Grizzly Mini Drill Press: Is the Small Benchtop Worth It?

The pen blank is spinning in your fingers, the bit is wandering, and you realize a full-size press would swallow half your hobby bench for a hole you could cover with a dime. This is the case the Grizzly mini drill press is built to answer. The model you will actually find is the Grizzly T32006 variable-speed mini benchtop press, a 12 pound machine that sets up in the corner of a desk and spins fast enough for tiny bits. I have looked hard at its specs and set it against the presses you would step up to, so you know whether small is smart or just small.

A mini benchtop drill press is a compact column press with a light motor and a variable-speed dial, made for small bits and delicate stock rather than heavy boring. Swing is still the key number: the T32006 has 8-3/4 inch swing, so it centers a hole on a piece up to that wide, even though the machine itself is tiny.

Is it worth it? Yes for one specific person: the hobbyist doing pens, models, electronics, jewelry, and small craft work who wants precise placement and high spindle speed in a machine that stores on a shelf. For that person the T32006 is a genuinely handy tool. For anyone drilling furniture parts or metal beyond thin stock, it is the wrong tool, and you should read the comparison below before you commit.

What are the real Grizzly T32006 specs?

The T32006 is a true mini, and its numbers make that plain rather than hiding it. Confirmed specifications from Grizzly:

• Motor: 1/8 HP, 120V, 0.95 amp
• Swing: 8-3/4 in.
• Spindle taper: B10
• Spindle travel: 7/8 in.
• Spindle speed: variable, up to 5000 RPM
• Drill chuck: 1/32 in. to 1/4 in., B10
• Drilling capacity: 3/16 in. mild steel
• Maximum distance spindle to table: 6-1/2 in.
• Cast-iron table: 6-3/4 in. square
• Overall size: 7 in. W by 10 in. D by 15 in. H
• Weight: about 12 lbs, with a one-year warranty

My verdict: as a dedicated small-bit machine, the T32006 is a clear yes and I would rank it above using a full-size press for tiny work, because its variable dial spins up to 5000 RPM where small bits want to be, and the light head lets you creep down on a fragile part with control. It is a specialist, and it is good at its specialty.

The honest flaw is the geometry. You get only 7/8 inch of spindle travel and a chuck that tops out at 1/4 inch, so anything larger than a 1/4 inch shank simply will not fit, and any hole deeper than about 3/4 inch means resetting the table. The 1/8 HP motor and B10 taper are light-duty by design, and the small cast table gives you little room to clamp.

Real scene: you are drilling a string of 1/16 inch holes in a circuit board, the dial is cranked high, and the little press drops the bit exactly where your center mark sits without the workpiece skating. That is where it shines, and you feel it.

Who should skip this: if you ever need a 3/8 inch bit, a 2 inch deep hole, or steady drilling in thick steel, skip the mini. The Grizzly T32006 mini benchtop press will frustrate you the first time you reach for a big bit.

How does the mini compare to a step-up Grizzly bench press?

Step up one size inside Grizzly’s own line and you trade footprint for real capacity. The Grizzly G0925 8 inch benchtop press runs a 1/3 HP, 2.3 amp motor, an 8 inch swing, a JT33 spindle with 2 inch travel, five belt speeds from 740 to 3140 RPM, a 1/16 to 1/2 inch keyed chuck, and a 1/2 inch mild-steel capacity, at about 36 pounds.

The contrast is stark and useful. The T32006 spins faster and weighs a third as much, which suits tiny bits and tight spaces. The G0925 gives you more than double the spindle travel, a chuck that holds up to a 1/2 inch shank, and enough motor to bore 1/2 inch holes in steel, in exchange for three times the weight and a permanent bench spot.

My verdict: for pens, models, and electronics, the mini T32006 wins because speed and size beat brute capacity. For a general home shop that also drills furniture parts, the G0925 is the smarter single purchase, since a 7/8 inch stroke and a 1/4 inch chuck will box you in fast.

The flaw with stepping up: the G0925 tops out at 3140 RPM, so it is slower than the mini for the smallest bits, and at 36 pounds it is not a shelf-and-store machine.

Who should skip the step-up: if your entire hobby is tiny precise holes and your bench is a desk, the 36 pound G0925 is more machine than you will ever use. If you want a live alternative you can compare in the same class as the G0925, the WEN 4208T on Amazon offers a similar 8 inch benchtop with 2 inch travel and a 1/2 inch chuck.

Who is the Grizzly mini actually for?

It is for the small-scale maker, plainly. If your work lives in the world of pen turning, model building, printed-circuit boards, jewelry, and small craft parts, the T32006 gives you accurate placement and high speed in a machine you can lift with one hand. If your projects include cabinet parts, shelving, or metal fabrication, the mini is not your press and no accessory will change that.

The verdict

The Grizzly mini is a sharp specialist and a poor generalist, and honesty about your projects is what makes the decision easy. Its variable dial to 5000 RPM and 12 pound body are perfect for tiny bits and tight benches, while its 7/8 inch travel and 1/4 inch chuck ceiling rule out anything bigger.

Concrete takeaways:

• Buy the T32006 if your work is pens, models, electronics, and small craft parts.
• Do not expect it to hold bits over 1/4 inch or bore holes deeper than about 3/4 inch.
• Step up to the Grizzly G0925 or a live WEN 4208T if you also drill furniture parts or metal.
• Clamp every workpiece, because the small table gives you little safe hand room.

FAQ

What is the actual model behind the Grizzly mini drill press? It is the Grizzly T32006 variable-speed mini benchtop drill press. That is the current small benchtop press Grizzly lists, at about 12 pounds with 8-3/4 inch swing.

How fast does the Grizzly T32006 spin? It uses a variable-speed dial that reaches up to 5000 RPM, which is the main reason it suits very small bits that need high speed to cut cleanly.

What is the biggest bit the Grizzly mini can hold? The B10 chuck accepts 1/32 inch up to 1/4 inch shanks, so a 1/4 inch bit is the ceiling. Larger bits do not fit the chuck.

Can the Grizzly mini drill metal? Only thin metal. Grizzly rates it for 3/16 inch mild-steel drilling capacity, so it handles light metal work but not heavy fabrication.

How deep a hole can it drill in one pass? About 7/8 inch, the spindle travel. Deeper holes require lowering the table and repositioning, which is fiddly on a machine this small.

Grizzly mini or a full 8-inch benchtop for a beginner? It depends on your projects. Choose the mini for tiny precise work and tight space, or a full 8 inch press like the Grizzly G0925 if you want more travel, a bigger chuck, and metal capacity.

Does the table tilt on the Grizzly mini? The cast-iron table is small and made for flat small-part work, so plan on light clamping and simple setups rather than steep angled drilling.

Is the Grizzly mini safe for kids or classroom craft use? Any drill press demands the same care: clamp the workpiece, remove the chuck key before starting, wear eye protection, and keep hands clear of the bit. The mini is light, but the rotating bit is still a real hazard.

References

• Grizzly Industrial, T32006 Variable-Speed Mini Benchtop Drill Press: https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-variable-speed-mini-benchtop-drill-press/t32006
• Grizzly Industrial, G0925 8 in. Benchtop Drill Press: https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-8-benchtop-drill-press/g0925
• OSHA Woodworking eTool, Drill Presses: https://www.osha.gov/etools/woodworking/production/machines-tools/drill-press
• CCOHS, Metalworking Machines: Drill Presses: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/metalworking/drillpresses.html