Milescraft 1348 DrillMatePRO Review

Verdict: a useful candidate for work a drill press cannot reach

The Milescraft 1348 DrillMatePRO is worth considering when you want a guided drilling setup on a large panel, assembled project, or workpiece that is awkward to move to a bench machine. Its attraction is the ability to bring the guide to the job. Our recommendation depends on having enough room to support and secure the base, plus a suitable power drill.

This is a research-based review of ASIN B0DZMSLSH1, using manufacturer specifications, instructions, and product imagery. We have not tested runout, hole squareness, angle accuracy, repeatability, or durability. The word “PRO” and the manufacturer’s precision claims do not establish a measured tolerance.

Before buying, picture your actual drilling position: where will the base sit, where can a clamp go, and can you reach the drill comfortably? If those questions have poor answers, a more elaborate guide will not solve the setup problem.

Sources: Amazon: Milescraft 1348, ASIN B0DZMSLSH1, Milescraft: 2025 catalog, pages 8–9.

Facts: identify the 1348 and check usable space

The standard 1348 package includes the guide, support handle, angle-adjustment knob, two centering pins, alignment disk, and chuck key. The current manual also lists non-slip pads and describes the unit as mostly assembled, with handle and knob setup required. A power drill, cutting bits, and the 1349 fence are separate purchases.

The measurements below are manufacturer specifications. Treat travel as movement of the guide head, not a promised hole depth. The base footprint also excludes space needed for your grip, drill, and clamps. Use the dimensions guide to plan a real setup before ordering.

Sources: Milescraft: 1348 DrillMatePRO specifications, Milescraft: 1348 manual, revision 10/25, Milescraft: 1348 dimensions and travel guide.

Features: understand what each adjustment actually controls

The metal guide structure uses steel rods and a machined-aluminum base and head. Two springs support the sliding head, and the depth stop runs on its own rod. That layout separates plunge limiting from the spring path. It is a useful design distinction, although we cannot quantify how smoothly a particular unit moves.

The 1/2-inch keyed chuck holds the cutting tool. Centering pins, an alignment disk, and the base’s V-groove provide different ways to locate the guide or stock. These positioning aids address layout; they do not eliminate the need to secure the work or check the first hole.

For repeated edge offsets, Milescraft offers the separate 1349 DrillFence. Its published range is 1-7/16 to 12-5/8 inches from the board edge, with optional extension rods for more reach. This is an edge-reference accessory, not a hole-spacing indexer. If you need evenly spaced holes along a board, plan a separate marking or indexing method.

Sources: Milescraft: 2025 catalog, pages 8–9, Amazon: Milescraft 1348, ASIN B0DZMSLSH1, Milescraft: 1349 DrillFence.

Research: the 1348 PRO versus the 1318 DrillMate

The older 1318 has a 3/8-inch keyed bit chuck, while the 1348 PRO has a 1/2-inch keyed chuck. Do not confuse that with the drill powering it: Milescraft lists the 1318 as compatible with 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch power drills. A larger power-drill chuck does not increase the supplied guide chuck’s bit-shank capacity.

The 1318’s listed base is 5.5 × 4.25 inches, versus the PRO’s roughly 7-inch-square footprint. Its angle readout uses 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° markings; the PRO uses a 0°–60° tilt scale, with 0° upright. Those conventions differ, so comparing the largest printed angle alone is misleading. Choose based on required shank capacity, working angle, footprint, and workholding.

Two details deserve caution. The PRO product page says no assembly is required, but the current manual specifies minor setup. The page lists a 3/8-inch drive spindle; the current manual and 2025 catalog say 5/16 inch. We cannot resolve the spindle discrepancy remotely. Confirm your drill’s fit with Milescraft if compatibility is uncertain.

Sources: Milescraft: 1318 DrillMate specifications, Milescraft: 1348 DrillMatePRO specifications, Milescraft: 1348 manual, revision 10/25, Milescraft: 2025 catalog, pages 8–9, Milescraft: 1348 dimensions and travel guide.

Safety: secure the setup and preserve chuck clearance

Milescraft excludes impact drivers and hammer drills. Use a conventional chuck-equipped power drill that securely grips the drive spindle. Follow both tools’ instructions; do not improvise an impact-driver adapter.

The current manual requires at least 1/4 inch (6 mm) between the power drill’s jaws and the guide head. It also calls for tightening the bit chuck equally at all three key positions. Disconnect power before adjustments, remove the key before running, wear eye protection, and keep hair, clothing, and hands away from rotating parts.

Clamp the guide for angled drilling. Always clamp round stock when using the V-groove. For depth setup, the manual references the bit to the work surface and uses a ruler to position the stop. Verify the result on scrap before committing valuable material. Clearance must remain adequate throughout the intended movement.

Sources: Milescraft: 1348 manual, revision 10/25, Milescraft: 2025 catalog, pages 8–9.

Buying: spend for a setup you can actually use

Choose the PRO if its chuck capacity and adjustable layout solve a recurring task you have already identified. If you only need occasional small straight holes, compare simpler guides and the 1318 before committing. A feature is valuable when it changes your workflow, not simply because it appears on the specification list.

Check that the selected listing is model 1348, ASIN B0DZMSLSH1, and inspect the bundle contents. Budget for the appropriate bit and workholding; add the 1349 only if you need its edge-reference function. Compare the final total, seller, delivery terms, and return conditions at checkout.

The Amazon link below is an affiliate link. We do not publish a fixed price, stock promise, customer-star score, or demand claim for this product.

Sources: Amazon: Milescraft 1348, ASIN B0DZMSLSH1, Milescraft: 1349 DrillFence.

Questions: practical checks before ordering

Sources: Milescraft: 1348 DrillMatePRO specifications, Milescraft: 1348 manual, revision 10/25, Milescraft: 1348 dimensions and travel guide, Milescraft: 2025 catalog, pages 8–9, Milescraft: 1349 DrillFence.