Sears Craftsman 15-1/2 Inch Drill Press: A Complete Owner and Buyer Guide
I found my Craftsman 15-1/2 inch press at a moving sale on a quiet street. The owner had used it to build furniture for forty years, and it showed: a machine shop squareness that you can still feel in the column and the table. He said he regretted selling it, but the new apartment had no garage. I believed him.
If you are looking at a Sears Craftsman 15-1/2 inch drill press, you are probably holding a model number that starts with 113, most likely the 113.213850 or a close relative. This guide covers what you get, what to inspect before paying, and how to keep one of these going long after Sears stopped putting them on the shelf.
What you are looking at
The Craftsman 15-1/2 inch drill press is a floor-standing machine built around a 1/2 HP motor, a cast-iron head and table, and a column tall enough to swing 15-1/2 inches. That swing puts the spindle center about 7-3/4 inches from the column, which is enough to center over a 15-1/2 inch board.
It has five speeds and a step-pulley belt drive, with the pulleys accessed through a hinged guard on top of the head. The chuck is 5/8 inch and a JT33 taper on many of these heads. The table tilts and has slots for clamps, and the depth stop lets you set repeat hole depths.
None of this machinery is exotic. It is the same logic as a small bench press but scaled up, planted on a floor, and served by a motor with more torque to back it.
Model 113.213850 in plain language
The 113.213850 is a 15-inch floor model drill press with a 1/2 HP motor (maximum developed). Some listings call it a 15-inch and some a 15-1/2 inch, because the swing sits close to that boundary. Confirm the actual swing on the nameplate rather than trusting the title in a listing.
This model is not the same as the smaller 113.213080, which is an 8-inch bench press. The two models come up together in search results because the 113 prefix groups them, but they are different machines in different size classes.
Key specs:
| Feature | Craftsman 113.213850 (15-1/2 inch floor press) |
|---|---|
| Swing | 15 to 15-1/2 inches |
| Motor | 1/2 HP maximum developed |
| Speeds | 5 |
| Chuck | 5/8 inch |
| Table | Tilts, slotted |
| Type | Floor standing |
Why a 15-1/2 inch floor press instead of a 12 or 13
The question I hear most is whether the extra size is worth it. Here is the honest trade:
- Swing. A 15-1/2 inch press reaches the center of a 15-1/2 inch piece without repositioning. A 13-inch press makes you move the work for anything wide.
- Stability. Floor presses weigh more and vibrate less. The heavier head carries a larger chuck capacity in some builds, and the column gives you more height for deep workpieces.
- Power for the size. The 1/2 HP motor is modest but it has more mass to work with on a floor frame, and it moves the 5/8 chuck comfortably through wood and light metal.
If you only drill small stock and have a tight shop, a 13 or even a 10 inch benchtop is enough. If you work with wide boards, casework, or metal stock that needs real table support, the 15-1/2 inch floor press earns its floor space.
Inspecting a used one
An old floor press has usually been in one shop its whole life, and that is either good news or bad news. Here is what to check:
Spindle runout. Chuck a straight bit or ground rod and spin it by hand. Watch the tip. A little eccentricity is normal. Visible wobble means worn bearings or a bent spindle.
Quill return. Pull the feed handle and let go. The quill should return cleanly. A sticky quill points to a weak spring or dirty quill tube.
Belt and pulleys. Open the guard and look for cracked, glazed, or stretched belts. Check the pulleys for worn grooves and gouges.
Table and column. Grab the table and rock it. The lock should hold it firm. Check the column for rust pitting that would let the table creep.
Motor. Start it and listen for a smooth, steady sound. A buzz, a grinding, or a smell means motor work ahead.
Nameplate. Read the full 113 model number. Two machines that look the same can take different belts and use different bearings. Know your exact model before you need parts.
Parts and where owners find them
Sears stopped selling these long ago, but parts are not impossible to find. Sears PartsDirect hosts the original owner’s manuals and exploded diagrams for the 113.213850 and related floor press models, and it still carries some wear items. eReplacementParts covers overlapping OEM stock with model-specific diagrams.
Owners also lean on machinist forums and used-parts sellers for items that have gone out of stock. The belt is the most common fix, and on a five-speed step-pulley press it is a standard V-belt size matched to your model’s geometry. Bearings are stock items from industrial suppliers once you read the shield numbers off the old races.
For your owner’s manual, Sears PartsDirect has the 113.213850 owner’s manual as a PDF, and the diagrams are the clearest path to matching a mystery part by number.
Accessories worth adding
The 15-1/2 inch press has a real table that can use a vise well. For metal and small parts, a WEN 4-inch drill press vise bolts through the table slots and grips small stock, though its jaws can rack under hard clamping on heavy material. If your work is heavier, a Palmgren 4-inch drill press vise with its machined base and steel jaws holds more securely. On a press with a 5/8 inch chuck and a floor motor behind it, err toward the heavier vise.
If the chuck key is missing, verify the number stamped on your chuck before buying a replacement. Many JT33-taper Craftsman chucks take the Jacobs K3 key, but match the pilot to your specific chuck.
Work light: a magnetic gooseneck LED lamp mounts to the head and lights the spindle area. Gooseneck lamps can drift under vibration, so reposition as needed.
The verdict
A clean Craftsman 15-1/2 inch drill press in good condition is one of the best workshop values available on the used market. The cast iron is heavy and dampens vibration well. The floor stance gives you height for deep workpieces. The 5/8 inch chuck opens up larger bits than a small benchtop allows. And the parts and manual network, though not a store shelf, is still alive and findable.
Two things worth remembering every time:
- The 113.213850 is a 15-inch floor press, not the small 8-inch 113.213080. Confirm the model before ordering any part.
- Start the inspection with spindle runout and quill return. Those two tell you whether you have a tune-up or a rebuild.
FAQ
What is the Sears Craftsman 15-1/2 inch drill press? It is a floor-standing drill press with a 1/2 HP motor, a 5/8 inch chuck, and a 15 to 15-1/2 inch swing. The most common model is 113.213850.
How many speeds does the 113.213850 have? Five speeds, accessed by moving the belt across stepped pulleys under the hinged guard on top of the head.
What size chuck does it use? A 5/8 inch keyed chuck, typically on a JT33 taper. Verify your specific taper before buying a replacement chuck.
Is the 113.213850 the same as the 113.213080? No. The 113.213850 is a 15-inch floor press with a 1/2 HP motor. The 113.213080 is an 8-inch bench press with a 1/3 HP motor. They appear together in search results because of the shared 113 prefix.
Where can I get parts for a Craftsman 15-1/2 inch drill press? Sears PartsDirect hosts the owner’s manual and exploded diagrams. eReplacementParts carries overlapping OEM stock. Machinist forums and used-parts sellers help with discontinued items.
Is a used Craftsman 15-1/2 inch drill press worth buying? Usually yes, if the spindle runs true and the quill returns cleanly. These are heavy, accurate machines that hold up well when maintained.
What belt does the 113.213850 take? Match the belt to your specific model using the diagram from Sears PartsDirect. V-belt sizes vary slightly between builds.
Can I still get the owner’s manual for the 113.213850? Yes. Sears PartsDirect hosts the original owner’s manual as a PDF, searchable by the full model number.
References
- Owner’s Manual, Craftsman 15-inch Floor Model Drill Press (model 113.213850), Sears PartsDirect (PDF): https://c.searspartsdirect.com/mmh/lis_pdf/OWNM/L0805256.pdf
- Craftsman 113.213850 parts and diagrams, Sears PartsDirect: https://www.searspartsdirect.com/model/w3cbefkmv7-000247/craftsman-113213850-drill-press-parts
