DeWalt 2-Speed Magnetic Drill Press DWE1622K: What Owners Should Check Before Buying or Repairing

You are twenty feet up on a steel beam, or leaning over a fabricated frame that will never fit under a bench press, and you need a clean two-inch hole through structural steel. A benchtop drill press cannot help you here. This is where a magnetic drill earns its keep, and the DeWalt DWE1622K is one of the machines people reach for. Before you buy one or crack yours open to fix it, here is what actually matters about how it clamps, cuts, and occasionally frustrates its owners.

A magnetic drill press (a mag drill) is a portable drilling machine with an electromagnetic base that clamps itself to ferrous steel, letting you drill heavy holes on site in any orientation, including vertically up a beam or overhead. The DeWalt DWE1622K is a corded, two-speed model built around this idea.

Direct answer: the DWE1622K is a strong choice for field steel drilling with annular cutters, thanks to a 10-amp motor, a two-speed gearbox, and a quick-change spindle. It is the wrong tool for benchtop wood or general shop drilling. Confirm your steel is thick enough and ferrous, and always run the safety chain.

What the DWE1622K actually is

The DWE1622K is a portable magnetic drill with a 10-amp motor and a two-speed gearbox delivering roughly 300 and 450 RPM, per DeWalt’s own listing. Its electromagnetic base grips ferrous steel, and the spindle offers tool-free quick change between a 3/4-inch Weldon shank (for annular cutters) and a 1/2-inch keyed chuck (for twist bits). It carries about 4-3/8 inches of drill travel, overload protection electronics, a magnetic coolant bottle, and a safety chain, and it weighs in the low-30-pound range.

The two-inch figure in the name refers to cutting capacity with annular cutters, not a wood swing. This is a metal machine.

My verdict: as a portable steel drilling tool, the DWE1622K is a sensible, well-supported pick with a real quick-change spindle and a coolant system built in. Live listing: DeWalt DWE1622K. DeWalt’s spec sheet lives at dewalt.com. Who should skip it: anyone whose drilling is benchtop wood, small parts, or general hobby work.

Annular cutters versus twist bits

For a mag drill, annular cutters are the point. An annular cutter (a hollow, toothed cutter that removes only a ring of material and drops a solid slug) cuts large holes in steel far faster and with less thrust than a twist bit. The DWE1622K takes standard 3/4-inch Weldon shank annular cutters, and its quick change lets you swap to the 1/2-inch keyed chuck for ordinary twist bits.

Hougen, which invented the mag drill annular cutter, lays out the practical rules: use a firm, steady feed (too slow a feed actually shortens cutter life), clear chips between holes, always run coolant, and insert the correct pilot pin. High-speed steel cutters cover most mild and structural steel; carbide cutters shine on hard or abrasive material and want higher RPM.

My take: buy quality annular cutters and match RPM to diameter and material. Who should skip annular cutters: if all your holes are small, just run twist bits in the keyed chuck.

The safety strap is not optional

Always attach the safety chain, every time. A mag drill holds by magnetism, and if power drops or the magnet loses grip on a painted, rusty, or thin surface, a 30-plus-pound machine can fall. The safety chain is your backup, and it ships in the DWE1622K kit for exactly this reason.

Milwaukee’s mag drill manual spells out the conditions that weaken the magnet: paint, rust, scale, chips, and uneven surfaces all cut holding strength, and the base will not hold on nonmagnetic grades of stainless steel or on stock thinner than the machine’s rating. Clean the surface, clear the chips, and confirm your steel is thick, flat, and ferrous before you trust the magnet. Who should skip running without the strap: no one. Ever.

Honest flaws to weigh before buying

• Weight and bulk. At low 30s of pounds plus the case, this is a haul up a ladder or onto scaffolding.
• Ferrous-only base. The magnet grips steel and iron. It will not hold on aluminum, nonmagnetic stainless, or anything nonferrous.
• Thin stock trouble. On thin material the magnet cannot develop full holding force, so a backing plate becomes necessary.

My verdict stands despite these: for on-site ferrous steel drilling, the DWE1622K is a solid tool, but go in knowing it is heavy, ferrous-only, and unhappy on thin plate. Who should skip it: anyone drilling nonferrous metal, thin sheet, or doing benchtop work.

How it compares to Milwaukee and VEVOR

Against the Milwaukee 4270-21 (Compact Electromagnetic Drill Press): the Milwaukee is lighter at about 26.5 pounds, runs a single 450 RPM speed off a 9-amp motor, and cuts up to 1-1/2 inch diameter holes through 2-inch steel with annular cutters. Both use 3/4-inch Weldon shank cutters. The tradeoff: the Milwaukee is the lighter, more portable single-speed unit; the DWE1622K gives you two gearbox speeds to better match cutter diameter. See milwaukeetool.com for the 4270-21 spec sheet.

Against a VEVOR mag drill: VEVOR sells portable mag drills around a 2-inch boring capacity with roughly 13,000 N of holding force, often bundled with an annular cutter set. Owners report them as capable for occasional work but as a supplement rather than a full replacement for a name-brand press. VEVOR’s own site (vevor.com) lists current models.

My ranking: DeWalt DWE1622K or Milwaukee 4270-21 for regular professional use (DeWalt if you want two speeds, Milwaukee if you want the lightest carry), and a VEVOR kit for someone who drills steel occasionally and wants cutters included.

Conclusion

The DWE1622K is a capable, well-supported portable mag drill for ferrous steel. Its real strengths are the two-speed gearbox, the quick-change spindle, and the built-in coolant and safety chain.

• The DWE1622K is a metal mag drill: 10-amp, two speeds near 300 and 450 RPM, 3/4-inch Weldon shank plus 1/2-inch chuck.
• Annular cutters are the reason to own it. Feed firmly, clear chips, run coolant, use the pilot.
• The magnet holds only on clean, thick, ferrous steel, and never on nonmagnetic stainless or thin stock without a backing plate.
• Choose Milwaukee 4270-21 for lighter single-speed carry, VEVOR for occasional use, and the DeWalt when you want two speeds.

FAQ

What is the DeWalt DWE1622K used for? Drilling large holes in ferrous steel on site, in any orientation, using an electromagnetic base to clamp the tool to the work. It is a portable magnetic drill, not a benchtop press.

What speeds does it run? Two gearbox speeds, roughly 300 and 450 RPM, from a 10-amp motor.

What cutters and bits fit it? Standard 3/4-inch Weldon shank annular cutters, and a 1/2-inch keyed chuck for twist bits, with tool-free quick change between them.

How thick does the steel need to be? Thick and ferrous. Mag drills lose holding force on thin stock, and the magnet will not hold on nonmagnetic stainless or nonferrous metal.

Do I really need the safety chain? Yes, every time. If power or magnet grip fails, the chain keeps a heavy machine from falling.

Can I use it as a regular drill press for wood? No. It has no work table and clamps only to steel. For wood and small parts, use a benchtop drill press instead.

How does it compare to the Milwaukee 4270-21? The Milwaukee is lighter (about 26.5 pounds) and single-speed at 450 RPM, cutting up to 1-1/2 inch holes through 2-inch steel. The DeWalt adds a second gearbox speed.

Are VEVOR mag drills worth considering? For occasional steel drilling, yes. They offer around 2-inch boring capacity and often include cutters, but users treat them as a supplement rather than a full replacement for professional-grade machines.

References

• DeWalt DWE1622K product page: https://www.dewalt.com/en-us/product/dwe1622k/drill-press-2-speed-magnetic-2
• Milwaukee 4270-21 operator’s manual: https://documents.milwaukeetool.com/58-14-4270d7.pdf
• Hougen Mag Drill and Annular Cutter Guide: https://www.hougen.com/downloads/Hougen_Mag_Drill_%26_Annular_Cutter_Guide.pdf
• OSHA Woodworking eTool, drill press: https://www.osha.gov/etools/woodworking/production/machines-tools/drill-press