Craftsman 17-Inch Drill Press: How the Range Breaks Down

The Craftsman 17-inch drill press is the big one in the Craftsman lineup, a floor-class machine with the swing and muscle to handle work that stops a benchtop press cold. But “Craftsman 17-inch” is not a single machine; it spans versions with different motors, from 3/4 HP up through 1 HP and 1-1/2 HP, and different speed counts. If you are shopping for one or trying to identify the machine you already have, understanding how the range breaks down (and how to find parts) makes it simple. Here is the breakdown.

What the Craftsman 17-inch is

The 17-inch designation refers to the swing, so the spindle sits about 8-1/2 inches from the column and reaches the center of a 17-inch-wide workpiece. These are floor-standing machines built on the classic Craftsman layout: a motor driving a stepped-pulley belt for multiple speeds, a spindle with a keyed chuck, a quill with a return spring, and a cast table that raises, tilts, and locks. As with all Craftsman stationary tools, they carry Sears model numbers, and that number is the key to parts and manuals. The 17-inch sits at the top of the Craftsman range, well above the 8-, 9-, 12-, and 15-inch machines in both reach and power.

How the range breaks down

The main differences across 17-inch versions come down to motor and speeds:

• 3/4 HP models. The lighter end of the 17-inch range, still a capable floor machine for woodworking and light metal.
• 1 HP models. More muscle for driving larger bits and light steel confidently, a common step up.
• 1-1/2 HP models. The strongest 17-inch versions, built for the heaviest work this class handles.
• 16-speed models. Versions with a wide 16-speed drive give fine control to match wood and metal across bit sizes.

The practical takeaway: the swing is the same across these, but the motor rating and speed count decide how hard you can push and how well you can match speed to material. Read the horsepower off the motor plate and count the speeds to know exactly which version you have.

Parts and the model number

Here is where Craftsman beats off-brands. Because these are Sears machines, parts diagrams and manuals are available by model number through Sears PartsDirect, and the failure points are standard: a V-belt, the chuck and key, a torsion return spring and spring cap, ball bearings, the spindle and center pulleys, the motor pulley and bracket, the locking switch, and the taper pin. Find the model number on the machine, pull the matching diagram, and you can order or match nearly everything, even on an older floor press. That documented support is a big reason these 17-inch machines stay in service.

Tooling and replacement parts

Get the most from a Craftsman 17-inch with good tooling. Fit a quality keyed drill chuck with the matching arbor if the original wears, keep a fresh drill press V-belt on the shelf, and fix a weak quill return with a drill press quill return spring. Add a heavy drill press machine vise to use the machine’s capacity and a set of Forstner bits. Keep a spare drill press chuck key. Confirm the taper before ordering an arbor, and match springs and pulleys by model number.

The verdict

The Craftsman 17-inch drill press is the floor-class machine in the Craftsman range, offering the swing to reach the center of wide workpieces and, depending on the version, the muscle of a 3/4, 1, or 1-1/2 HP motor. The key is identifying which version you have or want, since the swing is constant but the motor rating and speed count decide capability. Read the horsepower off the plate, count the speeds, and use the Sears model number to get the right parts, since the failure points are all standard, documented components. Fit a good chuck, belt, and heavy vise, and a Craftsman 17-inch anchors a serious home shop for years. For metalworking beyond light steel, a dedicated industrial press is the next step.

Takeaways:

• The Craftsman 17-inch is the floor-class machine in the range, with a 17-inch swing at the top of the Craftsman lineup.
• Versions differ mainly by motor (3/4, 1, or 1-1/2 HP) and speed count (including 16-speed models).
• Identify your version by reading the horsepower off the plate and counting the speeds.
• Parts and manuals are available by Sears model number; failure points are standard, documented components.

FAQ

What can a Craftsman 17-inch drill press do? As a floor-class machine, it reaches the center of a 17-inch-wide workpiece and, on stronger versions, drives large bits and light steel confidently. It is the most capable size in the Craftsman range.

How do I tell which 17-inch version I have? Read the horsepower off the motor plate (3/4, 1, or 1-1/2 HP) and count the spindle speeds. The swing is the same across versions; the motor and speeds differ.

How many speeds does it have? It varies; some versions use a wide 16-speed drive for fine control. Count the pulley steps or check the manual for your model.

Where do I get parts? By Sears model number through Sears PartsDirect. Failure points (belt, chuck, key, return spring, pulleys, bearings, switch) are standard and documented.

Is a 3/4 HP or 1-1/2 HP 17-inch better? More horsepower drives larger bits and light steel with less strain. Choose 3/4 HP for general woodworking, 1 or 1-1/2 HP for heavier or more frequent work.

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

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

• Sears PartsDirect, Craftsman 17-inch drill press model lookup 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/