Looking for the best drills for jewelry?
Perfect!
In this LearningJewelry.com guide, you’ll learn:
- What Are Drills For Jewelry?
- Are Drills For Jewelry Worth The Price?
- Where Do You Buy Drills For Jewelry?
- And much more!
Below is a quick list of all my top picks. Keep scrolling to learn more about my best buying tips and tricks.
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. TACKLIFE Cordless Rotary Tool |  EDITOR'S CHOICE |
Easy To Use
|
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| 2. Yakamoz 0.3mm-4mm Micro Aluminum Handheld Drill |  BEST HIGH-END |
Mini Hand Drill
|
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| 3. Pin Vise Hand Drill Bits For Jewelry |  BUDGET PICK |
Tool For Soft Materials
|
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| 4. KeShi Cordless Rotary Tool Accessory Kit |  BEST PORTABLE KIT |
Lightweight
|
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| 5. SPTA Mini Handle Electric Drill |  BEST SELECTIONS |
Multiple Rotary Pieces
|
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| 6. WEN 4208 8 in. 5-Speed Drill Press |  BEST QUALITY |
1/3 HP Induction Motor
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| 7. Enertwist 4V Max Cordless Rotary Tool Kit |  BEST LIGHTWEIGHT |
Ultra-Compact
|
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Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On December 20, 2024
- 31-accessory kit
- 3-speed adjustments
- Lightweight
Out of all of the best drills for jewelry, TACKLIFE Cordless Rotary Tool Portable was my favorite.
Why?
The jewelry drill is pocket-friendly and comes with everything a jeweler would wish for. With convenient speeds of up to 15,000 rpm, you can dabble through various modes in a simple switch. It comes complete with a charge and a 3.7 V rechargeable lithium battery.
The drill is lightweight and allows you to do some light jobs like engraving and other crafts with small details. Though the battery is meant to last for 100 minutes, the ergonomic design is comfortable and you can use the drill for long.
It is great for other applications like engraving, woodworking, sanding, and cleaning.
Top 7 Best Drills For Jewelry
Short on time? Take a look at my favorite drills for jewelry.
Best Drill For Jewelry Reviewed
At the top of my list is this Tacklife Brand Cordless Rotary Tool which comes with 30 different attachments.
That's because...
The handheld jewelry drill is comfortable to use and very lightweight.
It comes with a 3.7 V rechargeable lithium battery and a micro USB mini connector for charging and powering up the drill.
For consistency and better accuracy, the drill has a variable 3-speed setting for versatile projects- 5000rpm, 10000rpm, 15000rpm. Remember, the more speed settings, the better you’re able to maneuver between polishing, cleaning, nail grooming, and engraving your pieces.
The vast number of accessories help you get the best out of your jewelry piece with things like sanding bands, diamond bits, drill bits, grinding wheels, and more.
Pros
- Comfortable and easy to use
- 3-speed variable setting
Cons
- Not enough power for heavy crafts
- Hard to repair areas like the charging port
If you need a drill for lighter applications, then this is exactly what you’re looking for.
The Yakamoz micro hand drill is indeed small but still able to do your jewelry work with ease.
The shank and chucks hold so tightly, you won’t have any problems with the drill bit.
Even at high speeds or intense drilling, the drill bit doesn’t wobble at all.
The electric drill comes in a 5A power supply that’s enough to boost it to perform at optimum levels. A minimum speed of 4,200 rpm is decent for such a drill and not to mention it can go up to 12000 rpm if you increase the power supply.
It’s quite an impressive tool that’s great for drilling plastic, wood, aluminum, beach glass or sea glass, metal, and many other jewelry materials.
Pros
- Tight drill bit chuck
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
- Not good for large projects
Pin Vise hand drill is a convenient option for DIY users and great for jewelry, wood, plastic, and any other soft material.
Soft? Definitely.
This handheld rotary drill is not powered and only uses your hand’s mechanism. It makes it hard to drill hard materials like stone or metals.
However, the hand drill works perfectly fine for small applications due to the (0.6-3.0mm) accuracy level.
With the 20 or so accessories that come in this pack, Thanks to the flex shaft, Pine Vise’s jewelry drill can do plenty of crafts such as twisting metal lines, toll making, and electronic assembling.
The drill bits are stainless steel and have a 3 jaw chuck design which is easy to use on materials. Since this material is manual, it is important to be careful of the accuracy of your craft. To avoid uneven holes or engravings, I’d advise you to use a bradawl or pencil to mark the place where you want to drill.
Pros
- Compact design
- Lightweight
- Multipurpose tool
Cons
- Single-speed tool
This accessory kit is a great investment for jewelry enthusiasts and anyone who likes to make DIY crafts.
The cordless rotary tool has 3-speed settings that can operate from 5000 rpm to 15000rpm; a nice range to do all your DIY crafts seamlessly.
I noticed most jewelry drills had their power buttons incorrectly placed and customers would complain about accidentally switching the drill off.
KeShi listened to this customer feedback as their rotary tool has a groove power design that allows for non-stop engraving.
The 3,7V Li-ion battery included is strong enough to last for 90 minutes and requires only 2 hours of charging. It also has in-built over-charge protection. This ensures your battery is well-protected even if you forget it on the wall socket or power source.
The full accessory kit contains a massive 42 attachments which make it easy for multipurpose functions. The accessory pack includes grinding stones, polishing drums, mandrel, drill head, collets, among others.
Pros
- 3-speed rotation
- Ergonomic design
- 42 different attachments
Cons
- Battery doesn't hold charge for long
When I first came across the SPTA rotary drill, I was baffled to find such a slim tool.
I instantly knew the designer had some ergonomic factors in mind and I had to check out other features.
The whole pack comes with extra 33 pieces for virtually any jewelry-making craft you can think of.
It's slim and lightweight (about 0.035 lbs.). The pen-like appearance definitely has some kind of edge when it comes to minute finessing.
It has a wide application and suitable for a variety of jewelry crafts like cutting, grinding, drilling, or engraving of pieces. The 6-speed adjustment is the highest so far, and you can bet on a smoother transition between different depths, patterns, and surfaces.
The spindle lock does the speed shifting in an easy manner. It is also worth mentioning that the rotary tool is effective for long hours of craft as it has a heat-dissipating system that creates a cooling effect on the machine itself.
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- 6-speed adjustment
- Great value for money
- Multipurpose
Cons
- No on/off switch
While most items in our list are handheld and electric drills, there are also larger pieces that are specially designed for professional purposes.
Drill presses are common in jewelry making, especially in precious stones.
And this model is a perfect example of what it does.
Having a ⅓- horsepower induction motor, the benchtop drill press has five operating speeds from 740rpm all the way up to 3140 rpm. It is incredibly faster and opens up a new variety of jewelry applications.
This 8-inch model has an adjustable work table that swings up to 45 degrees on both sides which allows working on odd-shaped jewelry pieces. Due to the tool’s construction, the small drill press ensures zero wobbling in its operations.
The chuck is keyed and flexible shaft easy to access, plus it comes complete with a laser, press, drill, and all the necessary power tools needed to start your craft.
Pros
- Hardwearing
- Modifiable work table
- High speeds and multiple adjustments
Cons
- Still not great to deal with hard pieces
The Enertwist is an ultra-compact drill that’s easy to operate and use in small jewelry crafts.
You can grip it like a pencil and its auto on/off button is easily accessible.
The drill has three-speed settings from 5,000 rpm to 15,000 rpm.
The Li-ion battery can last for up to 100 minutes after charging for two hours.
The extra 35 accessories help in a broad range of applications and that’s why the drill has both 3/32” and 1/8” collet sizes. Applications like engravings require firm hands and a stable drill which is exactly what Enertwist offers. The drill bits grip tightly and have a spindle lock for easy change.
Pros
- Comfortable build
- 35 extra accessories
- Quick USB charging
Cons
- Not great for large applications
What Is A Drill Made For Jewelry?
Just as the name suggests, drills for jewelry have been made specifically to facilitate the art of jewelry making.
They are an essential tool, together with pliers and other, for any jeweler or DIYer. A drill for jewelry does more than just drilling holes and with the right technique they can be used to sand down rough edges, sawing a pattern, and add jump rings to pendants.
Are Drills For Jewelry Expensive Or Cheap?
Standard drills are pretty expensive as they have more professional use than drills for jewelry making. In fact, cordless drills are the most expensive (most advanced too!). But when we look at drills for jewelry, the story changes. These items are affordable and depending on the kind of craft you want to achieve, the prices can further go down.
Most drills for jewelry come with accessories and so you won’t have to add extra bucks like in normal drills. However, you ought to know a little bit of jewelry making to avoid getting ripped off. That way, you know exactly what you’re going to do with the jewelry drill.
Read Also >> What are our recommended safes for jewelry?
What Should You Look For In The Best Drill For Jewelry?
Drills for jewelry come in all sizes and designs. The most important thing to know about them is their role in your jewelry crafts. Besides, there are a couple of other factors that might be crucial to saving money and getting the best value for your purchase.
Drill Speed
Drills for jewelry come in various speed calibrations with some having single, preset speeds and others with adjustable speeds. The drill speed is measured in RPM (Rotation Per Minute). Drills with higher speed are the best but need a firm grip and possibly someone experienced with small jewelry.
The only downside with fast RPMs is their price tag- you need to be ready to spend.
The best way to go about is to purchase drills with variable speed settings as they are easier to control and great for small, delicate jewelry-making tasks.
You’ll also need to change the speeds if you’re dealing with softer gemstones and wood. If your activity mostly involves small hole drilling than polishing, then drill bits with higher speeds are better suited. Generally, a speed of 1,000 rpm or higher is an ideal starting point.
Accuracy
Unlike standard drills, the ones made for jewelry are preferred for their better accuracy. A decent handheld drill for jewelry should be able to drill up to 1/64” accuracy.
Keep in mind larger drills mostly come with a drilling bit size of up to 1/4”, a size that wouldn’t accommodate small jewelry crafts requiring tiny drill bits. So, even if your online vendor insists the drill is fit for jewelry crafts, always ensure that the drill bit is of the right size.
Power
Drills have a broad power rating of between 2 and 24 volts. High voltage means more power than the inferior voltage-drills. However, the powerful drills often carry more weight because of added features to accommodate its power capacity. They have things like large-sized batteries and heavy-duty motors.
If you go for battery-powered drills, check whether they are lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and the most popular fittings on power drills as they deliver twice as much energy as nickel-cadmium batteries.
You might also see some brands offering Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) and it is one of the latest technologies in backup power. NiMH batteries are slightly better than nickel-cadmium batteries because they have no cadmium, which makes them less hazardous during disposal.
Though not as important...
The charging is another consideration in terms of powering your drill.
Cordless drills come with a charge and they usually charge between 15 minutes to three hours. Fast charging may be good, but it can damage your battery by producing excessive heat unless the battery is specially designed to withstand the amount of power.
Lastly, there are also manual jewelry drills that use no power. These drills are great for small applications like creating drill holes on a necklace, beading in bangles, adding small engravings, and polishing soft jewelry.
Read Also >> Cleaning jewelry with steam - what are your options?
Accessories
Probably the most confusing part when getting a drill for jewelry is the broad number of accessories often displayed. While you may be tempted to go for the ones packed with extra gizmos and gadgets, remember to check other more important features!
Just make sure the drill you pick comes with basic components like diamond drill bits, and a charger if it's powered.
Comfort
When it comes to comfort, the first thing to look at is the way a particular drill grips on your hand. My recommendation would be to opt for an ergonomic grip so you can craft for long hours without tiring out your hand.
An adjustable shaft will also come in handy as it gives you multiple options to do different activities on the jewelry surface. Mini drill presses are also comfortable as you can attach them on the tabletop and work without too much movement.
How Do You Clean Drills For Jewelry?
The secret to keeping your drills functioning longer than a couple weeks is to keep it clean.
The best approach would be to wipe it down after every round of use. Some drills may require lubricating to prevent corrosion, overheating, and chafing.
If you notice a bit of friction in between your drilling sessions, take a quick look at the chuck for small fragments that may have stuck inside. The best way to solve this is by using a lubricant.
And as an added tip, always make sure you are using the right drill bit for your project. This is a sure way of maintaining its internal parts. Whenever you use drill bits of the wrong size you not only put your jewelry craft at risk but the drill as well.
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Our Top Pick: Best Drills For Jewelry
Coming towards the end of my review, I’ll still vouch for TACKLIFE Cordless Rotary Tool as the best overall drill for jewelry. It has a perfect blend of performance and ergonomics at a reasonable price tag. The drill has more than 30 accessories and you can do all your jewelry crafts from drilling, polishing, grinding, screwdriving, etc.
It is a three-speed hand-held drill with a rechargeable battery included. It’s lightweight and makes it easy to do light duties or deal with light materials. The cordless drill comes almost complete and the rest of the attachments are easy to install.
