A drill press is every craftsman’s dream tool. Sturdy, easy to use, and reliable, these machines dramatically reduce the risk of things going wrong while drilling. While these machines are great, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a drill press that wasn’t made in China. In this article, I’ll be looking for American-made drill presses.
Before getting into the article, some readers may feel like there are some companies missing from this list. Companies like Walker Turn no longer manufacture drill presses and thus don’t qualify for this list. That said, if there are any readers out there who know of any other American drill press manufacturers then leave a comment below as we like to keep our articles up to date and accurate.
Which Brands Sell Drill Presses Made In The USA? (The Short Answer)
After doing some digging, I found 2 companies that manufacture drill presses made in the USA. They are Cameron Micro and Ellis.
American Made Drill Presses (A List of Manufacturers)
Now that we know which brands manufacture drill presses made in the USA, let’s take a look at the companies behind the brands for a closer look.
Cameron Micro
Cameron Micro was founded in 1964. Its headquarters is located in Sonora, California, and it is a fairly well-known drill press manufacturer. The company has been manufacturing its drill presses at the same location since its inception.
After doing some digging around, the company only has one location, which is its facility in Sonora, California. So, from what I understand, Cameron Micro designs, manufactures, and ships all of its products from its US facility. Also, it clearly states on its website that its products have been made in the US since 1964.
At the time of writing this article, Cameron Micro has three machines available for purchase. They are as follows.
- Cameron Model 213 Table Top Drill Press
- Cameron Model 704 Benchtop Drill Press
- Cameron Model 904 Mill Mount Drill Press
Ellis
Ellis was founded in Verona, Wisconsin in 1950. It started by manufacturing transplanters (farm equipment for transplanting various plants) but the company quickly grew and expanded and it now manufactures a pretty wide range of power tools, this includes a line of drill presses.
As for its manufacturing locations, it was a little tricky finding things out. But it looks like the company manufactures its drill presses at its facility in Verona, Wisconsin. That said, I came across an article that claims Ellis’ castings are made in China. So, while its drill presses are made in the US, the castings that shape them are seemingly made in China.
The model of drill press that Ellis manufactures is called the Drill Press 9400. It is a very powerful machine with variable speed settings from 0 to 1200 RPM, its speed can be controlled with just one knob making it a fairly easy machine to use when compared to other drill presses on the market.
Honorable Mention
I came across a company that does manufacture drill presses in the USA, however, it primarily manufactures drill presses for industrial use. The list above is primarily for standard-issue craftsman pieces. Also, I wasn’t able to find out which specific models are made in the US.
Clausing Industrial
Clausing Industrial was founded in 1911, although it was called Atlas Press Company in the beginning. Today, it is a very large company that produces heavy-duty machinery for businesses all over the world.
With it being such a large company, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that it doesn’t conduct all of its manufacturing in the US. Clausing International also has a facility in Poland. It may also have manufacturing centers in England, Spain, and Taiwan, but this wasn’t 100% clear.
From what I was able to find out, it looks like Clausing Industrial manufactures a lot of its drill presses at a facility located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. However, I couldn’t confirm which models are made there.
Before committing to a purchase from Clausing Industrial, I’d strongly recommend reaching out to the company directly and asking which of its drill presses are American-made. Here’s a link to its contact page, and here’s a link to its drill press page.
