extend the gripping area of a smaller vise, for example, the 3-inch Wilton 11753 shown above, without buying a whole new vise.
Easily fitted in seconds thanks to their magnetic design, these jaws feature both a flat and profile face to provide the ideal grip pattern for drilling flat, rounded, or angled workpieces.
Well, a drill press adjustable clamp could be just what you’re looking for.
This particular clamp, the Armor-Tool 6DP-70, is capable of providing up to 250 lbs of force to workpieces up to 4 1/2-inches in depth. It can be fitted or removed in seconds, too, by bolting it through the drill press table’s channels.
These extruded aluminum T-Tracks from POWERTEC not only look the part thanks to their electric-blue finish, but they’re also engineered for high-quality strength and durability. Available with either six or eight slots, they also come in 24″ or 36″ lengths.
Other times, you might find that the standard table is lacking features, for example, a fence to hold materials securely against, or a large enough central hole to accommodate a sanding drum.
It’s pretty easy to rectify these shortcomings by adding an extended drill press table. This 12″ x 24″ example is made of 7/8″ thick MDF/Melamine for maximum durability, and it comes with two T-Tracks for holding down, along with an adjustable fence and removable insert to accommodate a sanding drum.
Thankfully, this self-centering jig removes all of the frustration and guesswork to leave you with exactly what you want; dead center holes in seconds.
It features a heavy-duty extruded aluminum construction for added strength and convenient ruler markings for on-the-fly measurements.
If you want to drill holes quicker, more accurately, and more cleanly, though, a good set of drill bits is a must. Thankfully, as this DEWALT set proves, a good set of drill bit needn’t cost the earth.
Coated in titanium for added strength, DEWALT claims these bits (ranging from 1/16″ to 1/2″) will last up to 2x longer in stainless steel. Suitable for both wood and metal drilling, they feature DEWALT’s patented Pilot Point for a cleaner, more accurate hole.
Depending on how often you use your drill press, it could be much cheaper to buy a handy sharpener like the Drill Doctor 750X.
Designed for the serious drill press user, the 750X can handle multiple types of drill bits, including HSS, masonry, cobalt, and TiN-coated bits, and you can even set a custom point angle from 115° to 140° for maximum flexibility.
Thankfully, by installing a drill bit organizer to the pillar of your drill press, missing bits, lost chuck keys, or that “I had it a second ago” pencil can be a thing of the past.
Big enough to hold a 40-bit set (it features pre-drilled holes ranging from 1/4″ to 1/2″), it clamps to drill press columns ranging from 2-1/2″ to 3-1/4″ in diameter using a couple of bolts.
The kit includes four different sized rubber-cushioned, self-expanding sanding drums, along with two sets of sleeves (120 and 80 grit abrasive sleeves) for each drum, letting you tackle a variety of sanding requirements with your drill press.
The drums benefit from a friction fit design, too, so you won’t need adhesive for the sleeves.
If you’re lucky, whatever you use will be just about the right height.
With the Rockwell RK9034 support stand, though, there’s no need to rely on luck. Capable of handling up to 220 lbs, the height is adjustable from 29 to 43-inches to give you all the support you’ll ever need.
Before you go to the hassle of vacuuming your entire workshop or use an air line to disperse the filings into every nook and cranny imaginable, though, consider using a magnetic cleanup tool instead.
Probably best used after every few times drilling, this handing cleaning tool can be waved over metal chips to pick them up, before being safely disposed of by pulling back the handle. Simple!
Why go to the expense of installing dedicated task lighting, though, when you can use an inexpensive, yet high-quality gooseneck LED light instead that attaches via a magnetic base?
This model from NextLED has a 20-inch flexible shaft and uses just 3x regular AA batteries to provide 200 lumens of light directly where you need it for up to 20-hours. It’s even got an IP54 waterproof rating for added durability.
Before you ruin yet another outfit, though, consider picking up this snazzy heavy-duty apron which is available in a universal fit.
Both rugged and fashionable, it features a wax coating for added water resistance, along with reinforced pockets for drill bits and pencils, and steel rivets and grommets for maximum durability.
Cutting fluid can also reduce thermal deformation of the workpiece (drilling metal generates a lot of heat), and it can also flush away chips to improve the surface finish of the area you’re drilling.
This non-spray cutting fluid from Forney can be applied directly to the work surface of ferrous metals and non-ferrous alloys, and is ideal for tapping, threading, drilling, and reaming.
Final Remarks
As you can see, there’s no shortage of drill press accessories available, and in all likelihood, you’re probably spoilt for choice.
For us, the top priority is buying a quality set of drill bits. After all, you can go out and buy the most expensive drill press available, but if the bits you’re using with it aren’t up to scratch, then you’ll be severely limiting the drill’s potential.
Aside from drill bits, a magnetic pickup tool, LED work light, and cutting fluid are all sensible investments, not to mention a good quality vise to hold your workpieces securely in place while drilling.
We hope you found this article useful, and as always, if you do have any questions or queries then leave us a comment below, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
Good luck!
- Our other drill press articles
- Our guide to the WEN 4214 drill press
- Our drill press buyer’s guide