DEWALT DWE1622K Magnetic Drill Buying Guide for Steel Work

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Featured image: contextual fabrication-shop planning; the DEWALT DWE1622K is not pictured.

The DEWALT DWE1622K is worth considering when the work is difficult to bring to a stationary drill press and the steel provides a suitable surface for a magnetic base. Before comparing prices, check the mounting conditions. They can rule the tool in or out faster than the motor specification.

This guide covers the corded U.S. DWE1622K magnetic drill kit, the main fit checks, and the costs to include when deciding whether it belongs in your shop. It is a specification-based buying guide, rather than a hands-on performance test.

Start with the steel under the magnet

DEWALT's instruction manual requires a clean, flat steel mounting surface at least 3/8 inch, or 10 mm, thick, with no visible air gap under the base. Paint, curvature, and surface irregularities can reduce magnetic holding strength. The manual also requires the safety chain, or another suitable securing method when the chain cannot be used. DEWALT DWE1622 instruction manual

Check the actual mounting location, not just the thickness of the part elsewhere. A thick plate with an obstructed or unsuitable area around the hole may still leave no workable place for the base.

For a fabrication shop, that makes a job review useful before a purchase. List several recent drilling jobs and note the mounting surface, hole location, access, and available support. If those conditions repeatedly fit the tool, the buying case becomes clearer. If most work is thin, curved, or too small for the base, resolve the workholding question first.

Do not assume the magnet will hold every metal you need to drill. Ask the manufacturer about an uncertain material or setup before treating it as a suitable application.

What the U.S. kit offers

DEWALT lists the DWE1622K as a corded, 120-volt, 2-inch magnetic drill press with a 10-amp motor and two speed settings. The product page specifies 4-3/8 inches of drill travel, overload protection, and a quick-change system for switching between a 3/4-inch Weldon shank and a 1/2-inch keyed chuck. DEWALT DWE1622K product details

The feed handles can be moved to either side without tools, and the magnetic coolant bottle can be positioned to suit the setup. DEWALT also lists a safety chain, adjustment tools, a keyed chuck, coolant tank, and carrying case among the included equipment. Confirm the seller's actual package, particularly when comparing bundles. DEWALT kit information

The headline “2-inch” description should not replace an accessory check. Hole diameter, cutter type, cutter depth, shank, available travel, and the material all need to work together. Establish those details for the intended job before buying a selection of cutters.

Choose the cutter for the hole

DEWALT explains that an annular cutter removes material around the hole's perimeter and leaves a core, rather than turning the entire hole into chips. That operating difference is one reason to consider a magnetic drill for repeated steel-hole work. DEWALT instruction manual

Build a small requirements list before choosing accessories:

• Finished hole diameter and tolerance
• Material and thickness
• Whether the hole passes through a single layer or a different assembly
• Cutter mounting arrangement
• Cutter depth and clearance through the work
• Appropriate cutting fluid and operating speed
• Safe space for chips and the ejected core

Have the cutter supplier confirm uncertain combinations. A cutter that physically enters the holder is only one part of compatibility. Do not assume that a low-cost assortment covers the materials and depths on your job list.

For a first purchase, choosing accessories for a known job can be more useful than collecting sizes that may sit unused. Add other diameters when the work calls for them.

Check access beyond the base footprint

Imagine the complete operation at the actual location. There must be room to position the machine, operate the feed, manage the cable, and handle the work safely. Nearby stiffeners, flanges, and previously installed hardware may obstruct one of those steps.

Consider how the tool gets to the work as well. A comfortable bench setup and a restricted installation area can place very different demands on handling and access. The ability to move the feed handles helps, but it does not prove the machine will fit every confined location.

If you need to compare dimensions, use a drawing or the actual machine and accessories rather than estimating from a product photograph. Include cutter length in that review.

Follow the manual for welding and coolant restrictions

DEWALT warns against operating this machine on a workpiece while electric welders are being used on that same workpiece. It also prohibits liquid cutting fluid for vertical or overhead drilling, specifying appropriate paste or spray instead. Read the complete instructions before planning those operations. DEWALT safety instructions

In a shared shop, make that operating separation part of the job plan. Coordinate the work so another person does not begin welding on the assembly while drilling is underway.

The manual remains the operating reference. This buying guide does not replace its setup, electrical, guarding, personal-protection, maintenance, or shutdown instructions.

Price the working setup

Compare complete setups rather than the drill price alone. Include the cutters needed for the first jobs, any required pilots or adapters, cutting consumables, suitable supports, and the electrical supply arrangement the manual requires.

Then consider how frequently the tool would be used. For occasional work, compare buying with a verified rental option or having the holes made by a qualified shop. For recurring work, consider who will operate and maintain the drill and where it will be stored.

Avoid a payback claim built only on the number of holes. Setup time, cutter wear, material, access, and inspection can change the economics. Use your own jobs and current supplier quotes to estimate the difference.

This is also why a bundle deserves a close look. An included cutter is useful only if its diameter, depth, and material suitability match a job you need to do.

Confirm the exact listing

The verified Amazon product is DEWALT DWE1622K, ASIN B00N3HSVXK. Before ordering, confirm the selected package, voltage, condition, seller, included equipment, current price, and return terms. Regional variants and accessory bundles should be checked separately.

Last update on 2026-10-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The strongest reason to buy it is a recurring need to drill suitable steel where bringing the drilling setup to the work makes sense. Make the mounting surface, restraint, access, and cutter checks first. Those details determine whether the drill fits the job.