WEN 4214 Drill Press:

If you’ve ever used a handheld drill to complete a particularly fiddly task, one that requires drilling many holes to exact depths, widths, and at multiple specific angles, you’ll appreciate just how difficult this can be.

Sure, you may have got by with your trusty hand drill in the past, but we’re sure that if you took a moment to be completely honest with yourself, there are probably a few projects which spring to mind where you haven’t been entirely happy with the finished result. Trust us; we’ve been there.

There’s just no getting away from the fact that if you compromise and use a handheld drill in situations where accuracy is needed, you can kiss goodbye to drilling holes that are perfectly straight (or to the exact angle required), and to the necessary depth, every time.

So what’s the alternative?

Enter the drill press – the easiest way to get the accuracy and consistency you miss out on when you choose to rely on handheld tools alone.

• They’re more accurate – with features such as height-adjustable and bevelling tables, along with variable depth-stops that feature on most modern drill presses, it couldn’t be easier to drill holes to the required depth, width, and angle every time.
• They’re quicker and more efficient – by pre-setting elements such as the table’s angle or the drill press’s depth-stop, you’ll be able to work much more quickly while reducing the likelihood of making mistakes. Handheld tools can’t compete in this respect.
• They’re usually more powerful – weight is generally less of a concern with drill presses given their mounted design (on a workbench or stand, for example), and they typically feature more powerful (and in turn, heavier) motors as a result. You’ll notice this advantage most when using larger bits to drill wider diameter holes, or when working with tougher materials with your drill press).
• They can be much safer – the fixed nature of a drill press, along with its sturdy frame, helps to provide much greater control versus a handheld drill. Any strain felt while drilling tougher materials will be taken up by the drill press itself as opposed to the user’s wrist with a handheld drill, helping to reduce the risk of injury.

OK…OK…you get it. You now know why we view the drill press as an essential tool in any woodworker’s, metalworker’s, or hobbyist’s workshop. But you chose to read this specific article for a reason, and we’re yet to cover anything that will help you determine whether this WEN drill press, in particular, is the right choice for you.

So without further ado, let’s look at the WEN 4214 12-inch variable speed drill press in more detail to help you find out everything you need to know…

The WEN 4214 bench top drill press features a 2/3hp induction motor, and this should be more than sufficient for the majority of drilling tasks.

Despite WEN’s claims that the 4214 has the power to drill through wood, metal, and other materials, though, it’s probably better-suited to woodworkers (and users who will only occasionally work with metal), as opposed to metalworkers specifically. Yes, it does have the power to drill through softer metals and thinner sheets when required, but it will likely struggle with tougher metal drilling requirements (some reviews have mentioned marginal performance when working with thicker sections of steel, for example).

Having said that, the WEN 4214 is an excellent example of an all-around, feature-rich, and highly affordable drill press that will suit anyone including keen DIYers, hobbyists, woodworkers, and anyone with light metalworking requirements.

It’s simple enough to use that beginners won’t struggle with it or be intimidated by it, yet it features more than enough impressive features, and it is powerful enough to also make it a serious contender as one of the go-to workshop power tools for intermediate and expert users alike.

• Drilling holes
• Enlarging existing holes (i.e., boring the hole)
• Reaming
• Countersinking
• Counterboring
• Tapping
• Sanding
• Polishing

Drill presses are capable of being fitted with a variety of attachments to help achieve the above, including (but not limited to):

• Standard drill bits
• Forstner bits
• Glass-and-tile bits
• Hole saws
• Spade bits
• Drum sanders
• Plug cutters
• Circle cutters
• Flap sanders
• Polishing wheels
• Flex disc sanders
• Grinding wheels

The WEN 4214 is capable of performing each of these functions and accepting each of these types of attachment (provided they fit its chuck). It’s an excellent prospect for anyone who wants greater accuracy, the ability to work to specific angles and the option of working to a set depth quickly and consistently versus a conventional handheld drill.

As mentioned previously, WEN states that the 4214 is ideally suited to drilling through wood, metal, and other materials. While true to some degree, it’s worth noting that it’s probably best-suited to lighter metal requirements only, as a few reviews have mentioned that it struggles with tougher and thicker metal profiles.

The heart of any drill press is its motor, and in the case of the WEN 4214, this is a powerful 120V unit that generates up to 2/3 hp to help you handle all of your drilling, boring, reaming needs (and more!) in wood, lighter metals, and other materials with ease.

A vital requirement of any drill press is the ability to vary the speed to ensure the best finish, with the specific speed required depending on both the type of material you’re working on and the kind of bit you’re using.

The WEN 4214 handles this requirement thanks to a variable speed feature that allows you to target the right speed depending on your needs (anywhere between 580-3200 RPM), with changing the speed being a simple case of pulling a lever located on the head of the drill driver (shown to the left of the image below) – no fiddling with or changing pulleys and belts required.

You don’t need to worry about second-guessing the output speed of the WEN 4214 during each task either, as the built-in digital readout (see image below) which is powered by LED’s accurately displays how fast the drill press is running.

Another benefit is the fact that the variable speed mechanism is mechanical, and this has the advantage of keeping the power and torque consistent throughout the entire speed range, helping you achieve predictable results regardless of how you adjust the speed lever.

As mentioned previously, a considerable benefit of a drill press versus a conventional handheld drill is the ability to be more accurate. Not only is the fixed design of the WEN 4214 inherently more accurate (as it prevents lateral movements and shaking while performing tasks), but it also includes some features to boost accuracy further.

Firstly, it includes a handy X-pattern laser helping you to more accurately ‘lock-on’ to your drill points, and this helps to save any of the usual guesswork associated with using drill presses without this feature. It also features a handy work light to improve visibility in the work area, and when combined with the laser, helps save you money especially when working on more expensive materials thanks to reducing errors.

Finally, the table on this particular WEN drill press features notches which can be used to incorporate clamps (these sell separately) to hold whatever material you’re working on, helping ensure they don’t move to improve accuracy even more.

For a drill press to be useful, it needs to be highly customizable to allow you to cater to a variety of different tasks. If it can’t easily handle tasks such as drilling at various angles, working to specific depths, using advanced bit types, and being to accommodate larger-sized materials, for example, then it’s likely that you’ll avoid using the tool altogether in favor of something which can, leaving you with nothing but an expensive (and very heavy) paperweight.

You don’t need to worry when it comes to this WEN drill press, however, as it comes with a variety of features to help you handle complex requirements with ease.

First up is the work table itself. Not only is it large enough and extendable to help you handle larger materials with ease, but you can also manipulate it in lots of different ways depending on your needs. For example, need to work with different-sized pieces of lumber? No problem – simply adjust the WEN 4214’s table up or down as required.

Or perhaps you need to drill at a specific angle as part of your latest project? Again, not an issue – the table features a simple bevel function that adjusts 45° both left and right to make working at angles quick and easy.

Next up is the WEN 4214’s 12″ swing distance, and this is where the 12″ designation of this particular WEN drill press comes from (swing distance is the measurement from the center of the spindle to the face of the support column that holds the drill’s head and motor, multiplied by a factor of 2).

The 12″ swing of this model means that is capable of drilling a hole in the center of a 12″ x 12″ piece of material, and this helps it accommodate larger-sized materials versus other drill presses (the WEN 4212 could only accommodate a 10″ x 10″ piece of material given its 10″ swing, for example).

Finally, the WEN 4214 also features an innovative, adjustable depth-stop (see image below) that can be pre-set to ensure that you end up with holes drilled to the correct depth every time, while it’s 5/8″ chuck allows you to use a bigger selection of larger bits to handle more complex tasks with ease, for example, sanding, polishing, cutting, countersinking, etc.

WEN has a good reputation for producing quality tools and equipment, and this WEN drill press more than lives up to that.

The most obvious factor that leads to its durability is its rigid-frame construction which features a cast-iron head, table, and base for added strength. The drill press’s motor also features ball bearings for better performance and an extended life, and when combined with its tough exterior, gives you the peace of mind that the WEN 4214 will be a tool that you’ll be using for years to come.

The WEN 4214 is a bench top drill press given its size and weight, meaning its intended for use on top of a workbench or work stand. The base features pre-drilled holes to allow easy mounting to a bench or work stand, helping to provide additional stability during use.

It’s no great surprise that the WEN 4214 consistently receives positive reviews.

While it probably won’t be the best choice for the metalworker who is looking to drill heavier and thicker metal sections on a daily basis, its 2/3 HP motor will undoubtedly be powerful enough for the bulk of DIYers, woodworkers, hobbyists, and construction workers looking to handle wood, lighter metals, and other materials with ease.

If you’re in the market for a highly-affordable drill press that comes with many of the features that come as standard on more expensive models, with the ability to work at various angles and depths, and that can accommodate larger bit sizes, then the WEN 4214 12-inch variable speed drill press is an excellent option.

We’ve included a summary of the various advantages and disadvantages of this WEN drill press below to help you make up your mind.

WEN 4212 vs 4214

The main difference between the WEN 4212 vs 4214 is the swing radius (ten inches versus twelve inches respectively). The 4214 also features a slightly higher minimum and maximum variable speed output, a marginally larger chuck (5/8″ versus 1/2″), a bigger table, and it also features a work light whereas the 4212 does not.

Here is a summary of the key details for each model:

(Scroll table if needed)

Model Number:	4212	4214
Manufacturer:	WEN Products	WEN Products
Tool Type:	Bench Top Drill Press	Bench Top Drill Press
Motor:	120V, 60hz, 5A	120V, 60hz, 5A
Power Output:	2/3 HP	2/3 HP
Variable Speed:	530-3100 RPM	580-3200 RPM
Number of Speeds:	20	20
Spindle Travel:	2-3/8″	3-1/8″
Chuck:	1/2″ Keyed	5/8″ Keyed
Swing:	10″	12″
Laser:	Yes – Class III, Transformer Powered	Yes – Class III, Transformer Powered
Light	No	Yes
Table:	Yes	Yes
Table Size:	8″ x 7-2/3″	9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″
Table Tilt:	0-45° Left/Right	0-45° Left/Right
Digital Speed Readout:	Yes	Yes
Weight:	57 LBS	85 LBS
Dimensions:	13.5″ x 33.9″ x 11″	13.5″ x 36.6″ x 16.8″
	Read Reviews	Read Reviews

Drill presses are well-suited to performing a wide variety of tasks, and as such, it’s no surprise that there are a lot of WEN 4214 accessories available to help users perform these tasks.

You can check out three popular options below, or you can find even more options in our round-up of the must-have drill press accessories.

WEN 433TV 3.25″ Industrial Strength Bench Top Drill Press Tilting Angle Vise

Constructed of industrial-strength powder-coated cast iron, this vise for the WEN 4214 features seven positive tilting stops (every 15 degrees between 0-90 degrees).

See It on Amazon

WEN DPA2412T 24″ x 12″ Drill Press Table with an Adjustable Fence & Stop Block

Expand the 4214’s table workspace with this spacious table accessory measuring 23-7/8″ x 11-7/8″. Features rulers and adjustable fences to maximize accuracy.

See It on Amazon

MaxTool 29 Piece Twist Jobber Length Drill Bit Set JBS35G10R029

29pc jobber length drill bit set including sizes 1/16″ to 1/2″ in 1/64″ increments. Premium quality (5% Cobalt High-Speed Steel M35) provides a long tool life.

See It on Amazon

1. What is the horsepower of the WEN 4214 drill press?

2. What does the 12″ designation of the WEN 4214 relate to?

3. What are the main differences between the WEN 4212 vs 4214?

4. How much assembly is required?

5. What type of vise would you recommend and why?

6. How long is the power cord?

7. Does this WEN drill press come with a safety guard?

8. What is the maximum distance between the chuck and the base?

9. Is it recommended to use the WEN 4214 on the floor or a bench?

10. What warranty does this WEN drill press come with?

11. Is the variable speed control function electronic or mechanical?

12. What is the maximum bit size that the WEN 4214 will accommodate?

13. Is the WEN 4214’s table adjustable?