Square holes in steel · review
A published speed range starting at 600 rpm — low enough for large bits in steel, which many small presses are not.
Where we come out Buy it for the bottom of its speed range, not for its wattage.
Six hundred rpm at the bottom. That is the figure that decides whether large bits survive in steel, and it is the one most listings in this price band leave out, publishing « 5 speeds » instead. Einhell gives the range end to end.
Four hundred and fifty watts and 50 mm (1.97 in) of travel put a firm limit on section thickness. Feed pressure is what a light press lacks — and pushing harder to compensate is how a bit grabs and a workpiece spins.
Every figure above comes from the manufacturer’s published specification for this reference. Fields the listing does not publish are left out rather than estimated. Market availability was verified per market on the EAN.
| Power | 450 W |
|---|---|
| Speed range | 600–2,650 rpm, 5 steps |
| Drilling depth | 50 mm (1.97 in) |
| Part number | 4520592 |
| Amazon reference | B0987VJLBD |
| EAN | 4006825649871 |
Because drilling steel is a slow business and the danger is heat. A 13 mm (0.51 in) bit in mild steel wants somewhere near 500 to 700 rpm; run it at 1,500 and the cutting edge overheats, loses its temper and stops cutting within a few holes. Small bits in aluminum want the top of the range. A press whose slowest setting is 1,000 rpm will destroy large bits, whatever its wattage.
For anything above about 6 mm (0.24 in) in steel, yes. Fluid carries heat away from the cutting edge and clears the chip. It is the cheapest consumable in the workshop and it extends bit life several times over — a small brush and a tin is enough, and it is why professionals never drill steel dry.
6.9/ 10
Buy it for the bottom of its speed range, not for its wattage.
A reference exists on these Amazon stores: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, United States. Listed is not the same as in stock — availability changes daily.
Details checked on August 13, 2026.
Drilling steel with bits over 8 mm (0.31 in), where speed matters more than power
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for welding and metalworking machines and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
710 W · 13 mm (0.51 in) in steel · 90 mm (3.54 in) quill travel · €250
Ninety millimeters of quill travel — nearly twice the entry machines, and the figure that decides deep holes.
Best for: Deep holes in solid stock, and anyone tired of repositioning halfway down
1/4 HP induction · 5 speeds 620–3,100 rpm · 10 in swing · laser alignment
A ten-inch bench press with a 620 rpm bottom gear and a laser alignment system — the slowest speed of the two stepped machines on this shelf.
Best for: A bench where the hole has to land where the line says, in steel up to about 10 mm (0.39 in)
≈ $200
1,400 W · 800 rpm fixed · 40 mm (1.57 in) boring · 2,810 lbf magnet · 11 cutters
A magnetic drill with a 40 mm (1.57 in) cutter capacity and one fixed speed of 800 rpm — which is the opposite of what this hub’s buying tip asks for.
Best for: Holes in structural steel plate of 10 mm (0.39 in) or more, where the machine has to go to the work
≈ $175
Prices quoted in these summaries are dated readings. The live price is shown next to each product.
