Drill Press Speed Chart

B & D Bullet
Pilot-point Bit
Countersink
Screw Pilot Bit
Brad Point Bit
"Standard"
Twist Bit
Countersink
with Taper
Drill Bit

Glass and
Tile Bit
Spade Bit with Spurs
Hole Saw
Spade Bit
Stanley
Powerbore
Bit

Forstner Bit
Countersink
Shear-cutting Countersink
Plug Cutter
Multi-spur Bit

Circle Cutter
Drum Sander
Flexible Disc Sander

Flap Sander
Grinding Wheel
Polishing Wheel

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Recommended Operating Speeds (RPM)

NR = Not Recommended
* = Back material to prevent chipout

Accessory Softwood (Pine) Hardwood (Hard Maple) Acrylic Brass Aluminum Steel Notes

Twist Drill Bits*

1/16" - 3/16"
1/4" - 3/8"
7/16" - 5/8"
11/16" - 1" 3000
3000
1500
750 3000
1500
750
500 2500
2000
1500
NR
3000
1200
750
400 3000
2500
1500
1000 3000
1000
600
350 Lubricate drill with oil when cutting steel ≥1/8". Use center punch on all holes to prevent drill from wandering.

Black & Decker Bullet pilot-point bits *

1/8" - 3/16"
1/4" - 3/8"
1/2" 3000
3000
3000 3000
3000
1500 3000
2400
1600 2000
1500
1500 1500
1000
750 3000
2000
1200 Good all-around bit. These cut more quickly than brad points and twist drills.

Brad point bits *

1/8"
1/4"
3/8"
1/2"
5/8"
3/4"
3/8"
1" 1800
1800
1800
1800
1800
1400
1200
1000 1200
1000
750
750
500
250
250
250 1500
1500
1500
1000
750
750
500
250 NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR Raise 1/4" and smaller bits often to clear shavings and prevent heat build-up.

Forstner Bits

1/4" - 3/8"
1/2" - 5/8"
3/4" - 1"
1-1/8" - 1-1/4"
1-3/8" - 2" 2400
2400
1500
1000
500 700
500
500
250
250 NR
250
250
250
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR Raise 1/4-3/8" bits often to clear shavings and prevent heat build-up. Make several shallow passes with larger bits; allow bit to cool between passes.

Glass-and-tile bits (Listed speeds are for glass and tile — not softwood)

1/8"
3/16"
1/4"
5/16"
3/8"
1/2" 750
600
500
400
350
200 NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR Wear safety goggles. Use drill press only. Do not apply excessive pressure. Lubricate with water while drilling. Reduce quill pressure when bit tip emerges from back side.

Hole saws*

1" - 1-1/2"
1-5/8" - 2"
2-1/8" - 2-1/2" 500
500
250-500 350
250
NR NR
NR
NR 250
150
150 250
250
250 NR
NR
NR Do not use with brass or aluminum thicker than 1/16". Avoid dense hardwoods such as hard maple.

Multi-spur bits*

2-1/8" - 4" 250 250 NR NR NR NR Smaller sizes also available; use Forstner speeds.

Spade bits*

1/4" - 1/2"
5/8" - 1"
1-1/8" - 1-1/2" 2000
1750
1500 1500
1500
1000 NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR Clamp work to table to improve quality of hole.

Spade bits with spurs

2-1/8" - 4" 2000 1800 500 NR NR NR Best bit for acrylic. Clamp work securely.

Stanley Powerbore bits*

3/8" - 1/2"
3/4" - 1" 1800
1800 500
750 NR
NR NR
NR NR
NR NR
NR Ideal for deep holes and end-grain drilling.

Circle cutters*

1-1/2 - 3"
3-1/4" - 6" 500
250 250
250 250
250 NR
NR NR
NR NR
NR Drill one side, flip material over, place center bit in its hole and resume cut.

Shear-cutting countersinks

1/4"
3/8" 1000
750 1000
700 700
700 700-1000
250-700 700-1000
250-700 NR
NR Cuts cleaner than traditional countersinks.

Countersinks

2-flute
5-flute 1400
1000 1400
750 NR
750 NR
250 NR
250 NR
250 Raise and lower frequently for quicker cutting.

Countersink screw pilot bits

All sizes 1500 1000 500 500 NR NR Clear twist drill often.

Taper drill bits with countersinks

All sizes 500 250 250 NR NR NR Clear bit often to prevent heat build-up.

Plug cutters

All sizes 1000 500 NR NR NR NR Cut to full depth so bit chamfers plug.

Drum Sanders

Hard Rubber
Soft sleeveless
3" pneumatic 750
500
1750 1500
750
1750 750
750
1750 NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR NR
NR
NR Avoid load-up and overheating. Decrease air pressure for fine contours.

Miscellaneous

5" Flex discs 750 500 500 500 NR NR Adhesive-backed discs work best.

Polishing wheels 1500 1500 1500 1500 2000 NR Use light pressure.

Flap sanders 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2400 Hold work firmly.

Grinding wheels NR NR NR NR NR 3000 Use 6" or smaller wheel.

Accessory Softwood (Pine) Hardwood (Hard Maple) Acrylic Brass Aluminum Steel Notes

NR = Not Recommended
Always wear a face shield for optimum protection
* Back material to prevent chip-out

Notes

Recommendations are based on visual and tactile tests under shop conditions. Drilling faster than recommended can cause overheating. Speeds slower than those recommended may cause poor-quality holes.
All testing done on face grain. Reduce speed when drilling into end grain.
Speeds based on new bits from the factory.

Resources

Wood Magazine
Ray Girling (Bit photos)

The original Wood Magazine Drill Press Speed Chart can be found as a great two page .pdf file here.

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B & D Bullet Pilot-point Bit	Countersink Screw Pilot Bit	Brad Point Bit	"Standard" Twist Bit	Countersink with Taper Drill Bit
Glass and Tile Bit	Spade Bit with Spurs	Hole Saw	Spade Bit	Stanley Powerbore Bit
Forstner Bit	Countersink	Shear-cutting Countersink	Plug Cutter	Multi-spur Bit

Circle Cutter	Drum Sander	Flexible Disc Sander
Flap Sander	Grinding Wheel	Polishing Wheel

Recommended Operating Speeds (RPM)
NR = Not Recommended * = Back material to prevent chipout
Accessory	Softwood (Pine)	Hardwood (Hard Maple)	Acrylic	Brass	Aluminum	Steel	Notes
Twist Drill Bits*
1/16" - 3/16" 1/4" - 3/8" 7/16" - 5/8" 11/16" - 1"	3000 3000 1500 750	3000 1500 750 500	2500 2000 1500 NR	3000 1200 750 400	3000 2500 1500 1000	3000 1000 600 350	Lubricate drill with oil when cutting steel ≥1/8". Use center punch on all holes to prevent drill from wandering.
Black & Decker Bullet pilot-point bits *
1/8" - 3/16" 1/4" - 3/8" 1/2"	3000 3000 3000	3000 3000 1500	3000 2400 1600	2000 1500 1500	1500 1000 750	3000 2000 1200	Good all-around bit. These cut more quickly than brad points and twist drills.
Brad point bits *
1/8" 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 3/8" 1"	1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1400 1200 1000	1200 1000 750 750 500 250 250 250	1500 1500 1500 1000 750 750 500 250	NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR	NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR	NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR	Raise 1/4" and smaller bits often to clear shavings and prevent heat build-up.
Forstner Bits
1/4" - 3/8" 1/2" - 5/8" 3/4" - 1" 1-1/8" - 1-1/4" 1-3/8" - 2"	2400 2400 1500 1000 500	700 500 500 250 250	NR 250 250 250 NR	NR NR NR NR NR	NR NR NR NR NR	NR NR NR NR NR	Raise 1/4-3/8" bits often to clear shavings and prevent heat build-up. Make several shallow passes with larger bits; allow bit to cool between passes.
Glass-and-tile bits (Listed speeds are for glass and tile — not softwood)
1/8" 3/16" 1/4" 5/16" 3/8" 1/2"	750 600 500 400 350 200	NR NR NR NR NR NR	NR NR NR NR NR NR	NR NR NR NR NR NR	NR NR NR NR NR NR	NR NR NR NR NR NR	Wear safety goggles. Use drill press only. Do not apply excessive pressure. Lubricate with water while drilling. Reduce quill pressure when bit tip emerges from back side.
Hole saws*
1" - 1-1/2" 1-5/8" - 2" 2-1/8" - 2-1/2"	500 500 250-500	350 250 NR	NR NR NR	250 150 150	250 250 250	NR NR NR	Do not use with brass or aluminum thicker than 1/16". Avoid dense hardwoods such as hard maple.
Multi-spur bits*
2-1/8" - 4"	250	250	NR	NR	NR	NR	Smaller sizes also available; use Forstner speeds.
Spade bits*
1/4" - 1/2" 5/8" - 1" 1-1/8" - 1-1/2"	2000 1750 1500	1500 1500 1000	NR NR NR	NR NR NR	NR NR NR	NR NR NR	Clamp work to table to improve quality of hole.
Spade bits with spurs
2-1/8" - 4"	2000	1800	500	NR	NR	NR	Best bit for acrylic. Clamp work securely.
Stanley Powerbore bits*
3/8" - 1/2" 3/4" - 1"	1800 1800	500 750	NR NR	NR NR	NR NR	NR NR	Ideal for deep holes and end-grain drilling.
Circle cutters*
1-1/2 - 3" 3-1/4" - 6"	500 250	250 250	250 250	NR NR	NR NR	NR NR	Drill one side, flip material over, place center bit in its hole and resume cut.
Shear-cutting countersinks
1/4" 3/8"	1000 750	1000 700	700 700	700-1000 250-700	700-1000 250-700	NR NR	Cuts cleaner than traditional countersinks.
Countersinks
2-flute 5-flute	1400 1000	1400 750	NR 750	NR 250	NR 250	NR 250	Raise and lower frequently for quicker cutting.
Countersink screw pilot bits
All sizes	1500	1000	500	500	NR	NR	Clear twist drill often.
Taper drill bits with countersinks
All sizes	500	250	250	NR	NR	NR	Clear bit often to prevent heat build-up.
Plug cutters
All sizes	1000	500	NR	NR	NR	NR	Cut to full depth so bit chamfers plug.
Drum Sanders
Hard Rubber Soft sleeveless 3" pneumatic	750 500 1750	1500 750 1750	750 750 1750	NR NR NR	NR NR NR	NR NR NR	Avoid load-up and overheating. Decrease air pressure for fine contours.
Miscellaneous
5" Flex discs	750	500	500	500	NR	NR	Adhesive-backed discs work best.
Polishing wheels	1500	1500	1500	1500	2000	NR	Use light pressure.
Flap sanders	2000	2000	2000	2000	2000	2400	Hold work firmly.
Grinding wheels	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	3000	Use 6" or smaller wheel.
Accessory	Softwood (Pine)	Hardwood (Hard Maple)	Acrylic	Brass	Aluminum	Steel	Notes