SKIL 3320-01 10-Inch Drill Press: Specs, Capacity, Parts, and Owner Notes
If you’ve been shopping the entry-level bench drill press market for more than ten minutes, the SKIL 3320-01 has almost certainly crossed your screen. It shows up everywhere—hardware stores, big-box retailers, Amazon listings—and the price tag makes it hard to scroll past. But price alone doesn’t drill straight holes. Let’s dig into what this machine actually is, what its numbers mean in practice, and what owners have discovered after a few months of sawdust and swarf.
What “10-Inch” Actually Means
New buyers sometimes expect a 10-inch drill press to accept a 10-inch drill bit. It doesn’t work that way. The number describes the swing—twice the distance from the column centerline to the spindle centerline. On the 3320-01 that’s 5 inches, meaning the largest round workpiece you can center-drill measures 10 inches in diameter. For most hobby and light shop work—fence posts, cabinet hinges, metal brackets—that 5-inch reach is plenty.
Core Specifications at a Glance
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Swing | 10 in |
| Spindle travel (quill stroke) | 2 in |
| Spindle taper | MT2 |
| Chuck capacity | â… in |
| Motor | 3.2 A induction, 120 V |
| Speeds | 5 (570–3050 RPM) |
| Table tilt | ±45° |
| Work light | Yes |
| Laser guide | Yes (2-line cross-hair) |
| Depth stop | Yes (threaded rod + lock nut) |
| Weight | ~32 lb |
The induction motor is worth calling out specifically. Belt-drive drill presses at this price often ship with universal (brush-type) motors that run louder, wear faster, and surge under load. The induction motor on the 3320-01 runs quieter and tends to last longer with minimal maintenance—just occasional belt inspection and a drop of oil on the quill.
The Quill and Spindle Travel
Spindle travel is the distance the quill drops when you pull the feed handles—2 inches on this machine. That’s enough for most through-holes in lumber and thin metal stock. Where it becomes a constraint is deep-hole work: drilling mortises without a dedicated attachment, or boring through thick material in a single pass. Plan on multiple pecking passes for anything approaching that 2-inch limit, and make sure your depth stop is set before the bit bottoms out.
The MT2 spindle taper is standard and widely supported. Aftermarket Jacobs-style chucks, mortising chisel sets, and MT2 Forstner bit arbors all fit without adapters.
Chuck and Chuck Key
The 3320-01 ships with a keyed chuck rated to â…-inch capacity. Keyed chucks grip more securely than keyless designs under the lateral forces a drill press generates—especially important when you’re running a 1-inch Forstner bit through oak. The included chuck key lives in a holder on the head casting; don’t lose it. If yours goes missing (it happens), a replacement like this universal chuck key fits most ½- and â…-inch Jacobs-pattern chucks and runs a few dollars.
Some owners who do a lot of production drilling swap the factory chuck for a higher-quality JT33-pattern option. This JT33 chuck is a popular upgrade—it seats on an MT2-to-JT33 arbor and provides noticeably tighter runout than the stock unit.
The Work Table
The cast-iron work table measures approximately 7 × 7 inches and tilts ±45° left or right via a bevel gear and lock handle. There are two T-slots running front-to-back for hold-down clamps or a vise. At this price point you won’t find T-slots on all four sides, so orient your fence or vise accordingly.
For drilling multiple holes in a consistent pattern—think shelf pin holes, cabinet hardware—a small cross-slide vise on the table saves layout time and repeated measuring. This 3-inch drill press vise fits the 3320-01’s table slots and keeps small workpieces locked in X and Y while the quill moves in Z.
Laser Guide and Work Light
The 2-line cross-hair laser projects an X onto the workpiece showing where the bit will land. It’s a convenience feature, not a precision instrument—lasers drift with heat and the lines have thickness. Use it for rough layout, then confirm your center punch mark is inside the cross before committing. The work light (LED on later production runs) illuminates the table without casting the shadow your body naturally throws when you lean over the machine.
Five-Speed Belt Drive
Speed changes require opening the belt cover and physically moving a V-belt between pulley steps—a 30-second job once you’ve done it twice. The five speeds (570, 900, 1400, 2100, 3050 RPM) cover:
- Low end (570–900 RPM): Large Forstner bits, hole saws, and soft metals like aluminum and brass
- Mid range (1400 RPM): General-purpose wood drilling, ¼–½-inch twist bits in hardwood
- High end (2100–3050 RPM): Small-diameter bits (⅛ in and under), plastics, light finish work
Match speed to material. Running a 1-inch bit at 3050 RPM in pine won’t ruin the machine, but it scorches the wood and stresses the bearings. A laminated speed/material chart taped inside the belt cover takes the guesswork out.
Depth Stop
The depth stop is a threaded rod with two lock nuts that travel against a collar on the quill housing. Set it once, lock both nuts against each other (jam-nut style), and every hole you drill hits the same depth. It’s not as slick as a digital depth gauge, but it’s accurate enough for shelf pin holes and mortise depths once you dial it in.
Parts and the SKIL 3320-01 Manual
SKIL (now owned by Chervon) publishes the operator’s manual as a PDF on their support site. Search “SKIL 3320-01 manual” and you’ll find the wiring diagram, parts list, and exploded view. Common replacement parts—belt (part 2610956050 on older production runs), quill spring, and chuck—are stocked by a handful of third-party tool-parts retailers. If you bought the machine second-hand and it came without documentation, the parts diagram is essential before you start disassembling anything.
Mortising Attachment Compatibility
Several aftermarket mortising attachments are listed as compatible with the 3320-01. They typically clamp to the quill and use the MT2 taper to hold a hollow chisel mortising bit. Results with these attachments on entry-level machines are mixed: the relatively light quill return spring and 2-inch travel limit how deep you can chop in a single stroke. For occasional mortise work in soft hardwoods it’s viable; for production furniture work you’ll want a dedicated floor-standing mortiser.
Owner Notes from the Field
Across owner reviews and woodworking forums, a few consistent observations surface:
What owners praise:
- Quiet induction motor relative to competitors at the price
- Solid cast-iron table that doesn’t flex under clamping pressure
- Accurate depth stop once properly set
- Easy assembly out of the box (typically under an hour)
What owners flag:
- Belt cover latch can feel flimsy; some add a small bungee or hook-and-eye to keep it closed during vibration
- Factory chuck runout varies unit to unit—measure yours with a dial indicator before deciding whether an upgrade is warranted
- The laser requires periodic realignment; the two set screws are accessible under the head casting
Bottom Line
The SKIL 3320-01 is a genuine 10-inch bench drill press at an entry-level price. Its induction motor, cast-iron table, MT2 taper, and five-speed range give it a specification sheet that competes with machines costing 30–40% more. The 2-inch quill travel and variable chuck quality are its real-world ceilings. For hobby woodworking, home repair, and light metalwork in a space-limited shop, it earns its shelf space.
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