The SKIL Drill Press Range: What to Know Before You Buy

SKIL is a name most people associate with circular saws and drills, tools you grab for a quick job, not stationary shop machines. So the SKIL drill press occupies an interesting spot: it is a benchtop press aimed squarely at the homeowner and light hobbyist, priced and built for someone who wants a real drill press without a woodworker’s tool budget or a machinist’s expectations. That framing is the key to buying one well. Get what SKIL does right and where it stops, and you will either be happy with the value or know to look elsewhere. Here is the range and what to know.

The SKIL drill press range consists of compact benchtop machines aimed at homeowners and light hobbyists, led by the 10-inch 3320-01, a 5-speed press with a 3.2-amp motor, a 1/2-inch keyed chuck, a cast-iron base and table, and an X2 two-beam laser for bit alignment.

Short answer: buy a SKIL drill press if you want an affordable, compact benchtop machine for occasional light drilling in wood, plastic, and thin metal, and you value simple operation and features like the alignment laser over power or capacity. Skip it if you drill often, work with large bits or hardwoods, or want variable speed and a big table. Here is the detailed picture.

The 3320-01: the model that defines the range

The 10-inch 3320-01 is SKIL’s best-known drill press and the one that represents the range. Its specs tell you exactly who it is for:

• 10-inch swing: Reaches the center of a 10-inch workpiece, enough for small-to-medium bench work.
• 3.2-amp motor: Sized for light drilling in wood, plastic, and thin metal, not large bits or hardwood all day.
• 5 speeds, roughly 570 to 3,050 RPM: Set by moving the belt. Covers common wood and light-metal drilling.
• 1/2-inch keyed chuck: Standard capacity for a benchtop machine.
• Cast-iron base and worktable: Real mass where it counts, for stability and reduced vibration.
• X2 two-beam laser: Crossing laser beams mark the bit’s contact point for quick alignment, a genuinely useful feature at this level.
• Bump-off safety switch: Easy to slap off in a hurry, a nice safety touch.

A depth-adjustment system and a tilting table round it out. Note that the 3320-01 has been discontinued as a current SKIL catalog item, but it remains available through retail channels, including on Amazon: the SKIL 3320-01 drill press. Our full SKIL 3320-01 review covers it in depth.

Smaller and related models

SKIL has also offered smaller 8-inch-class benchtop presses over the years, following the same formula: compact, light, budget-priced, and aimed at occasional home use. The 3320-01 is the one to know because it is the most widely available and best-specified of the range, but the family philosophy is consistent across sizes: enough machine for a homeowner’s project, not a production shop.

Who the SKIL drill press is for

The right buyer: A homeowner or light hobbyist who wants a real drill press for occasional projects, drilling holes in wood, plastic, and thin metal, hanging shelves, small builds, light repairs, and values the laser and simple operation. For that buyer, the 3320-01 delivers a lot for the money.

The wrong buyer: Anyone drilling frequently, working large-diameter bits or dense hardwoods, needing a big table for large stock, or wanting variable speed and higher power. The 3.2-amp motor and 10-inch swing are real limits.

The honest flaws

Modest power. The 3.2-amp motor handles light work well but will bog with large bits or heavy, continuous drilling. Match your bits to the machine.

Belt-change speeds. Five speeds set by moving the belt, no variable-speed dial. Fine for occasional use, tedious if you change speeds constantly.

Small capacity. A 10-inch swing and a compact table limit workpiece size. Big panels and long stock need support or a bigger machine.

Discontinued status. The 3320-01 is no longer a current SKIL model, so buy from remaining retail stock and factor in longer-term parts availability.

How it compares

Against a budget benchtop like the WEN 4208T 8-inch or the larger WEN 4214T 12-inch, the SKIL trades some power and capacity for its signature X2 laser and cast-iron table at a friendly price. If you want more swing, more speeds, and a bigger table, the WEN drill press lineup offers steps up. If the laser and simplicity appeal and your work is light, the SKIL holds its own. For a direct budget-benchtop cross-shop, see our Craftsman drill press buying guide too.

The verdict

The SKIL drill press range is honest about what it is: affordable, compact benchtop machines for homeowners and light hobbyists. The 10-inch 3320-01 leads the range with a cast-iron table, 5 speeds, a 1/2-inch chuck, and a genuinely handy X2 alignment laser, and it delivers real value for occasional light drilling in wood, plastic, and thin metal. Its limits, modest power, small capacity, belt-change speeds, and discontinued status, are exactly the limits you would expect at this level. Buy it for light home use and enjoy it; step up to a larger, more powerful press if you drill often or work big or hard material.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SKIL drill press range? A set of compact benchtop drill presses aimed at homeowners and light hobbyists, led by the 10-inch 3320-01, a 5-speed machine with a cast-iron table, a 1/2-inch chuck, and an alignment laser.

What are the specs of the SKIL 3320-01? A 10-inch swing, a 3.2-amp motor, 5 speeds from about 570 to 3,050 RPM, a 1/2-inch keyed chuck, a cast-iron base and table, an X2 two-beam laser, and a bump-off safety switch.

Is the SKIL drill press good for metal? For thin metal and small bits, yes. The 3.2-amp motor and slower speeds handle light metal drilling, but it is not built for heavy or large-diameter metalwork.

Is the SKIL 3320-01 still available? It has been discontinued as a current SKIL catalog model but remains available through retail channels, including Amazon, from existing stock.

What is the X2 laser on the SKIL drill press? A two-beam laser that projects crossing lines to mark where the bit will contact the workpiece, helping you align your work quickly before drilling.

Who should buy a SKIL drill press? Homeowners and light hobbyists who want an affordable, compact press for occasional drilling in wood, plastic, and thin metal and value simple operation and the laser over power and capacity.

Does the SKIL drill press have variable speed? No. The 3320-01 has 5 speeds set by moving the belt on the pulleys, not a variable-speed dial.

References

• SKIL, power tools and drill press documentation: https://www.skil.com
• Pro Tool Reviews, benchtop drill press comparisons: https://www.protoolreviews.com
• Popular Mechanics, benchtop drill press buying advice: https://www.popularmechanics.com