DeWalt 2 in. 2-Speed Magnetic Drill Press

First impressions and setup

I pulled the DeWalt mag drill out of its heavy case for a weekend of beam work and was striking metal within minutes. The kit is comprehensive: keyed 1/2 in chuck with quick-change adapter, a 16 mm chuck and adapter, magnetic coolant bottle, safety chain, and the usual adjustment tools. That matters, because this style of drill lives or dies on how quickly you can get from layout lines to a finished hole without chasing missing parts.

Setup is straightforward. The base sits flat, the magnet switch has a positive feel, and the feed handles click on and off either side with zero fuss. That last detail—tool-free, ambidextrous feed handles—sounds minor but makes a real difference when you’re working around flanges or coping angles where space and access are never ideal. The quick-change system that swaps between a 3/4 in Weldon shank and the keyed chuck is equally slick; I could move from annular cutter to twist drill without digging out a separate arbor.

Motor height adjustment gives some extra travel for longer cutters or short twist bits, and the 4-3/8 in quill travel is generous for this class. I found I wasn’t constantly re-positioning the magnet mid-hole, which keeps the workflow efficient and the hole quality consistent.

Power and speed in practice

This drill is built for annular cutters, and the two-speed, 10 A motor reflects that. The gear ranges are 300 and 450 rpm. The lower speed is the sweet spot for larger cutters and tougher alloys; the higher speed covers smaller cutters and many twist drill operations up to the capacity of the included chuck. In use, the torque is what stands out. Pushing a 5/8 in annular cutter through heavy steel plate, the motor held speed with a steady feed, never feeling nervous or chattery. It’s not a screamer; it’s a low-RPM, high-torque worker that prefers an even hand on the feed and consistent lubrication.

There’s overload protection onboard, and it’s not just a spec sheet line. I purposely overfed into a cut to see how it behaved. The electronics intervened before anything ugly happened, and recovery was quick—back off, let it clear, and continue. That layer of forgiveness is the kind of safety net you want when you’re drilling at height or in awkward positions.

The trade-off is obvious: two fixed speeds mean you don’t get fine control for every material and diameter. If you live in the world of oddball alloys and tapping operations, a variable-speed or reversible mag drill will serve you better. But for a steady diet of structural steel with annular cutters up to 2 in diameter, the gearing here is well-chosen.

Magnet hold and stability

A mag drill is only as good as its base. On clean, flat structural steel, the magnet clamped hard and stayed put throughout aggressive cuts. I tested on beam flanges, 3/4 in plate, and a few less-than-perfect surfaces. As with any magnetic base, paint, scale, or thin sections reduce holding power, so I keep a scraper handy and use the safety chain religiously—especially when working vertical or overhead. With the surface prepped and the safety chain attached, feed pressure felt solid and predictable, and I didn’t see any creeping or shifting.

Runout at the cutter was minimal, and hole quality reflected it. Slug ejection was reliable with a light touch at breakthrough, and the finish on the wall of the cut was clean enough to drop hardware through without reaming in most cases.

Coolant and chip control

The magnetic coolant bottle is one of the best usability touches on this drill. Being able to slap it on either side of the body—or even the work surface—and adjust the hose angle precisely where it needs to go simplifies life. Flow is easy to modulate, and the magnet on the bottle base is strong enough that it never wandered. I had better results with a water-soluble coolant for annular cutters and a thicker cutting oil for twist drills; both fed well through the system. Chips cleared cleanly, and the cutter flutes didn’t gum up.

A practical point: set the bottle low enough that gravity helps the feed, and remember to close the valve during moves. If you leave it cracked open, it will slowly drip, as any gravity-feed system will.

Annular cutters vs. twist drills

This drill’s design clearly favors annular cutters—and it excels there. Cutters up to 2 in diameter are within its comfort zone, and with the 300 rpm gear and steady coolant, you can chew through serious material without drama. For twist drills, the keyed chuck is limited to 1/2 in shank, which is typical. The 450 rpm setting works fine for smaller bits; for larger twist drills, the fixed speeds can be a bit high for ideal metallurgy, so peck drilling and adequate lube are key. I wouldn’t buy this particular model if tapping is a regular part of the job; there’s no reverse, and without variable speed, tapping accessories aren’t as friendly.

Ergonomics, noise, and portability

This is a substantial tool at roughly 48 lb, and it feels every bit of that. The handle placement and balance make short moves manageable, but you won’t love lugging it up multiple flights. The case is heavy-duty and protects the drill well, though it adds bulk in the truck. Controls are intuitive, with clearly differentiated switches for the magnet and motor—important for muscle memory and safety.

On noise, the rating is 91.5 dB(A). Hearing protection isn’t optional. It’s quieter than some gear-driven units I’ve used but still very much in the “shop ear protection” category. Vibration is well-controlled; the feed feels smooth, and the quill engagement is consistent across the full 4-3/8 in travel, with no noticeable play.

Reliability and maintenance

Corded power is still the right call for a serious mag drill. There’s no battery to babysit, and torque delivery is consistent through the cut. Keep the Quill clean, occasionally wipe the column, and check the chuck and Weldon interface for chips before swapping cutters. The included tools cover routine adjustments, and the safety chain hardware is robust enough not to stretch under load. A three-year limited warranty adds some peace of mind.

What I’d improve

• More speed options: Two gears work, but an intermediate step or electronic control would widen the envelope for twist drills and specialty cutters.
• Reverse: Tapping support would make this a more versatile rig for maintenance crews.
• Weight and case footprint: The mass is part of the stability, but the case could be trimmed or organized to shave a bit of bulk.
• Coolant valve feel: It’s sensitive; a slightly broader adjustment range would make fine flow control easier with thinner coolants.

None of these are deal-breakers for its main mission—fast, clean holes in structural steel with annular cutters—but they’re worth knowing before you buy.

Who it’s for

• Fabricators and erectors drilling baseplates, flanges, and gussets who want predictable torque and clean annular cuts.
• Maintenance teams needing a dependable, corded mag drill that just runs, with minimal setup quirks.
• Job shops that swap between annular cutters and occasional twist drills and value the quick-change chuck system.

If your workload is dominated by tapping, thin or uneven materials, or frequent work on stainless where speed control is critical, look at a variable-speed, reversible mag drill with a broader speed range or a vacuum base accessory.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt mag drill for anyone primarily cutting structural steel with annular cutters up to 2 in. It’s a no-nonsense combination of strong magnet hold, real torque at useful low speeds, and practical usability features—quick-change chuck, ambidextrous feed handles, smart coolant bottle placement—that keep the work moving. The overload protection adds a welcome safety margin, and the generous quill travel reduces repositioning. You give up variable speed, reverse, and a bit of portability due to weight, but if your work aligns with what this drill is optimized for, it’s a dependable, efficient choice that earns its space in the truck.