How to Adjust the Laser on a WEN Drill Press Without Losing Accuracy
The whole point of the twin-beam laser is that the crosshair marks exactly where the bit will land. So when the beams cross an inch to the left of the actual hole, the laser has gone from helpful to misleading, and you are better off ignoring it than trusting it. Learning how to adjust the laser on a WEN drill press is a five-minute job with a small hex key, and it turns a decorative feature back into a real aiming tool.
The laser on a WEN press is a pair of line lasers set at an angle so their beams cross at the point of the bit. Adjusting it means turning the small set screws behind each laser so the two lines intersect precisely where a bit in the chuck touches the work.
Short answer: lower a bit to mark a point on a scrap board, then adjust each laser’s set screws until the crosshair sits dead on that mark. Do it with the press unplugged, and verify against the bit rather than against the old crosshair position.
Set your reference point first
You cannot aim the lasers at nothing. Give them a true target:
- Unplug the press.
- Chuck a center bit or a sharp twist bit.
- Lower the bit onto a scrap board and let it mark a small dimple.
- Lock the quill or hold the bit at that mark. That dimple is where the crosshair must land.
This step is the whole trick. People adjust the beams to look neat instead of adjusting them to the bit, and neat is not the same as accurate.
Adjust each beam to the mark
Each line laser has one or two small set screws, usually taking a hex key, that tilt the beam. Adjust one laser at a time:
- Turn the screws in small increments and watch the line swing.
- Bring the first line directly over the bit mark.
- Bring the second line over the mark so the two cross exactly on the dimple.
- Nudge, do not crank. These beams move a lot with a small turn.
Verify with something you trust
A laser can look aligned and still be off if your table or bit is not square, so confirm the result. A 12 inch machinist combination square lets you check that the table sits square to the bit and that your reference mark is where you think it is, which is what keeps the laser honest across the whole table, not just at one spot.
The honest drawback: a combination square is a general measuring tool, not a laser part, so it fixes alignment errors rather than the laser itself. Who should skip it: anyone who already owns a trusted square and only needed the beam-adjustment steps.
Move the bit, then trust the cross
Adjusting a WEN drill press laser comes down to aiming both beams at a real bit mark, not at the old crosshair. Set a dimple with the bit, walk each line onto it, and verify square. Do that and the crosshair earns your trust again.
Three takeaways:
- Always adjust the beams to a mark made by the actual bit, not to how they look.
- Move one laser at a time in small increments; the beams swing fast.
- Verify table squareness so the laser stays accurate across the whole surface.
FAQ
Why is my WEN drill press laser off center? The beam set screws have drifted from vibration, or the laser was never aligned to the bit. Re-aim each beam to a mark made by a bit in the chuck.
How do I adjust the WEN laser beams? Turn the small set screws behind each line laser in small steps until the two lines cross exactly on a point marked by a bit in the chuck.
What tool adjusts the laser? Usually a small hex key for the set screws. A square helps you verify the table and mark are true before you trust the beams.
The lasers look aligned but the hole is still off. Why? The table or bit may not be square, or the reference mark was inaccurate. Check squareness and re-mark with a sharp bit.
Should the press be on while adjusting? No. Unplug it. You are marking with a stationary bit and turning set screws, both of which are safer with no power.
How often will I need to re-adjust it? Vibration slowly shifts the beams, so expect an occasional touch-up, especially after heavy drilling or moving the press.
References
- WEN Products, drill press manuals and parts: https://wenproducts.com
