A Closer Look at the Shop Fox Drill Press W1668
Most drill presses do one thing: they spin a bit and push it down. The Shop Fox W1668 does two, and that is what makes it worth a closer look. It is a benchtop drill press that doubles as an oscillating spindle sander, so the spindle rises and falls while it spins when you fit a sanding drum. For a shop that is short on space, getting a capable drill press and a spindle sander in one machine is a genuinely smart combination. Here is a detailed look at what the W1668 is, what it does well, and what to check.
What the Shop Fox W1668 is
The Shop Fox W1668 is a benchtop machine with a 13-1/4-inch swing that works as both a drill press and an oscillating spindle sander. In drill press mode it behaves like any quality benchtop press: a belt-driven spindle with a keyed chuck, a quill with travel for drilling, and a cast table for support. Flip it to sanding mode and the spindle oscillates up and down as it turns, which is what a dedicated spindle sander does to spread wear across the sanding sleeve and leave a smoother finish. It includes a dust port to pull sanding dust away, a solid base and column, and a table designed to support both jobs.
Why the two-in-one design matters
Let me be direct about the appeal. An oscillating spindle sander is one of the best tools for smoothing curved edges, and a benchtop drill press is a shop staple. Buying both as separate machines takes two footprints and two setups. The W1668 folds them into one benchtop unit, so a smaller shop gets both capabilities without surrendering a second bench. The oscillation is the key feature: because the drum moves up and down while spinning, it sands more evenly and does not burn or groove the workpiece the way a fixed drum can. That makes the sanding side genuinely useful, not just a token add-on.
What to check on a W1668
Whether buying new or used, run through these:
- Both modes work. Confirm it drills smoothly and that the oscillating sanding motion engages and runs correctly.
- Spindle and quill. Turn the spindle for smoothness, check quill play, and check chuck runout in drill mode.
- Dust port. Confirm the dust port is intact and connects to your extraction, since sanding makes a lot of dust.
- Table and column. Make sure the table mounts securely and the column and table support are solid for both jobs.
- Electrical and safety. Confirm the electrical requirements match your supply and follow the safety and assembly instructions in the manual.
Setup, maintenance, and honest limits
On setup, follow the assembly instructions to mount the table, fit the column, and connect the dust port, and read the machine specifications so you match sanding drums and drill tooling correctly. For maintenance, keep the spindle clean, the belt at proper tension, and the sanding sleeves fresh. The honest limit is that a combination machine is a benchtop tool sized for light-to-medium work, so it is not a replacement for a heavy floor drill press or a large freestanding spindle sander in a production shop. For a home or small shop, though, that tradeoff is usually well worth the space it saves.
Tooling and accessories
Get the most from a W1668 with the right supplies. Keep a range of oscillating spindle sander sanding sleeves and drums on hand for the sanding side, fit a quality keyed drill chuck with the matching arbor if the original wears, and connect a dust collection hose to the port. A drill press vise helps the drilling side. You can find the machine itself listed as the Shop Fox W1668. Confirm the taper before ordering an arbor.
The verdict
The Shop Fox W1668 is a smart choice for a home or small shop that wants both a benchtop drill press and an oscillating spindle sander without giving up two footprints. Its 13-1/4-inch swing handles general drilling, and the oscillating sanding mode genuinely smooths curved edges rather than serving as a gimmick. Check that both modes run cleanly, the spindle and quill are sound, and the dust port is intact, then set it up per the manual and match your drums and drill tooling to its specs. Accept that a combination benchtop machine is sized for light-to-medium work, not production, and the W1668 earns its place by doing two useful jobs in the space of one.
Takeaways:
- The Shop Fox W1668 is a benchtop machine that works as both a drill press and an oscillating spindle sander.
- It has a 13-1/4-inch swing, a dust port, and an oscillating spindle that smooths curved edges evenly.
- The two-in-one design saves a shop from buying and housing two separate machines.
- Check both modes, the spindle and quill, and the dust port; it is a light-to-medium benchtop tool, not a production machine.
FAQ
What is the Shop Fox W1668? A benchtop machine with a 13-1/4-inch swing that works as both a drill press and an oscillating spindle sander, combining two shop tools in one footprint.
What does the oscillating feature do? In sanding mode the spindle moves up and down while spinning, spreading wear across the sanding sleeve and leaving a smoother finish without burning or grooving the workpiece.
Is the W1668 a good drill press? For general benchtop drilling, yes. It behaves like a quality benchtop press in drill mode, with the bonus of a genuinely useful spindle sander.
Does the W1668 have dust collection? Yes, it includes a dust port. Connect it to your extraction, since the sanding side produces a lot of dust.
What are its limits? It is a light-to-medium benchtop tool. It does not replace a heavy floor drill press or a large freestanding spindle sander in a production shop.
What tooling do I need? Sanding sleeves and drums for the sanding side, a keyed chuck for drilling, a dust hose for the port, and a drill press vise for work-holding.
What chuck and taper does it use? A keyed chuck on a standard taper. Confirm the taper by removing the chuck before ordering a replacement arbor.
References
- Shop Fox (Woodstock International), W1668 oscillating drill press product page: https://shopfox.biz/products/w1668
- Rockler, Shop Fox W1668 drill press and spindle sander specifications: https://www.rockler.com/
- Shop Fox W1668 owner’s manual (assembly, specifications, maintenance): https://shopfox.biz/manuals
