I needed a more capable drill press for my home workshop but didn't want to invest thousands in a commercial quality radial arm drill press. I researched the lower cost options and quickly noticed that none of them received especially good ratings. The Shop Fox W1669 was no different in this respect. I narrowed my search down to two competing brands based upon their 1/2 horsepower rating and their prices. It was essentially a mental coin toss to determine which of the two to buy. The Shop Fox won that coin toss

The Shop Fox drill press arrived in a crumpled and oil stained cardboard box. The top of the cardboard box had been sloppily sealed with packing tape as if the box had been opened at some time and then re-sealed. I opened the box and discovered that the plastic bags containing the parts had broken open and scattered parts through out the interior of the box. These parts included some small screws and washers that I was frankly lucky to be able to recover.

The heavy body of the drill press was surrounded by shaped styrofoam that was clearly intended to protect the drill press during shipping. The styrofoam was broken in numerous places leaving small bits of styrofoam mixed in with the various parts scattered within the box.

My initial inclination was to close the package, return the drill press, and demand a full refund. However, that would have involved a substantial delay in obtaining a working drill press. I decided to do a quick inventory of the parts to see if it was possible to assemble it. Toward this end, I went looking for the instructions inside the box.

I found a single page of printed instructions. This seemed a bit odd as even a simple MDF bookshelf comes with several pages of assembly instructions. I scanned the one page of printed material and noticed a reference to the item being "air powered". I have never heard of an air powered drill press. I glanced at the main body of the drill press and noticed that there was an electric motor and a power cord. I couldn't see any pneumatic fittings that typically accompany an "air powered" machine. This suggested that the drill press that I received was probably not the "air powered" item referred to in the instructions. I read the instructions in more detail. The instructions were for a nail gun and not the drill press. No other instructions were present.

I eventually searched online and was able to find the assembly instructions for the drill press. I began to assemble the drill press, pausing often to recover parts from among the rubble in the box, and was eventually able to follow all of the instructions. This left me with several parts left over. These were obviously drill press parts. The drill press that I had painstakingly assembled according to the instructions was visibly incomplete suggesting that the left over parts probably should be attached to the drill press. By referring to the pictures of the drill press in the listing on Amazon and relying upon a modicum of common sense, I was finally able to finish assembling the drill press.

I plugged the drill press into a wall outlet and turned the power on. The motor started and the drill press appeared to be functioning. I turned the handle to move the chuck up and down and noticed that it moved a little stiffly. The instructions clearly stated that it should be cleaned and lubricated with a light weight machine oil prior to use. I didn't have an appropriate lubricant at home but I anticipate that this will address the issue as soon as I can buy some. I checked that the drill press would move along the various axis. It appears to move correctly.

By this time, several hours had passed and it was fully dark. Although there is adequate artificial light inside my garage, I have a long standing personal policy against using power tools at a time of night that is likely to disturb my neighbors. I therefore did not put the drill press to any extended testing. I might post additional details after I have had some time to use the drill dress extensively.

My initial impressions are that the Shop Fox W1669 benchtop radial arm drill press was inadequately packaged to survive any reasonably foreseeable shipping method. The broken styrofoam, burst parts bags, and heavily taped box support this conclusion. The lack of assembly instructions, coupled with the inclusion of instructions for a nail gun, suggests that the company does not take quality control very seriously. The fact that the online assembly instructions simply did not cover several of the parts necessary to finish assembling the drill press suggest that the company does not have a high regard for the customer. The fact that there were no instructions in the use of the item leads me to believe they just don't give a damn.

I am frankly astonished that the drill press survived shipment and that none of the parts spilled from the box. It is too early to comment on how well it works but I recommend against buying one based upon my experience to date. The only reason I gave it a two star rating is because it does appear to be working despite everything else that Shop Fox did wrong.

Good machine but have a better way to hold Chuck good shipping

I've had this drill for about two weeks now. I bought the floor model. This is the first drill press I've personally owned so I don't have experience with other models to compare. But I am very pleased with this machine. Easy to assemble, it is heavy but I still managed to do it all by myself, though it would be wise to have a partner help out. Instructions recommend you mount the base to 3/4" plywood for stability. It has a pretty narrow base for how too heavy it is so the plywood is necessary if you're not bolting this into the floor. I use this drill primarily for woodworking and it's got plenty of power for my needs. The versatility and functionality of this drill is fantastic. Nice smooth pressing action, sturdy depth stop, feels like a well built machine.

Great price fast shipping

My drill press arrived on time and in perfect condition. Assembly was simple and this unit works perfectly. I am excited to see what I can accomplish with this drill press that other drills just cant do. Thank you for a great product at an even better price.