WEN 4212 Review

WEN 4212 product image

Editor Rating: 4.4/5

Great

WEN 4212 Review

Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson

Published on: March 27, 2018

Last modified: Aug 19, 2022 @ 1:07 am

 

 

  • Design
  • Functionality
  • Price

WEN 4212 Review Summary:

Everyone who knows a thing or two about press drills knows that machines made by WEN are among the best on the market. Even though they’re not as elaborate or efficient as the models manufactured by the more well-known companies, the drills made by WEN are undoubtedly held in high regard by many handymen.

The Wen 4212 is a cost-effective drill press that definitely deserves a more in-depth look. It’s a well-made product that comes equipped with a number of handy features, such as the variable speed, a read-out display, a 1/2″ keyed chuck, and the tilting table.

Our mission is to find this model’s value for the money – we’ll do that by carefully analyzing each of these features and by having a closer look at the unit’s design and power. Is WEN 4212 the press drill you were looking for? Read on and find out!

WEN 4212 Specifications:

  • Weight – 62.4lbs
  • Dimensions – 13.5″ x 33.9″ x 11″
  • Chuck Capacity – 1/2″
  • Max Speed – 3,100 RPM
  • Voltage – 120 volts

WEN 4212 – The Basics


The manufacturer advertises this unit as a “powerhouse for your workshop.” This is justified by the presence of a strong 4.5 AMP motor that achieves the maximum no-load speed of 3,100 RPM. As you can already guess, hard materials are not a problem for this model – it drills through them like a hot knife through butter.

The model’s speed can be calibrated between 530 – 3,100 RPM, enhancing its versatility and allowing one to adjust the speed to the one required for the task. The table has a decent size of 8 x 7-2/3″ and enables working on ceramic tiles, plastic sheets, wooden planks, and other materials. Other features worth mentioning are the 1/2″ chuck, the digital readout screen, an onboard laser light, the depth adjustment gauge, as well as the sturdy cast-iron construction.

WEN 4212 Drill Press Features


The Design


We can safely say that the WEN 4212 has a very solid construction quality. The unit was built from cast iron and feels very stable and durable. Both the base and the work table are well-made and thick enough to diminish vibration, which is always a big plus in our book. The swing and the knobs, on the other hand, have been manufactured from high-quality plastic, and feel very comfortable when handling them.

The unit’s table offers a decent 8 x 7-2/3″ of space and will gladly hold any kind of material you’d like to work on. However, it is not the largest work table on the market, and cannot be compared to 15″ x 15″ tables found on the more expensive models. It can be tilted (both left and right) via the dedicated knob and thus allows angular drilling, which increases the machine’s versatility even further.

Other things we liked are the digital readout screen (shows the current speed in a clear and easy-to-read way), the laser (for the more accurate drilling), and the depth-adjustment gauge (allows locking the spindle in the desired position).

Power


The WEN 4212 comes with a 4.5 AMP motor that’s powerful enough to meet all of your drilling demands.

As we said, it features variable speed that can be calibrated between 530 and 3,100 RPM and thus allows you to use this drill on both soft (plywood) and hard (metal) materials. The machine has a 1/2″ chuck and the spindle travel of 3-1/8″, letting you drill through thick materials with speed and efficiency.

Warranty & Accessories


This drill press comes with a 2-year warranty, which is not that generous but not bad either. Along with the machine itself, you’ll also get a 1/2″ chuck, a key, and the tools that are necessary for the assembly. It’s not the most rounded package we’ve seen so far, but it’s sufficient enough at this price.

On/Off Button and Display on 4212 Dirll Press

Pros:

N

Excellent build quality

N

Powerful enough for wood and metal

N

Variable speed control

N

Well-sized tilting table

Cons:

N

Not for heavy-duty application

N

Noisy

R

Things we liked about it

There are a lot of things to like about WEN 4212, particularly its convenient design. Not only the unit is easy to operate (thanks to its easy-to-use controls), but it also sports a number of handy little features that make the whole process of drilling a lot easier. Some of these features are the tilting table, the digital readout, the dedicated laser for enhanced accuracy, and the depth adjustment gauge.

Besides that, the unit sports a fantastic cast-iron construction and is durable enough to serve you for the years to come. As far as we’re concerned, an excellent build quality is an essential part of every good benchtop press drill, and WEN 4212 definitely ticks that box.

We also liked that the unit’s motor has variable speed, allowing one to make splinter-less holes in plywood but also to drill through steel plates without any issues. This kind of versatility is bound to make WEN 4212 into one of the most popular models of this type in the upcoming years.

Q

Things we didn’t like

Unfortunately, the WEN 4212 is not suitable for heavy-duty tasks, and as such remains a good choice for the hobbyists but not for the professional contractors. Harsh applications could severely damage this press drill, so we advise avoiding them if you don’t want to deal with breaks or overheating.

The unit is also quite noisy – prolonged working sessions could cause hearing damage. For that reason, make sure to always wear hearing protection when operating this drill.

What Users Say About The Wen 4212


The users are calling this drill a very decent model for the price, and are praising its construction quality, satisfactory performance, and the overall ease of operation.

They’re very pleased with the convenient features of WEN 4212, saying that that the depth adjustment gauge, the digital readout, and the laser are not just gimmicks but are actually making the whole process of drilling a lot easier. An overwhelming number of users think that buying WEN 4212 is a wise decision and a good investment.

Conclusion


As it sports the right combination of price, performance, and features, we think that WEN 4212 is a worthy purchase that you won’t regret later.

The number of pros easily outweighs the number of cons here, turning this drill into a genuinely impressive deal – we recommend it!

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