WEN 12-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press

So, my last benchtop drill press lasted for about 25 years (back when you could still find a decent American made tool at a good price.) I began searching for another benchtop press, and was very dismayed by the selection. Even many of the ones at a decent price had crappy reviews or features that didn't fit my needs. So I figured I would bide my time and get a cheaper model to get me through until I could get into one I would like to keep long term. I watched a ton of reviews and found that, for the money, most of the reviewers were satisfied with the WEN 12 inch. I did like the speed control system, and figured that I'd go ahead. Here's what I found. Virtually every video I found talked about how the machines were caked with cosmoline (the packing grease to inhibit rust.) They all talked about how that was the longest part of the setup, cleaning the grease. So I was happy to find that mine wasn't overdone. In fact there was hardly any on it at all. Then as I unpacked the head, I found what I can't describe as anything else but fine sawdust (attached photo.) Also, the table support was already attached to the table instead of having to do it myself per the instructions. Did I get a returned unit sold as new? I was already apprehensive. The assembly process was fairly easy. I will say that in order to get the table to not rotate around the column, you've got to crank the the locking handle down hard. I mean HARD! You know how they always tell you not to overtighten things to prevent damage or excessive wear? If you buy this model, throw that advice out the window. You have to tighten virtually all of the adjustment levers down to the point where it is hard to break them lose when you want to make an adjustment. The laser crosshairs are okay. But when the manual tells you to raise the workpiece to about an inch below the bit, pay attention to that. It is the ONLY time where the bit strikes the intersection of the lines. I did note that in all the video reviews, they all complain about how lowering the bit obscures the crosshairs. Not a problem if you have your table locked down and the work clamped in place lined up with the laser mark prior to drilling. But if you're relying on using it freehand and lowering the bit on the fly hoping for accuracy, yeah, it's going to be a problem for you. My advice is throw on some laser glasses while lining up your mark in the crosshairs. Otherwise, it's only slightly different than looking at the beam reflected off a white card. By the time you get the work piece lined up with the laser marks, your eyes are going to suffer and you won't be able to accurately gauge your target. I had the chuck and arbor installed, squared my table to the bit, lined up the laser guide, and was ready to power it on. When I did, there was a MASSIVE chunking sound as if something had been bound up and finally freed. There's a fair amount of vibration, but I had expected that to a degree. What I DIDN'T expect was the chugging / grinding feel of lowering the quill. It doesn't do it while the motor isn't running, but once I powered it up it's there. It didn't lessen with subsequent raising and lowering. I'm guessing this needs a good lubrication, but it's not something you expect right out of the box. I ordered the package that had the drill press table with it. Save your money. As much as I love having a table to support longer work or use stops and a fence, this thing is pretty much not worth it. For starters, when the table is seated all the way back against the column (or very close to it) the drill bit will strike a little less than an inch from the front of the table knockout. This is fine if you're using a smaller diameter bit, but using a forstner of any scale, and you're likely punching into your actual table surface rather than the sacrifice board. If you move it up so that isn't happening, then the quill handles strike the fence before you can lower the bit to the board. You end up having to be very selective in how and when you use it. In addition, the clamping system is horrible. You can thread rods into two different locations on the bottom. One set will keep you from moving the table up where you want it. The other set really won't work unless you rotate the table so that the adjustable support is sitting at the front. In either case, if you want to remove the table for other work or to use a magnetic jig, you have to unthread the rods or remove the fence to take the table off. Seems a pretty poor set of incompatibilities considering that they are made to work together. I'm going to try making some adjustments, adding some lubrication, and working with it for a couple of days. I'm not expecting perfection. I looked for a deal and was thinking this could be a short term solution anyway. But if it's not reasonably functional, it's going back. I mean, I can get you a great deal on manure. It doesn't mean it isn't still manure.