Craftsman 17-Inch Drill Press 1-1/2 HP: Specs, Capacity, Parts, and Owner Notes
The first time I stood next to a Craftsman 17 inch drill press, it changed how I thought about the tool. My little bench press had trained me to work small. This one, all cast iron and floor-planted, drilled a 1/2 inch hole through steel plate like the plate had asked for it. If you are looking at a Craftsman 17 drill press with a 1-1/2 HP motor, you are looking at the biggest press Sears aimed at serious home and light-production shops. Here is what it can do, what it needs from you, and how to keep a discontinued machine this good running for years.
A Craftsman 17 inch drill press is a floor-standing machine with a 17 inch swing, placing the spindle about 8-1/2 inches from the column. The 1-1/2 HP maximum developed motor, paired with a wide 16-speed range, makes this the model that actually handles metal, large bits, and repetitive work rather than just tolerating them.
What 1-1/2 HP changes
On the smaller Craftsman presses, the horsepower rating is almost a formality because the mass and drive limit you first. On the 17 inch press, the 1-1/2 HP motor is doing real work. “Maximum developed” is still a peak rating, so continuous output sits below that number, but the difference in the shop is obvious. This press holds speed under load where a 2/3 HP head would bog.
That capability comes with weight and footprint. This is a floor machine you commit space and a solid floor to. If your shop is a corner of a garage and your heaviest job is a shelf pin hole, this is more press than you need, and a 10 or 13 inch model will serve better.
Specs at a glance
| Feature | Spec |
| Swing | 17 in |
| Motor | 1-1/2 HP maximum developed, 120 V |
| Speeds | 16 (200 to 3630 RPM) |
| Chuck | 5/8 in |
| Throat | 8-1/2 in |
| Spindle travel | 3-1/4 in |
| Table | 14-1/4 in x 14-1/4 in, tilts 45 degrees left or right |
Two numbers deserve attention. The 16-speed range starts at 200 RPM, which is low enough to run large bits and hole saws in metal without scorching, something the small presses cannot reach. And the 3-1/4 inch spindle travel means deeper single-plunge holes than a 10 inch bench press manages, a real advantage for thick stock.
Why choose the 17-inch over a smaller Craftsman
| Trait | 10 in (2/3 HP) | 13 in (2/3 HP) | 17 in (1-1/2 HP) |
| Lowest speed | ~620 RPM | ~400 RPM | 200 RPM |
| Spindle travel | 2 in | Mid | 3-1/4 in |
| Chuck | 1/2 in | 5/8 in | 5/8 in |
| Best for | Wood, small bits | Wood, light metal | Metal, large bits, deep holes |
The 17 inch press wins on the two things smaller presses cannot fix: a genuinely low bottom speed and long spindle travel. If your work involves steel, large-diameter cutters, or thick material, this is the model to hold out for. If it does not, the extra size is dead weight in your shop.
Owner notes and setup
A press this heavy rewards a careful setup and punishes a lazy one.
- Anchor it. Bolt the base to the floor. A 17 inch press that rocks will chatter badly and can walk under a heavy cut.
- Square the table. Chuck a rod and check it against a machinist square in two directions. The larger table makes small errors show up as big ones at the far corner.
- Use the low speeds. The whole point of this press is that 200 RPM bottom end. Big bits and metal belong there. Running large cutters fast is how you burn edges and load the motor.
- Support long stock. With 8-1/2 inches of throat you can hold real workpieces, but overhanging stock will tip. Clamp it or add a roller stand.
- Check the depth stop. These presses have an adjustable depth stop that makes repeat holes fast. Set it once and stop measuring every time.
Parts and long-term support
Sears stopped selling these, so parts come from a handful of steady sources rather than a shelf. Sears PartsDirect still hosts the original 17 inch owner’s manuals and exploded parts diagrams by model number, covering the 113 series floor models and later 137 series presses such as the 137.229171. eReplacementParts carries overlapping OEM stock and posts the same diagrams, and VintageMachinery.org archives original Sears and Craftsman manuals if you need documentation for an older head.
The repairs that come up: V-belts, spindle and quill bearings, and the return spring. Because this press uses a specific belt geometry, match the belt to your model number rather than a generic listing. Keep the model plate, found on the rear of the head, photographed on your phone so any order starts from the right diagram.
Accessories worth adding
The 17 inch press takes a 5/8 inch chuck, and many of these heads use the common JT33 spindle taper. Confirm your taper before buying, then a keyed 5/8 inch replacement chuck fits. The honest caveat: inexpensive import chucks can show a few thousandths of runout, which matters on a machine you bought specifically for metal, so a quality Jacobs chuck is the better long-term choice for precision work.
Workholding is not optional on a press with this much power. A spinning workpiece on a 1-1/2 HP machine is dangerous. For heavier holding, a Palmgren 4-inch drill press vise with its thick casting and replaceable steel jaws suits this press well. Its downside is weight and a modest throat depth, so if you mostly hold small parts and want something easier to move on and off the table, the lighter WEN 4-inch drill press vise covers that, with the trade that its jaws can rack under hard clamping. On a press this strong, err toward the heavier tool.
The verdict
The Craftsman 17 inch 1-1/2 HP drill press is the model to buy when the work is real: metal, large cutters, deep holes, and repetitive drilling. Its low 200 RPM speed and long spindle travel do things no smaller Craftsman press can, and the cast-iron build outlasts most of what is sold new at the same size. It asks for floor space, a solid anchor, and respect for its power, and it is simply too much machine for a shop that only drills pilot holes in pine.
Three things to remember:
- The low bottom speed is the reason to own this press. Use it for metal and big bits.
- Anchor and square it before your first cut. Its size amplifies any sloppiness in setup.
- Photograph the model plate. Belts and bearings are model-specific, and the plate is where every parts order starts.
FAQ
How much can a Craftsman 17 inch drill press 1-1/2 HP drill through? Its 8-1/2 inch throat reaches the center of a 17 inch workpiece, and 3-1/4 inches of spindle travel lets you bore deeper in a single plunge than smaller presses. With a 5/8 inch chuck it handles large bits and metal comfortably.
How many speeds does the Craftsman 17 inch drill press have? Sixteen speeds spanning 200 to 3630 RPM, set by moving belts across stepped pulleys. The low 200 RPM setting is what makes it capable in metal.
What size chuck is on the Craftsman 17 inch drill press? A 5/8 inch chuck. Many heads use a JT33 spindle taper, so confirm your taper before buying a replacement.
What is the swing and throat on a Craftsman 17 inch drill press? The swing is 17 inches and the throat is 8-1/2 inches, which is the distance from the column to the spindle center.
Can I still get parts for a Craftsman 17 inch drill press? Yes. Sears PartsDirect and eReplacementParts both stock OEM parts and post exploded diagrams by model number, and VintageMachinery.org archives original manuals.
Is a 17 inch drill press overkill for a home shop? For light wood drilling, yes. For metalwork, large bits, deep holes, or repeat production drilling, it is the right size. Match the press to your heaviest regular job.
What is the difference between 1-1/2 HP and smaller Craftsman drill presses? Beyond the stronger motor, the 17 inch press reaches a much lower 200 RPM and offers longer spindle travel, so it holds speed under load and handles metal and large cutters that bog a 2/3 HP head.
Where is the model number on a Craftsman 17 inch drill press? On a plate attached to the rear of the head. Keep it handy for ordering belts, bearings, and other parts.
References
- Owner’s Manual, Sears/Craftsman 17-inch Floor Model Drill Press (model 113.213170), Sears PartsDirect (PDF): https://c.searspartsdirect.com/mmh/lis_pdf/OWNM/1301300L.pdf
- Craftsman 137229171 17-inch drill press OEM parts and diagrams, eReplacementParts: https://www.ereplacementparts.com/models/drill-press/craftsman/id741383/137229171/
- Owner’s Manual, Sears/Craftsman 17-inch Floor Model Drill Press, VintageMachinery.org: http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=29003
