Drill Guide vs Drill Press – All You Need to Know!

While drilling something, you might wonder if you need a drill guide or a drill press. But you are confused about which one to pick among the two.

You no longer need to be concerned. Because we’ve arrived at a suitable comparison.

So, which one should you choose, Drill Guide vs Drill Press?

The drill guide is a portable drill, whereas the drill press is a big machine. Hence, with a drill guide, you can do work anywhere at ease. However, with a drill press, you can handle heavy machinery work. Furthermore, a portable drill is cheaper than a drill guide.

Isn’t everything a mystery to you? The main article has extensive head-to-head comparisons. Continue reading to learn more!

Drill Guide or Drill Press – Quick Comparison

Both drill press and drill guide help you to drill something. But they do their job differently. Depending on what you need to do, you might wonder which one you want. 

Here’s a table with short comparisons of Drill Guide vs Drill Press. Examine them out.

Even though this short comparison is useful, you need a detailed comparison. For that, the next section will help you to choose suitable machinery.

Drill Guide or Drill Press – Detailed Comparison

A fast summary is insufficient to grasp the distinctions between the drills. We will examine and contrast every element of these two drills. This will assist us in determining their respective specialties.

It will help us decide which one to buy based on our needs. So, let us get started.

Type:

Portable drill guides are often classified into two categories. They are drill guide blocks or guides that function with a pressing mechanism. A pushing mechanism is used in these drill guides. 

As a result, they have a section where you can attach power drills of various drill bit sizes.

Drill presses are divided into two types. There are bench top and stationary models available. Benchtop models are more compact, lighter, and simpler to travel. 

Floor versions are heavier and more difficult to carry, but they provide more power and capacity.

Winner: Both types of machinery come in two types.

Size:

When it comes to size, the drill press dwarfs the drill guide. The drill guide is a little instrument that will assist you in drilling something. When a drill guide is insufficient, a drill press is employed to handle larger tasks.

Hence, you get the fact that the drill press is larger than the drill guide.

Winner: The drill guide is more portable.

Features:

A drill guide is a tool that assists you in drilling straight holes. But it can help you out in a variety of ways. You can easily drill holes in edges with a drill guide. 

You can also use this on the round stock of pipes and dowels. With a portable drill guide, you can also easily drill holes in difficult angles.

You can do nearly everything with a drill press. From building a coat rack to making toys, everything is possible with a drill press.

It can also help you to sand the edges of curved pieces. Many types additionally allow for table tilting from side to side. It allows you to drill at any angle.

You can use a saw on a drill press to cut wood if you want. After a certain time of using the saw, it might not spin. So, use it carefully.

Winner: Drill press has more features.

Power:

When it comes to power, the drill press is way above the drill guide. The drill press is heavy and relatively big machinery used to drill holes. 

The power of the drill press can be calculated by the watts. The drill press is more powerful as the wattage increases. So, drill press safety is a must when using one.

A drill guide, on the other hand, is a small handheld tool to help with drilling. It doesn’t require any electricity and its power kind of depends on the user.

If you need extra power, you may choose between a drill press and a bandsaw. A drill press, on the other hand, has more functions and accomplishes the job better.

Winner: Drill press is more powerful.

Speed:

The majority of drill presses offer variable rotation speeds for effective drilling in a variety of materials. Higher-end models have faster speeds. Benchtop variants commonly have five or six gears. Whereas, a nice floor model may contain up to 16. 

The drill guide’s speed depends on the user as it’s not a machine-like drill press. It’s not gonna work that fast when compared to the drill press. 

But it will help with drilling precisely. These precision drill guides are portable and lightweight, and easy to assemble.

So a Drill Press’s rotation speed is always faster than a drill guide.

Winner: Drill Press’s rotation speed is faster.

Portability:

When it comes to portability, the drill guide is always ahead of the drill press. The drill guide is a small handheld instrument in terms of the drill press. So it’s always easy to move around the drill guide. Being portable drill guides are always easy to use.

Here are some recommended drill guide models for easier usage. 

For quick assemble go for Milescraft DrillMate Portable Drill Guide. You can check the price on Amazon.

A more versatile drill guide is Wolfcraft Multi-Angle Drill Guide. Check for availability on Amazon.

People use the Milescraft Drillmate for accuracy. Here’s someone using the tool for woodwork.

The benchtop models of the drill press are lighter compared to other models. And it is also portable. But you still might have trouble moving it as it’s not that small.

Winner: Drill Guide is more portable.

Price:

When it comes to price, the drill press is always more expensive. As it’s a big machine, it’s normal for it to be expensive. 

The drill guide is the cheaper option if you need help drilling something. It might cost you somewhere between 40 to 100 dollars. 

For a decent drill press, you will need at least 90 to 600 dollars. Let’s see some of the best drill presses available on the market.

For an industry-standard drill press go for WEN Iron Benchtop Drill Press. You can check the price on Amazon.

A cheaper alternative for the previous product is BILT HARD 2.3-Amp 8 in Drill Press. Check for availability on Amazon.

A high-speed drill press is RIKON Drill Press. You can check the product on Amazon.

Winner: Drill Guide is a cheaper option.

So, Which Machine Should You Go for?

Are you still stumped and unable to make a decision? Don’t be alarmed. Let us sum it up for you.

If you are looking for a portable drill, you should go for the drill guide. It is cheap and easy to use. It is also portable, which means it is easier to transport than a drill press.

What if you are working on something large and in need of power? In this situation, you should always use a drill press. No matter what the job, it will get it done and more. You may require some experience before operating this sort of large gear.

Hope this will help you to choose a suitable machine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to Drill Without A Drill Press?

There are several methods available for drilling a hole without a drill. You can use a jab saw, a hand file, or a mandrel and sandpaper. Drawing the appropriate diameter’s size first might also be useful. Once the hole is the right size, physically file away any extra wood.

What Is The Most Accurate Drill Press?

A drill press is a tool that is used to make holes in wood and many other materials. Portable drills, on the other hand, exceed drill presses in terms of power and accuracy. The WEN 12-inch Variable press is among the best available.

Can You Drill Through Metal Without Drill Press?

To drill holes in metal, almost any general-purpose twist bit may be used. Most metal drill bits are designed to drill through a range of materials. They range from wood to plastic.

Is Cordless Drill Guide good?

Cordless drills are easy-to-use portable drills. These drills can be used anywhere very easily. These are very strong, easy to handle, and easily rechargeable. Because of this, it’s convenient to use a portable drill guide.

Conclusion

So, now know the main differences between a drill guide vs drill press. Whichever one you choose, it should be beneficial.

Both of them are good and depending on your need, you should pick the right one.

Have fun drilling holes. See you next time!