The Shop Fox W1680 1 HP 17-Inch Floor Model Drill Press is a stationary floor drill press built for cabinet shops, small machine shops, and serious home workshops that need more capacity and stability than a benchtop unit can offer. This is a floor drill press designed for accurate drilling in wood and mild steel. Model Number: W1680. If you need controlled drilling, repeatable hole depth, and the ability to slow the spindle down for tougher materials, this machine is built for that kind of work.

The spec sheet tells a pretty clear story. You get a 1 HP, 110V motor, 12 spindle speeds, and a speed range listed at 150 to 3050 RPM, with supplementary web data also listing a 140 RPM minimum. What matters in practice is that the Shop Fox W1680 1 HP 17-Inch Floor Model Drill Press has the low-end speed needed for metalworking and the top-end speed to stay useful for general woodworking and shop drilling. That wider spread gives you more control across different bit sizes and materials.

Capacity is where this machine separates itself from lighter-duty options. The 17-inch swing gives you more room to position stock, the 3-1/4-inch spindle travel helps with thicker material and deeper drilling operations, and the 1-inch drilling capacity makes it suitable for more demanding shop tasks. The keyed chuck accepts bits from 1/16 inch to 5/8 inch, and the Morse Taper #3 spindle supports larger direct-mount bits when the job calls for it.

Shop practicality is built into the design. The 14-inch diameter cast iron table can swivel around the column and tilt 90 degrees left or right, which is useful when you need angled drilling or better part positioning. The adjustable depth stop helps with repeat hole depth, and the quick-adjust handles make setup changes easier when you're moving between operations. For small production runs or repeated drilling layouts, those details save time and reduce inconsistency.

Construction matters on a drill press because flex and vibration show up directly in the hole. Here, Shop Fox calls out solid cast iron construction, sealed ball bearings, and closely spaced spindle shaft bearings. That combination is aimed at keeping the spindle running true and the machine planted during heavier drilling. The aluminum finned motor and built-in work light round it out with practical shop features instead of gimmicks.

This is not a portable jobsite tool and it is not trying to be one. At roughly 185 lbs assembled weight, it is meant to stay put and become a permanent part of the shop. That weight is actually part of the value. A heavier floor model drill press gives you the stability you want when drilling larger holes, using bigger bits, or working with harder material where chatter can ruin the result.

If you mainly drill small parts once in a while, a compact benchtop press may be enough. If you regularly work with furniture parts, cabinet components, jigs, metal brackets, or mild steel stock and want better capacity, control, and repeatability, the W1680 makes a lot more sense. It is especially well-suited to woodworkers and small fabrication shops that want one machine to cover both wood drilling and lower-speed metal drilling without stepping up to a larger industrial press.

Shop Fox W1680 1 HP 17-Inch Floor Model Drill Press for Shops That Need Real Capacity

This is the kind of floor drill press that makes sense when you are done fighting lightweight machines and want something that can actually handle wood and mild steel with control.

• Who it's for: Woodworkers, cabinet shops, small machine shops, and serious home shop users who want a stationary drill press with better reach, more stability, and slower speeds for metal.
• Why it stands out: The 17-inch swing, 3-1/4-inch spindle travel, 1-inch drill capacity, and low-speed range give it a more useful working envelope than smaller benchtop presses.
• Worth knowing: It is a heavy floor model at about 185 lbs, which is a plus for stability, but it also means you should plan on giving it a dedicated spot in the shop.

• What power does this drill press use? It uses a 1 HP, 110V motor and is listed at 10 amps.
• What is the chuck capacity? The keyed chuck accepts bits from 1/16 inch to 5/8 inch.
• Can it drill metal? Yes. The product data specifically calls out low RPM capability for metalworking and lists a 1-inch drilling capacity through mild steel.
• Does the table tilt? Yes. The cast iron table swivels around the column and tilts 90 degrees left or right.
• Does it include a built-in light? Yes, this drill press includes a built-in light.