I was very nervous to purchase this drill press, but it got great reviews elsewhere and had the capacity and features I need to complete the woodwoorking projects on my plate.
PACKING/SHIPPING: Amazon did the best job they could in getting this to me undamaged. The manufacturer did not. The box the press was packed in had minimal cardboard and styrofoam - some of which was plainly broken. The table support. a heavy cast iron piece, had broken its styrofoam surrounds and was floating about. Thankfully it didn't damage itself or anything around it. The headstock has about a half inch of styrofoam in between it and the outside of the box - and this is where a delicate plastic housing is. Thankfully, it wasn't broken, and Amazon did their best in double boxing the junk box the thing was shipped in.
INSTRUCTIONS: Others have complained that the instructions were out of date or hard to understand. Mine were neither - the press went together in about 30 minutes, including the time it took to wipe off the manufacturing and shipping grease. (Pro tip: wipe that junk off with naptha. Came out clean as a whistle.) There are photos to guide you through assembly and it even includes some tools to put it together. Points off: There are no instructions for installing the motor lock screw! There's also instructions on assembling the table lift crank - but it's already assembled. (2nd pro tip: don't overtighten ANYTHING. There is weak metal here and there and you don't want to strip a screw hole.)
SUPPORT: I didn't need any, but kudos to a company that puts their email address and phone number on the front of the manual. Others have reported great customer service.
BUILD: Mostly good. The base and table are cast iron, ground flat, and are pretty decent. The table support and headstock housing are also cast iron. The paintjob is mostly okay. I didn't buy it for its looks. The chuck is heavy duty 33JT tapered mount and gets the job done - for my use, it's perfect - but know that you have options to replace it if need be. You can spend the entire cost of the drill press on a keyless Jacobs, but it's not really necessary unless you're drilling metal to tolerances of .00001". The table adjustment mechanism works great for me. The crank lift is still breaking in, I think - it's still quite rough to move up and down, despite the grease I applied. I'm not sure it'll ever be perfectly smooth, and it's not a precision table height mechanism.
OPERATIONS: Out of the box the press was very noisy. After determining that I had not installed the motor lock screw, I adjusted the motor mount bolts, and changed the motor speed by moving the belts. The press was instantly quieter with the belts properly adjusted for tension. I tried out the oscillator; it works as advertised and I see myself doing some drum sanding in the future. A few test holes in some scrap turned out great - this is a powerful drill with a heavy duty motor. I suppose a 1" Forstner bit in some oak might slow the drill down a little, but for general work, the drill didn't hesitate at all going through 3/4" of poplar. Quill operations leaves something to be desired; the handles are short and the quill just isn't as smooth as it could be. The quill return spring on mine was not an issue and returned it to the zero point every time. (Pro tip #3: after using the oscillator, manually rotate the pulley to return the quill to the zero point, so your depth stop works properly again.) Speaking of the depth stop....the sticker on mine is wrinkled a little, leading to an inaccurate depth. The stop mechanism is okay.
OVERALL, I'm pretty happy with the build, capacity, the assembly and operations of the drill and I'd buy it again in a heartbeat given the chance. The shipping is terrible, but if you manage to get one undamaged....it's a great value for what it does. This press is quality enough to last for years and be handed down to my son when he's ready to start messing with wood projects. For now, I'm going to drill some holes in a solidbody guitar build I'm working on and enjoy the money I saved buying the Shop Fox.
| Brand | Shop Fox |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 3050 RPM |
| Voltage | 110 Volts |
| Amperage | 17 Amps |
| Maximum Chuck Size | 6.35 Millimeters |
| Included Components | Special Wrench 25mm, Open End Wrench 13 x 14, Hex Wrenches 3, 4, 5mm |
| Special Feature | Table: Round 12-3/8" dia., Table tilt: 45 degrees left & right, Table swing: 360 degrees, Dust port size: 2-1/4", 12 Speeds: 250-3,050 RPM |
| Product Dimensions | 23"L x 14"W x 38"H |
| Speed | 3050 RPM |
| Item Weight | 63 Pounds |
| Manufacturer | Shop Fox |
| Part Number | W1668 |
| Item Weight | 63 pounds |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Item model number | W1668 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Style | Benchtop |
| Amperage Capacity | 1.7 Amps |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Grit Rating | 80 |
| Grit Description | Medium |
| Special Features | Table: Round 12-3/8" dia., Table tilt: 45 degrees left & right, Table swing: 360 degrees, Dust port size: 2-1/4", 12 Speeds: 250-3,050 RPM |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
