Rank #8 in Best Pillar Drill 2026: 9 Ranked, and the Numbers That Don't Add Up
KATSU Mini Bench Drill Press, 100W, 6mm Chuck
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The KATSU Mini Bench Drill Pillar Press Stand is a 100W corded bench drill with a 6 mm chuck, an electronic variable speed switch and three pulley belt settings, listed at £64.99 and rated 4.3 out of 5 from 539 ratings. It finishes eighth in this guide.
The number doing the selling on this sheet is 6 mm, and it is doing two jobs. The bullets promise a "maximum drill capacity of 6 mm"; the same listing's spec table gives 6.35 mm in wood and 3.18 mm in metal. So the headline figure matches the chuck, not the capacity — and in metal the sheet allows a little over half of what the bullet implies. A few other figures sit closer to the mark: a 100W motor on 220V works out at roughly 0.45A against the 0.55 Amps listed, and item dimensions of 12.8 x 10.9 x 8.8 cm are hard to square with a 5.25 kg machine, so treat those dimensions as a listing error. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing — price, rating and specification included — and not from any testing of our own.
How those 539 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.3 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £64.99 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5 from 539 ratings |
| Motor | 100 W, 220 V, listed at 0.55 Amps (as listed) |
| Maximum chuck size | 6 mm |
| Drilling capacity, wood | 6.35 mm |
| Drilling capacity, metal | 3.18 mm |
| Speed | Up to 8,500 rpm, with three pulley belt settings (0-8,500 / 0-6,500 / 0-5,000 rpm) |
| Maximum torque | 45 inch pounds (as listed) |
| Weight and dimensions | 5.25 kg; 12.8 x 10.9 x 8.8 cm (as listed) |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“For context, I only use this for jewellery.It's well constructed, the press lever works well and height adjustment is easy. The chuck is fine for pin drills and larger.The motor is a little weak at low speeds but hey, it's very cheap and it hasn't been a problem for me.N. B. You can adjust the speed range further than the knob allows by accessing a variable resistor beneath a little rubber cover. I did this as the factory setting was too fast for my purpose.”
Verified purchase“As a hobbyist jeweller I have a small workshop and space is limited. The drill is a perfect size and doesn't take up too much space on the bench.Very easy to set up and use. Good speed control and press action.I've invested in some good quality drill bits and the drill has so far been effective in drilling accurately through silver sheet and wire upto 3mm thick.Perfect for drilling 0.8mm piercing holes in metal sheet.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Pillar Drill 2026: 9 Ranked, and the Numbers That Don't Add Up.
Questions people ask
What size chuck does the KATSU Mini Bench Drill take?
The listing gives a maximum chuck size of 6 mm and lists a 6 mm chuck among the included components.
How thick a piece of metal will it drill?
The spec table says 3.18 mm in metal, while the bullet points claim a 6 mm maximum drill capacity. The 6 mm figure is the same as the chuck size, so 3.18 mm is the number to work to for metal.
How fast does it spin?
Up to 8,500 rpm on the upper pulley setting, with the middle pulley listed at 0-6,500 rpm and the lower at 0-5,000 rpm. The electronic variable speed switch sets the speed inside whichever range the belt is on.
What do owners use the KATSU Mini Bench Drill for?
Reviewers describe jewellery, models and clocks, with one drilling accurately through silver sheet and wire up to 3 mm thick. That matches the 3.18 mm metal capacity in the spec table.
Does it come with a plug and cable?
Yes. The included components are the drill, 6 mm chuck, handle lock, electric plug and cable.
How big and how heavy is it?
The listing gives 5.25 kg and item dimensions of 12.8 x 10.9 x 8.8 cm. An 8.8 cm height does not add up for a 5.25 kg bench drill, so treat that measurement as a listing error.
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