Mortise Attachment for WEN Drill Press: What to Measure Before You Buy

The WEN drill press is the tool that got a whole generation of woodworkers into the hobby, and sooner or later one of them wants to cut a mortise with it. Then comes the search for a “WEN mortise attachment,” and the confusion that follows, because WEN does not make one. What WEN does make is a very good line of mortising chisels, and the attachment body you need is a universal part that fits the WEN quill like it fits any other. Before you buy anything, there are a few measurements that decide whether this works on your machine. Get them right and a WEN press cuts clean square holes. Guess, and you buy a part that will not clamp on.

A mortise attachment for a drill press is a kit that clamps a hollow square chisel to the quill and spins an auger bit inside it, so each plunge bores a round hole and squares its walls into a socket. Chain the sockets and you have a mortise. On a WEN press it turns a machine built for drilling into a part-time mortiser.

The short answer on what to buy: a universal mortising attachment kit whose bushings match your WEN quill, paired with WEN’s own mortising chisels. The short answer on what to measure first: the quill diameter, the quill travel, and the room on your table. Those three numbers decide fit before the brand ever matters.

Measure the quill diameter

This is the measurement that makes or breaks the purchase. The attachment’s cast holder clamps around the quill, and kits ship with bushings sized to common quill diameters. Measure your WEN press’s quill and match it to a bushing. A popular pairing is the WEN 4214T, a 12 inch variable speed press with a 5-amp motor and speeds from 580 to 3200 RPM, whose low end is slow enough to mortise. If the bushing does not match, the holder will not clamp square, and no amount of muscle fixes that.

Measure the quill travel

Your mortise can only be as deep as the quill plunges. The 4214T offers about 3-1/8 inches of spindle travel, which is plenty for typical furniture joinery, but subtract the height of the chisel setup and be realistic about deep mortises in thick stock. If your mortise needs to go deeper than the stroke allows, plan to cut from both faces.

Measure the table and the work

The WEN table has to carry the fence, the hold-down, and your board, all at once, and you have to be able to raise the table and lock it solid under the chisel. Lay out the footprint before you buy. Small parts on a crowded table drift, and a table that will not lock is dangerous with a chisel that grabs. WEN’s own accessory table, the DPA2412T, adds a broad MDF surface with an adjustable fence and a removable insert, and it gives a mortising setup the room and the backing it wants.

The parts to buy

Buy the attachment body as a universal kit, then buy the chisels from WEN. An all-in-one mortising attachment kit gives you the holder, fence, hold-down, and a starter set of chisels sized for a standard quill. Then step up the cutting edges with the WEN CH4314M mortising chisel set, four heat-treated chisels in 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, and 1/2 inch that fit any machine with a 3/4 inch bushing and cut cleaner than the basic steel in most kits. If you want more table, the WEN DPA2412T drill press table is the natural companion. The honest note: the universal kit’s included chisels are fine to learn on, but the WEN chisels are the ones you will keep reaching for.

Setup that gives clean holes

Set a small clearance gap, roughly a coin’s thickness, between the bit and the chisel tip so chips clear without burning. Square the chisel to the fence so the holes chain straight. Cut in stages instead of forcing a full-depth plunge, and let the bit auger the waste out. Back thin stock with scrap, keep the chisels honed, and lock the table before every cut.

The verdict

There is no WEN-branded mortise attachment, and you do not need one. Measure your WEN press’s quill diameter, its quill travel, and your table room, then buy a universal attachment body that matches the quill and pair it with WEN’s own chisels. Add the WEN table if you want more support. That combination cuts joinery as clean as a dedicated setup, for a fraction of a standalone mortiser. Skip the measuring and you will end up with a holder that will not clamp; do it first and a WEN press earns a new skill.

FAQ

Does WEN sell a mortise attachment for its drill presses? No. WEN makes mortising chisels, not an attachment body. Use a universal attachment kit whose bushings match your WEN quill.

What is the single most important thing to measure? The quill diameter. The attachment clamps around the quill, so the bushing has to match or the holder will not sit square.

Will it fit a WEN 4214T? Yes, with a standard-quill kit. The 4214T’s low speeds and roughly 3-1/8 inch travel suit typical mortising.

Can I use WEN chisels in a universal attachment? Yes. The WEN CH4314M chisels fit any machine with a 3/4 inch bushing, which covers common universal holders.

How deep a mortise can a WEN press cut? As deep as the quill travels, minus the chisel setup height. Cut deep mortises from both faces if needed.

Do I need the WEN accessory table? Not strictly, but it adds support, a fence, and a backing insert that make mortising steadier and cleaner.

References

• WEN 4214T 12-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press, product specifications: https://wenproducts.com/products/wen-4214t-12-in-variable-speed-drill-press
• WEN CH4314M Mortising Chisel Set specifications: https://wenproducts.com/products/wen-ch4314m-4-piece-premium-mortising-chisel-set-for-woodworking