DMETE 32948489771 Review

Drilling a perfectly perpendicular hole by hand is harder than it looks. Even with a steady hand and a centre punch mark, a handheld drill can wander, especially into hard metal or dense hardwood. When you need multiple identical holes at precise angles — for dowel joinery, metal fabrication, or jig-making — a benchtop drill press transforms accuracy from a matter of luck into a matter of setup. Unlike a handheld drill, a drill press holds the workpiece flat on a table and drives the bit down along a rigid column, guaranteeing a straight hole every time. For those who also want to do light milling — cutting slots, flattening surfaces, or shaping metal with an end mill — a machine that combines drilling and milling capability in a compact footprint can replace two separate tools on a crowded workbench. The key is finding one with enough motor power and spindle rigidity to handle the lateral forces of milling, not just the axial force of drilling.

DMETE is a brand that produces workshop machinery aimed at hobbyists and light professional use, with a focus on combining multiple functions into compact, affordable benchtop units. Their BG-5168E model is a 680-watt mini drill press that also functions as a milling machine — a combination that appeals to model engineers, metalworkers, and DIY enthusiasts who need both drilling accuracy and the ability to do basic milling without investing in a full-size milling machine. When shopping for a benchtop drill-mill, the critical specifications are the motor power, the range of spindle speeds, the spindle stroke (how far the bit can travel vertically), the chuck capacity, and the overall rigidity of the column and table — because any flex under load translates directly into inaccurate holes and poor surface finishes.

In this review we examine the DMETE BG-5168E — a 680-watt benchtop drill press and milling machine with three-speed belt drive, a 13-millimetre chuck, and a 60-millimetre spindle stroke. We assess the build quality and rigidity, how it performs on both drilling and light milling tasks, the practical limitations of a compact machine at this power level, and whether the approximately £207 price represents good value for a dual-purpose workshop tool.

The BG-5168E is driven by a 680-watt induction motor that transfers power to the spindle through a three-speed belt-drive system, offering 1,100, 2,500, and 4,500 revolutions per minute. The three speeds cover the essential range: the lowest speed for drilling larger holes in steel and for milling operations where too much speed would burn the cutter; the middle speed for general-purpose drilling in aluminium, brass, and hardwoods; and the highest speed for small-diameter bits in wood and plastic where a clean exit hole matters. The spindle has a 60-millimetre vertical stroke, which gives enough travel for drilling through thick workpieces and for the Z-axis movement needed in milling. The chuck accepts bits up to 13 millimetres in diameter — the standard capacity for a drill press in this class.

The machine is built on a cast-iron or heavy steel base and column, which provides the mass needed to absorb vibration and maintain rigidity under load. When you are milling — where the cutter experiences lateral forces, not just downward pressure — rigidity is the difference between a clean cut and chatter marks across the surface. The work table is adjustable for height and can be tilted for angled drilling, though the tilt mechanism is manual and requires loosening and retightening bolts. The depth stop allows you to set a maximum drilling depth for repeat holes — essential when drilling a series of dowel holes or counterbores to a consistent depth. Speed changes are done by moving the drive belt between pulley steps, which takes a minute but is simple and reliable compared to electronic speed control.

In operation, the BG-5168E handles drilling tasks with confidence. The 680-watt motor provides enough torque to run a 13-millimetre twist drill through mild steel at the lowest speed without stalling, and the quill feed lever gives good mechanical advantage for controlled, steady downward pressure. For milling, the machine is capable of light cuts in aluminium and brass, and shallow cuts in mild steel — this is not a replacement for a dedicated milling machine, but it will handle slotting, edge milling, and light surface flattening within its limits. Users should take light passes rather than trying to remove large amounts of material in one go. The three-speed belt drive is a limitation for milling, where having intermediate speeds would help match the cutter to the material more precisely.

The machine arrives as a single unit that requires minimal assembly — typically attaching the feed handles and bolting the base to a sturdy workbench. At approximately 12.5 kilograms, it is heavy enough to stay put during operation but light enough for one person to lift onto a bench. The packaging dimensions are 33 × 38 × 58 centimetres, and the unit itself occupies a footprint roughly 30 × 25 × 40 centimetres on the workbench — compact enough for a home workshop where space is at a premium. No tooling is included beyond the basic chuck, so you will need to budget for a set of drill bits and, if you plan to mill, a set of end mills and a milling vice to hold workpieces securely.

This is a newer listing that has not yet received customer reviews on Amazon, so there is no independent feedback on long-term durability or real-world precision. The machine is manufactured in China under the DMETE brand. At around £207, it competes with entry-level benchtop drill presses from more established workshop brands — what sets it apart is the milling capability, which typically costs significantly more in a standalone machine. For a hobbyist who needs both drilling accuracy and occasional milling in a single compact unit, the value proposition is strong. Professional users who need production-level precision and duty cycles should look at heavier, more expensive dedicated machines.

The DMETE BG-5168E suits hobbyist metalworkers, model engineers, and DIY enthusiasts who need drilling accuracy and occasional light milling capability in a compact benchtop format at an affordable price.