Synopsis: This benchtop drill press is a great fit for any shop.

Step up to a drill press with no compromises

If you’re looking for a benchtop drill press, this new model from Grizzly is a great one to consider. I can’t think of anything I would change on this machine. While there are similar floor models from Grizzly, they are pricier, and I find that it’s easier to fit a benchtop model into most shops.

Grizzly T33959 15-in. Benchtop Variable Speed Drill Press

There are zero compromises on this one. It’s tall enough to drill down into large workpieces, with a whopping 611⁄44 in. of vertical spindle travel. It’s beefy and powerful enough to drive the largest Forstner bits without breaking a sweat, and the 55⁄88-in. chuck is smooth, accurate, and industrial-size. Last, it offers variable speed (550 rpm to 3500 rpm) on the fly, with a bright rpm indicator up front. The smaller touches have received the same thoughtful engineering. The spinning depth gauge allows fine adjustments and includes a macro button for big moves.

Price: $775 at the time of writing

Buy at Home Depot

And there is a separate wheel for stopping the spindle on its way up as well, which comes in handy at times. The table holds its position when you crank it up and down, and the crank will clear an auxiliary table added to the cast-iron one. (Be careful, though, when assembling the machine not to push the crank handle all the way in or the mechanism will jam temporarily.)

The built-in LED work light is bright and adjustable, and the laser drilling guides are very good. Two quick notes: This is a relatively tall benchtop model, so a table top that is 32 in. tall or less will keep the work at chest height (instead of shoulder height) for most people. Also, there is a work shield included, which will turn off the machine when it is struck and pushed out of position. But you can remove it without affecting the machine’s operation.