Craftsman 9-Inch Drill Press: Specs, Capacity, Parts, and Owner Notes

The Craftsman 9-inch drill press is one of those Sears machines that shows up constantly on used listings and in inherited garages, sitting in that odd spot between the common 8-inch benchtop presses and the larger 10- and 12-inch machines. Owners ask the same questions every time: what can it actually do, is it worth keeping, and can I still get parts? The short version is that it is a capable light-duty press with good parts support by model number, as long as you match it to the right work. Here are the details.

What the Craftsman 9-inch is

The 9-inch designation refers to the swing, so the spindle sits about 4-1/2 inches from the column and reaches the center of a 9-inch-wide workpiece. These are benchtop machines with a fractional-horsepower motor, a stepped-pulley belt drive giving several speeds, a keyed chuck, and a small cast table that tilts for angled drilling. Like all Craftsman stationary tools, they were sold under Sears model numbers (the 113 and later prefixes), and that number is the key to everything: parts, manuals, and diagrams all flow from it. The 9-inch sits between the light 8-inch presses and the more capable 10- and 12-inch machines in both swing and muscle.

Capacity and honest limits

Let me be straight about what this machine is. The 9-inch swing and fractional-horsepower motor make it a light-duty tool, well suited to pilot holes, dowel joinery, small brackets, light metal, and drum sanding. It has a little more reach than an 8-inch press, which is genuinely useful, but it shares the same core limit: it is not built to hog large holes in thick steel, and pushing a small motor that hard only bogs it. Matched to light work, it is dependable and accurate. Expecting a floor press’s capacity from it is the only way to be disappointed.

Parts and the all-important model number

Here is the good news that sets Craftsman apart from off-brand imports. Because these were Sears machines, parts diagrams and manuals are available by model number through Sears PartsDirect, and the failure points are all standard consumables. The common wear items, a V-belt, the chuck and chuck key, a torsion spring and spring cap for the quill return, ball bearings, and the locking switch, are either generic or well-documented. Find the model number on the machine (it starts with a prefix like 113), pull the matching diagram, and you can order or match nearly everything you need. That parts support is a big part of why these old Craftsman presses stay useful.

Tooling, upgrades, and replacement parts

A few additions make a Craftsman 9-inch better. Fit a quality keyed drill chuck with the matching arbor if the original loosens, keep a fresh drill press V-belt on the shelf, and replace the missing key with a spare drill press chuck key. Add a drill press vise for safe work-holding. Before buying an arbor, drop the chuck and read the taper. For the quill return spring, switch, or bearings, match the parts diagram by model number.

The verdict

A Craftsman 9-inch drill press is a keeper if you have one that runs true, and a sensible used buy if it is complete, because parts and manuals are still available by model number and its failure points are all standard consumables. Its one real limit, modest motor power, is inherent to any small press, so match it to light drilling, sanding, and joinery rather than heavy steel. Find the model number, pull the correct diagram, fit a good chuck and belt, and this in-between Sears machine will keep earning its bench space for years. If you need more reach or muscle, step up to a 12-inch or floor press instead.

Takeaways:

• The Craftsman 9-inch is a light-duty benchtop press with a fractional-horsepower motor and a several-speed belt drive.
• Its 9-inch swing gives a little more reach than an 8-inch press but the same light-duty limits.
• Parts and manuals are available by Sears model number (a 113 or later prefix); wear parts are standard.
• Match it to light work; step up to a bigger press for wide stock or heavy metal.

FAQ

What can a Craftsman 9-inch drill press do? Light-duty work: pilot holes, dowel joinery, small brackets, light metal, and drum sanding. It reaches the center of a 9-inch-wide workpiece but is not built for large holes in thick steel.

Is the Craftsman 9-inch worth keeping? If it runs true, yes. Parts and manuals are available by model number, and it does everything a small press should, often with heavier build than a new bargain machine.

How do I find parts for it? Locate the Sears model number (it starts with a prefix like 113), then pull the matching parts diagram and manual from Sears PartsDirect. Wear parts are standard.

What chuck does it use? A keyed chuck on a standard taper. Confirm the taper by removing the chuck before ordering a replacement arbor.

Craftsman 9-inch or 8-inch? The 9-inch gives slightly more swing and reach; both are light-duty. Choose the 9-inch for a little more capacity if the build quality is comparable.

Why won’t the quill return? Usually a tired or misadjusted torsion return spring under the spring cap. Match the correct spring by model number and adjust its tension.

Is it good for metal? For light metal at low speeds, yes. Its fractional-horsepower motor is not built for heavy steel drilling.

References

• Sears PartsDirect, Craftsman drill press model lookup, manuals, and parts diagrams: https://www.searspartsdirect.com/
• Craftsman drill press owner’s manuals (Sears model-number archive): https://www.searspartsdirect.com/model-lookup
• OWWM.org, Craftsman and Sears stationary tool identification forums: https://owwm.org/