Bucktool 12 INCH 6.2A Professional Bench Drill Press, 3/4HP Powerful Benchtop Drill Press, Variable Speed Drill Press with IIIA Laser and Work Light

I’ve had the Bucktool DP12VL on my bench for several weeks now, and it’s been busy: hardwood through-holes, countersinks in aluminum, step-bit work in mild steel, and the occasional hole saw. It’s a compact machine that aims for “real drill press” capability without the floor-space footprint, and in most of the ways that matter, it succeeds.

Setup and build

Assembly was straightforward and uneventful. The press is tall for a benchtop unit—about 39 inches—so I set it up right where it would live and bolted the cast iron base to my bench. Do that. The extra height is an asset for vertical capacity, but it also makes the press feel top-heavy until it’s anchored. Once secured, the machine is stable and runs with minimal vibration.

Fit and finish are better than I expect at this price point. Machined surfaces are clean, the column is straight, and the head casting sits square to the table with no shimming needed. Controls have a reassuring, slightly damped feel: the feed levers are solid, the speed lever moves smoothly through its range, and the emergency stop paddle is large and easy to slap without looking.

Power and speed control

The 6.2A induction motor (roughly 3/4 HP) is the right match for a 12-inch bench press. It’s quiet, doesn’t surge, and held speed well in wood and non-ferrous metals. I tested the top end with small brad-point bits at 3,000+ RPM; cuts were clean with no chatter. At the low end (around 580 RPM), I bore 1-1/2 inch Forstner holes in maple and used a 5/8 inch twist bit in mild steel. The motor didn’t bog, though you do need to let the tool work and clear chips on deeper holes.

The variable-speed mechanism is the standout here. A lever on the head adjusts speed on the fly, and the digital tachometer updates quickly and consistently. Not having to crack the belt cover and shuffle pulleys mid-project is a genuine productivity boost. If you switch between wood and metal frequently, the convenience is worth it alone. My only nit: the bottom speed of ~580 RPM is fine for most steel work up to 1/2 inch, but for large hole saws in steel or very big twist bits, I’d prefer something closer to 300–400 RPM.

Accuracy, runout, and feel

Out of the box, alignment was good. I checked the quill with a square, trammed the table, and then put a 3/8 inch gauge pin in the stock keyed chuck to check runout at the jaws. Results were very acceptable for a benchtop press—on the order of a couple thousandths. In use, that translated to accurate holes and predictable results with small bits. The quill feed has a smooth action with enough resistance to feel what the bit is doing in the material.

Depth control is handled by a dial-type stop rather than the old-school threaded rod and jam nut. It’s faster to set and repeatable. One limitation worth noting: there’s no quill lock to hold the spindle down. For operations like sanding drums or tapping with a guide, I missed being able to lock the quill at a set extension.

Spindle travel is 2 inches. For most bench work that’s sufficient, but if you routinely drill deep holes, you’ll be cranking the table up mid-operation. That’s typical of this class, but it’s a constraint to be aware of.

Table and workholding

The table is flat, rotates 360 degrees around the column, and tilts 45 degrees to either side. Adjustments are easy thanks to a smooth rack-and-pinion crank. The table surface has a thin edge profile that makes clamping straightforward, and it locks down securely with no slippage once set.

Size-wise, it’s on the smaller side. For wide panels or awkward workpieces, I quickly added a sacrificial MDF table with T-tracks. That solved two issues at once: it protected the iron surface and gave me more real estate for clamps and stops. The square table shape works fine for me, but if you’re used to a large round table, you’ll notice the difference in reach.

The included keyed chuck handles 1/32 to 5/8 inch shanks and has a firm, positive feel. I didn’t have any problems with bits walking in the jaws. The chuck key holder is tucked behind the spindle; it keeps the key out of harm’s way but isn’t the most convenient placement for quick swaps. Minor gripe, easily solved with a magnetic hook.

Laser, light, and safety

The integrated Class IIIA laser is more than a gimmick. Once I adjusted it to my preference, it consistently marked the point of bit entry. I still mark and punch for critical holes, but the laser speeds up repetitive work and aligns nicely with a center punch. It remains accurate when the table height changes (as it should), and it’s bright enough in normal shop light.

The work light is genuinely useful—aimed right where the bit meets the material. It’s not a floodlight, but for shadowy operations on dark steel, it’s enough to see your scribe lines and the laser intersection clearly.

Two safety features deserve credit on a bench tool: the big emergency stop paddle and the no-voltage release. If you lose power, the machine won’t restart on its own. Both are simple additions that make a real difference in day-to-day safety.

Day-to-day usability

• Speed changes are quick and predictable; the tachometer matches the sound and feel at the spindle.
• Vibration is minimal when the press is bolted down. Rougher hole saw work benefits from clamping and slow feed, as expected, but the head doesn’t shimmy and the column remains planted.
• Noise levels are low for a shop environment. Most of what you hear is the bit doing its job.
• The extra height buys you more quill-to-table distance, which is helpful for taller jigs and vises, but it does put the machine eye-level when benchtop mounted. I prefer it slightly elevated; shorter users may want to account for that with bench height or a lower stand.

Limitations and trade-offs

• Lowest speed of ~580 RPM is the main constraint for heavy steel work with large cutters.
• Two inches of spindle travel means more table cranking on deep holes.
• The absence of a quill lock limits a few specialized operations.
• The table is sturdy but compact; plan on a shop-made auxiliary top if you do panel work or need fixturing.
• Chuck key placement isn’t ideal out of the box.

None of these are deal-breakers for general woodworking and light metalwork, but they define the envelope of the machine.

Who it’s for

This press hits a sweet spot for small shops, makers, and DIYers who want real variable speed, decent power, and good accuracy without stepping up to a floor model. If your workload is primarily wood, plastics, aluminum, and occasional steel—with bit sizes in the common range—the Bucktool handles it gracefully. If you’re a metal-focused shop running big annular cutters or large hole saws in steel all day, you’ll want deeper quill travel and a lower minimum speed.

Recommendation

I recommend the Bucktool DP12VL. It blends practical power, truly useful variable-speed control, and better-than-expected accuracy in a benchtop package that feels stable and thoughtfully designed. The digital tach and lever-actuated speed changes remove friction from everyday use; the cast iron base and column keep the head where it belongs; and the laser, work light, and safety switches are the kind of quality-of-life features that make you reach for this press rather than a hand drill or a less capable machine.

Its limitations—580 RPM floor, 2 inches of spindle travel, no quill lock, and a compact table—are real but manageable with good technique and simple shop-made upgrades. For the majority of drilling tasks I encounter in wood and light metals, it performs cleanly and predictably. If that describes your work, you’ll get a lot of capability for the footprint and cost.