Craftsman 17-Inch 16-Speed 3/4 HP Drill Press: Specs, Capacity, Parts, and Owner Notes
A 17-inch swing and sixteen speeds mean you can clamp a wide steel plate on the table, dial the spindle down to a slow crawl for a big bit, and let a genuine 3/4 HP motor pull the cut without complaint. The Craftsman 17-inch 16-speed 3/4 HP drill press is the largest machine in this family of Sears presses, and it is built for the heavier drilling the smaller 15-inch models start to strain against.
This is a fixed-column floor drill press: the head stays on a vertical column, a belt-and-pulley system sets the speed, and the 17-inch label means it drills to the center of a 17-inch circle (about 8.5 inches from the column). The 16-speed count and the 3/4 HP motor are what separate it from the lighter 12-speed, 1/2 HP presses in the Craftsman line.
Should you choose this one? Yes, if you drill wide stock, large-diameter holes, or a lot of metal, because the swing, the speed range, and the motor all pull in that direction. The sixteen speeds run from roughly 200 to 3,630 RPM, so you get a slower low end for big bits than the 12-speed presses reach, and a top end for small bits in wood. That wide band, plus the stronger motor, is the reason to size up.
What are the real specs of the Craftsman 17-inch 16-speed?
Here are the figures owners and manuals report for this press (model 113.213171 and the related 137.229170).
| Spec | Craftsman 17-inch 16-speed |
|---|---|
| Swing | 17 inches |
| Speeds | 16, from about 200 to 3,630 RPM |
| Motor | rated near 3/4 HP continuous (plate reads 1-1/2 HP maximum developed) |
| Chuck | 5/8 inch |
| Column | fixed, floor-standing |
| Table | tilts, with rack-and-pinion height on most units |
| Weight | heavy, roughly 200 pounds assembled |
About that motor line: the plate reads 1-1/2 HP maximum developed, which is Sears marketing shorthand. The continuous rating sits closer to 3/4 HP, and 3/4 HP is the number that matters when a bit is actually cutting. That is still more muscle than the 1/2 HP 15-inch presses, and you feel it under large bits.
How much bigger a job does the 17-inch handle than the 15-inch 12-speed?
The 17-inch 16-speed handles wider stock, bigger bits, and more metal than the 15-inch 12-speed. Line the two up and the case makes itself. The 15-inch swings to the center of a 15-inch circle on 12 speeds and about 1/2 HP. The 17-inch adds two inches of swing, four more speeds, a slower usable low end (near 200 RPM versus about 250), and a motor rated near 3/4 HP. In practice that means large Forstner bits in hardwood and mid-to-large holes in steel that the 1/2 HP press would slow on. If your work is small, the 15-inch is enough and lighter to move. If you drill big panels or heavy metal, the 17-inch is the honest tool.
Verdict on the Craftsman 17-inch 16-speed: the strongest, most flexible press in this Sears group and the one I would keep if I could own only one, provided I had the floor space and did not mind the weight.
What is the honest flaw of this press?
The recurring weak point is the table-raising mechanism. Owners consistently report that the crank and rack used to raise the heavy cast table can wear or fail, and it is a common repair on these units. The good news is the part is replaceable; the bad news is you will likely meet it. Beyond that, sixteen speeds still mean manual belt changes across the pulleys, so setting a new speed is a hands-on job, not a dial. And at roughly 200 pounds, this is not a press you reposition casually once it is standing.
Who should skip this: if your shop is short on floor space or your drilling is all small-diameter wood work, this machine is more swing, weight, and speed range than you need, and a benchtop or 15-inch press will serve better.
Where do you find parts and manuals?
Sears PartsDirect hosts owner’s manuals and parts diagrams for model 113.213171 and the related 137.229170 presses. Match the model number on the head plate, then order belts, chucks, and the table-crank parts against the correct schematic. Common items like V-belts and chuck keys are easy to source generically when factory stock runs out.
What if you want to buy new instead?
If you want the same 17-inch, 16-speed, 3/4 HP formula in a current machine, the JET JDP-17 matches it closely. It is a 17-inch floor press with 16 speeds and a 3/4 HP motor, a large 14-by-19-inch cast table with T-slots, a poly-V belt drive, an LED work light, and a crank-operated table height adjustment. It is the modern equal of the Craftsman’s specs with current parts support.
The JET’s honest flaw: like the Craftsman, it has no variable speed, so you still move a belt across pulleys to change RPM, and it is a large, heavy floor unit that needs dedicated space. Who should skip the JET: anyone who wants push-button variable speed or a compact footprint, since this is a full-size 16-step belt press.
Head to head, the used Craftsman gives you the same core specs and a machine you can often find and fix, while the JET gives you a bigger table, a warranty, and current parts. Pick the Craftsman if you find a solid one, and the JET if you want a new press with the same capability. Whichever you run, clamp the work, never drill freehand, wear eye protection, and match the spindle speed to the material, as OSHA and CCOHS both stress.
Conclusion
The Craftsman 17-inch 16-speed 3/4 HP drill press is the heavy hitter of this Sears family, built for wide stock, big bits, and metal that smaller presses strain against. My verdict: the one to own if you have the space and the workload to justify it, and overkill if your drilling stays small.
Concrete takeaways:
- The 17-inch swing, 16 speeds (about 200 to 3,630 RPM), and near-3/4 HP motor handle jobs the 15-inch 12-speed cannot.
- The 1-1/2 HP maximum-developed plate really means about 3/4 HP continuous; judge it by that.
- Expect to service the table-raising crank at some point; it is the known weak spot.
- For a new machine with matching specs, the JET JDP-17 is the direct current-production alternative.
FAQ
What is the speed range of the Craftsman 17-inch 16-speed drill press? The sixteen speeds run from roughly 200 to 3,630 RPM. The low end is slower than the 15-inch 12-speed presses reach, which helps with large-diameter bits and metal.
Is it really a 3/4 HP motor? In continuous use, yes. The plate reads 1-1/2 HP maximum developed, but the real rating is near 3/4 HP, which is what the spindle delivers under a cut.
What model number is this press? Common examples are model 113.213171 and the related 137.229170. Confirm the number on the head plate before ordering parts.
How does it compare to the 15-inch 12-speed Craftsman? It swings two inches wider, adds four speeds, reaches a slower low RPM, and runs a stronger motor near 3/4 HP versus about 1/2 HP. That makes it the choice for wide stock and heavy drilling.
What is the most common problem with this drill press? The table-raising crank and rack. Owners report it wearing or failing, and it is a frequent repair, though replacement parts are available.
Does it have variable speed? No. You change speeds by moving the belt across the pulleys, using the chart inside the guard. There is no variable-speed dial.
What chuck size does it use? It uses a 5/8-inch chuck, which accepts most common wood and metal bits directly.
Is there a new drill press with the same specs? Yes. The JET JDP-17 is a 17-inch, 16-speed, 3/4 HP floor press with a large T-slot table and current parts support, making it the closest new equivalent.
References
- Sears PartsDirect, Craftsman 17-inch drill press parts and manuals: https://www.searspartsdirect.com/model/3mnojxqetd-000247/craftsman-137229171-drill-press-parts
- Sears PartsDirect, Craftsman 113.213171 owner’s manual: https://www.searspartsdirect.com/manual/3bdwfvogrl-000247/craftsman-11321371-drill-press-parts
- JET JDP-17 17-inch floor drill press specifications (16 speed, 3/4 HP): https://www.jettools.com
- OSHA Woodworking eTool, Drill Press safety: https://www.osha.gov/etools/woodworking/production/machines-tools/drill-press
- CCOHS, Drill Presses safety guidance: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/metalworking/drillpresses.html
